So we always make a top ten of new albums every year. What about the re-releases?
I don't have many, but these are the ones I've picked up this year:
Negura Music Sampler #4
really cool sampler with a bunch of neat stuff. I think I got heckled here for saying that the Atrox song on it was cool.
Negura Bunget - 3CD re-issue Box
I admit that the slipcase could have been nicer, seeing that it was just a piece of folded and glued piece of cardboard, but the poster is nice and the new art theme on the jewel cases are nice too. Plus it saved me all the trouble of having to track down all of Negura's releases individually, bonus points for that.
Worship - Last CD Before Doomsday
CD version of their demo and first 7". It would have been nice if they included their side of the Worship/Stabat Mater split 10" and the Worship/Mournful Congregation 7" as well, but I suppose they can only fit so much onto a CD. In any case the demo was only available on cassette and an extremely limited vinyl version, so the CD release is much apprieciated. The only problem is that this re-release was limited to 500 copies. Perhaps Weird Truth Productions will re-release it again sometime.
Nasheim - Evighet/Undergång
Undergång will probably be on my top 10 list this year, or at least mentioned as a noteworthy release. Everyone here knows about this release so I can tell you that it rules without further explaination
Taake/Thule - Helnorsk Svartmetall Split
I kind of expected more from this but its still a good release. They're demos so the production value is kinda expected to be in the shitter, but if you can get past that there's some pretty good music there.
Enslaved - Vikingligr Veldi/Hordanes Land
This re-release is a great value considering that you get Vikingligr and Hordanes land for the price of a regular CD. The booklet is kinda shitty though, seeing that they included pictures of every band member who has ever played in Enslaved and not just the ones who contributed to the album and the EP, furthermore the pictures are newer pictures and not from the era when the album was made. That said, the new cover art is still pretty cool although it would have been nice if they kept true to the original DSP art.
Katatonia - Brave Yester Years
Probably the BEST re-release of the year and I was highly anticipating it myself. It has basically all you could want in a best-of/rarities compilation. The complete Jhva Elohim Meth demo, select tracks from the Dance of December Souls, two tracks from the WAR compilation Vol. I, For Funerals To Come EP, select tracks from Brave Murder Day, Sounds of Decay EP, an unreleased instrumental track, and the Saw You Drown EP. Undeniably the essential early Katatonia all packaged in a classy double digipack. A compilation For collectors and people new to Katatonia alike, all at the price of a normal CD.
I don't have many, but these are the ones I've picked up this year:
Negura Music Sampler #4
really cool sampler with a bunch of neat stuff. I think I got heckled here for saying that the Atrox song on it was cool.
Negura Bunget - 3CD re-issue Box
I admit that the slipcase could have been nicer, seeing that it was just a piece of folded and glued piece of cardboard, but the poster is nice and the new art theme on the jewel cases are nice too. Plus it saved me all the trouble of having to track down all of Negura's releases individually, bonus points for that.
Worship - Last CD Before Doomsday
CD version of their demo and first 7". It would have been nice if they included their side of the Worship/Stabat Mater split 10" and the Worship/Mournful Congregation 7" as well, but I suppose they can only fit so much onto a CD. In any case the demo was only available on cassette and an extremely limited vinyl version, so the CD release is much apprieciated. The only problem is that this re-release was limited to 500 copies. Perhaps Weird Truth Productions will re-release it again sometime.
Nasheim - Evighet/Undergång
Undergång will probably be on my top 10 list this year, or at least mentioned as a noteworthy release. Everyone here knows about this release so I can tell you that it rules without further explaination
Taake/Thule - Helnorsk Svartmetall Split
I kind of expected more from this but its still a good release. They're demos so the production value is kinda expected to be in the shitter, but if you can get past that there's some pretty good music there.
Enslaved - Vikingligr Veldi/Hordanes Land
This re-release is a great value considering that you get Vikingligr and Hordanes land for the price of a regular CD. The booklet is kinda shitty though, seeing that they included pictures of every band member who has ever played in Enslaved and not just the ones who contributed to the album and the EP, furthermore the pictures are newer pictures and not from the era when the album was made. That said, the new cover art is still pretty cool although it would have been nice if they kept true to the original DSP art.
Katatonia - Brave Yester Years
Probably the BEST re-release of the year and I was highly anticipating it myself. It has basically all you could want in a best-of/rarities compilation. The complete Jhva Elohim Meth demo, select tracks from the Dance of December Souls, two tracks from the WAR compilation Vol. I, For Funerals To Come EP, select tracks from Brave Murder Day, Sounds of Decay EP, an unreleased instrumental track, and the Saw You Drown EP. Undeniably the essential early Katatonia all packaged in a classy double digipack. A compilation For collectors and people new to Katatonia alike, all at the price of a normal CD.
