Lancaster five-piece, August Burns Red, have announced they will release a special, 20th anniversary version of their debut album Thrill Seeker. Fully re-recorded by producers Carson Slovak and Grant McFarland, it also features vocalist, Jake Luhrs, who joined after the album’s original release. It is due out on January 24, via the band’s own ABR Records, in three vinyl variants, along with exclusive new merch. They have just dropped a lyric video for the opening track, “Your Little Suburbia Is In Ruins.” Check it out below.
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Tag Archives: Re-recordings
Dirkschneider to Release 40th Anniversary Rerecording of Classic Accept Album “Balls To The Wall”
To mark the 40th anniversary of Accept’s iconic album, Balls To The Wall, founding member and former frontman, Udo Dirkschneider is planning something special. Under the Dirkschneider moniker, he will be releasing a re-recorded version, featuring guest contributions from across the metal sphere. Balls To The Wall Reloaded comes out on February 28th via Reigning Phoenix Music. Head into the article below to find out more.
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Atreyu Share Their Cover of Audioslave’s “Like A Stone” – New Album Coming Soon
American metalcore icons, Atreyu, will release a new album, The Pronoia Sessions, this Fall, via Spinefarm Records. It is a collection of eight reimagined hits, and two nostalgic tribute covers, coming out digitally on October 25th, and in physical formats November 8th. Just befor what would have been the late Chris Cornell‘s 60th birthday, the band have also shared the album’s first single, an emotional rendering of Audioslave‘s “Like A Stone.” Check it out below.
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Blind Guardian Drop a Re-recorded Version of “Ashes To Ashes” – New Album Coming Soon
German heavy metal legends, Blind Guardian, have unveiled their re-recorded version of “Ashes To Ashes.” The single is from the re-recorded version of their 1992 breakthrough album, Somewhere Far Beyond. The new album, Somewhere Far Beyond Revisited, is due August 2nd, via Nuclear Blast Records, coinciding with the band’s return to Wacken Open Air. Blind Guardian have also shared a live video of “Ashes To Ashes” from Hellfest 2022. Check it out below and find out more.
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ALBUM REVIEW: Cavalera – Schizophrenia
There is something about the Sepultura sound which has rightfully allowed it to stand the test of time. It could be the bombastically frantic stringwork which has the capacity to power some cities. It could also be the cavernous, cacophonous screams and shouts. The drums never disappoint, and the production is mischievous yet meticulously guided.Continue reading
96 Bitter Beings (ex-CKY) Share Re-recorded Version of “Flesh Into Gear” – Full Album Coming Soon
Influential LA rock band, 96 Bitter Beings, have shared a re-recorded version of the CKY track, “Flesh Into Gear,” along with a visualizer video. The band, featuring founding guitarist, vocalist and primary songwriter Deron Miller, has also announced their upcoming album, Return To Hellview, a collection of fan-favorite, re-recorded CKY tracks spanning Miller’s time with the band. It is set for release digitally on June 14th from Nuclear Blast Records. Check out the new version of “Flesh Into Gear” and more below.
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Sonata Arctica – Ecliptica – Revisited; 15th Anniversary Edition
Considering Spinefarm released a re-mastered version of Ecliptica in 2008 resplendent with new packaging and bonus tracks, in order celebrate the 15th anniversary of their debut, Finnish melodic Power Metal masters Sonata Arctica had to do something different, so chose to head to the studio to re-record it. As you do. The intention seems honest enough, with only vocalist / mainman Tony Kakko and drummer Tommy Portimo playing on the original, and with songs from what is a genuine genre classic still featuring heavily in their set, the rest of the band wanted to pay tribute to the original.
So, where do we stand on re-recordings, people? Yep, thought so, that seems pretty unanimous to me… I’ve yet to come across a re-recording where the original has been improved upon too. While some are worthy curiosities worth a listen from time to time, the best example being Anthrax’s The Greater Of Two Evils (Sanctuary) – which was a compilation of older tracks with John Bush on vocals rather than a straight re-record – in the main, they are creatively redundant, futile efforts. And don’t get me started on Kings Of Metal MMXIV (Magic Circle).
The re-record is slicker and “sounds” better, with Kakko’s vocals less fresh-faced and more professional, it does lack the naivety and, well, charm, of an original that had a rawer guitar sound, less polished mix and more ‘oomph’ to it. The key of several of the songs, most notably opener ‘Blank File’, has shifted down a notch or two to better suit Kakko’s range, and some of the solos have switched between instruments.
But, minor aesthetics aside, it is pleasing to report that, at least, they haven’t fucked around with it and Ecliptica – Revisited; 15th Anniversary Edition (Nuclear Blast) is pretty much a straight re-record. Why is this pleasing? Surely you’d want the band to do something different? Nah, because different isn’t always better and this faithful re-imagining serves a reminder of just how good the songs are and just how promising a band Sonata Arctica were in their early days.
Ultimately, it must be said, this is a very, very respectable re-recording of a great album, and about as a good a job as could be done to stay true to the original, but as with all of these types of things, the original is the King. If the debut didn’t exist, I’d be reigning down recommendations on this from on high – Ecliptica is a classic for a reason, all in, a collection of great songs.
The 15th Anniversary Edition, I’m sure, was fun for all concerned, but if you’re interested in dipping into the Stratovarius influenced Power Metal world of Sonata Arctica at their peak, pick up the originals of the first three.
7.5/10
STEVE TOVEY