On December 6, American heavy metal group ICED EARTH will finally release the classic 1999 live opus "Alive In Athens" as its first proper vinyl edition to celebrate the 20th anniversary of this monumental recording. Originally released as a 2CD, 3CD and picture LP set, "Alive In Athens" came out slightly flawed two decades ago yet turned into a gigantic success for ICED EARTH and was certified gold in Greece, where the more than thirty different songs spanning set had been recorded on two nights at Athens's Rodon Club in January 1999. The original release lacked the live version of "Colors" and the picture LP was a fairly careless CD-to-vinyl transfer interrupting Matt Barlow's stage banter several times and split up tracks that had been performed back to back (for example the "Something Wicked (Trilogy)"). Together with Jon Schaffer, this anniversary edition was created, offering a partially revised sequencing and fully dynamic vinyl mastering by Patrick W. Engel of Temple Of Disharmony as well as many additional extras. Schaffer states: "'Alive In Athens' has been called one of the greatest heavy metal live albums of all time. For me, it was one of the high points in a long and eventful journey that carries on to this day. I've experienced some of the best memories of my musical and personal life in Greece and these two nights in Athens are certainly no exception. I am honored and humbled by the passion of ICED EARTH fans in Greece and all over the world and hope you will all enjoy this ultimate edition of 'Alive In Athens'!' "Alive in Athens (20th Anniversary Edition)" includes five 180-gram LPs, a 12-page LP-sized booklet with liner notes by Schaffer and Barlow as well as Hakos Pervanidis (Metal Hammer Greece) who also contributed additional visual content, and 60x60cm poster. Side I 01. Burning Times 02. Vengeance Is Mine 03. Pure Evil 04. My Own Savior Side II 01. Melancholy (Holy Martyr) 02. Dante's Inferno Side III 01. The Hunter 02. Travel In Stygian 03. Colors Side IV 01. Diary 02. Blessed Are You 03. Violate Side V 01. Dark Saga 02. The Last Laugh 03. Last December 04. Watching Over Me Side VI 01. Angels Holocaust 02. Stormrider 03. The Path I Choose 04. I Died For You Side VII 01. Prophecy 02. Birth Of The Wicked 03. The Coming Curse Side VIII 01. Stand Alone 02. Cast In Stone 03. Desert Rain Side IX 01. Brainwashed 02. Disciples Of The Lie 03. When The Night Falls Side X 01. Slave To The Dark 02. A Question Of Heaven 03. Iced Earth
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