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was really let down by this... Not good. 50 / 100

The songs are killer, although of course the originals are better.

Plus, I'll get slaughtered for this, but Sepultura's cover of Piranha on Revolusongs is way better than the one here.

My 1st post so.... Been watching the forums for about 7 years. Best review site ever with the most intelligence.

Anyway, I like Gary Holt and the crew and thought this was an alright review. Hell, I'd give a 90. At least it didn't get slammed the way I thought it would. From my observation post I clearly hear and applaud the difference from the original, although the original is was killer!

Different weapons were used on this release giving it a meaner/definitive in your face ballsy tone. I'm sure they used EMGs, Peavey XXXs and various cabs to include the beefy larger Mode 4 cabs, which by the way weren't used back in the day. Add Andy Sneap w/his skill /tech wizardry and you can't go wrong!

What drives it home is Gary & crew's decision to slightly change the tunes in various ways like speeding them up or slowing them down. "No Love" blazes but in reality it was slowed down a bit to give it evil definition. There are slight chord variations in a few tunes as well. Some are played in drop D as opposed to how they were originally played. "Strike of the Beast" remains vicious with good speed and over the top vocals. "Bonded" remains in tact gents.

Finally, Sneap's placement of the guitars is key. The axe on the right has its tone and the one on the left bites at your leg the way the way it should. Outstanding chemistry with balls to re-record, master and re-release a classic!

Pointman
Out!!

I generally don't like Andy Sneap's productions. To me, they just sound way too compressed, lacking dynamics, and just lifeless, really.

This is one of the reasons I have a problem with this rerecording. I could care less if Slayer wanted to rerecord Show No Mercy, but I'd certainly think it a little weird if Metallica did. I feel like it's not even the same band it was then. I know I should listen to it before ripping on it, but this just screams cash-in to me. And I can't stand Dukes in Exodus. I would never hold it against him that he isn't Baloff or Souza... but I do hold it against him that he has no personality. I've come to expect my Exodus with vocals that sound like an evil cartoon character.

Yeah, I hear ya screamin Legacy. I agree to a point. Though I believe the bands he produces are ultimately responsible for the final product. In every control room I've ever been in, the final question is "What do you think and are you happy with what you hear?"

Emmerder, I also catch your drift. However, I learned long ago not to get wrapped up in personnel changes in bands. Deaths, disputes etc wreck havoc on a bands original formula and sound. You can kinda say they are putting their best foot forward with what they have at the time. Regardless of how well a band sounds, the minute a replacement occurs, the chemistry and sound changes. It's art and if the brushes are tainted....

In the killer words of Mille from Kreator: "Loves us or hates us....
You know the rest of that story LOL!

Pointman
Out!!

It does, but it´s understandable. Ive read the rights of the orginal recordings ended up in the hands of Century Media after the original record company went bankrupt. Exodus never received any royalties for this classic.

Holy shit, that REALLY sucks. I don't even know what to say to that.

By the way, I'm not entirely opposed to this, just explaining why it rubs me a little the wrong way. I recognize that I can't hold it against them that they have different members. It's like Mayhem fans who hate every guitarist they've had since Euronymous. There's nobody who can bring back old Exodus.

So maybe the REAL reason I don't like this is that it illustrates pretty clearly how much they're a different band. Which would be fine if I liked any of their other recent albums.

Thinking more about this, it occurred to me that I’d be truly enraged if Megadeth re-recorded Killing Is My Business or Napalm Death redid Scum, so why should Exodus get away with it? I’m sure the ND boys got sod-all from Earache for Scum, but you don’t see them cashing in now that Metal Hammer readers have heard of them.

Speaking of "Killing Is My Business", what do you think of the re-mixed/re-mastered version? It almost sounds like a re-recorded album with the tinkering they did on that one. However, I like it much more when compared to the original album mix. It makes it sound more along the lines of albums like Youthanasia.

I loved it, that's the version I reviewed. The original was barely demo-quality. I wouldn't say the remaster was a re-recording, though, haven't people been complaining about the original for years?

Exodus could have just re-released BBB as a remaster, but it wouldn't have got this much attention, and they knew it.

I don't know. Had they done that there is a good possibility it might have. If they ever do, I hope they include some of the earlier demos. Combat has a "re-mastered" version of "Pleasures of the Flesh". It is no different than the one that was originally released when it first came out. I have both and was dissapointed to hear no difference between the two.

That's interesting ...But Century Media did release remasters in 1999 for all of the first 3 Exodus albums along with BBB having 2 live bonus trax!

Same thing...originally BBB was re-released by Combat with the two live tracks...not remastered. I have the original and the re-release with the crappy cover and there is no difference in sound.

This album could be better as a bonus disc like in the Exodus last studio (The Atrocity Exhibition... Exhibit A or B for example) release, but I think and I don't understand as a tribute album, conclusion is not a necessary album

Would even be better as a bonus disc to a Bonded By Blood new edition.

I agree with Lucifer's Son, totaly agree... Paul was a unique singer... Rob sounds different so this album is not necessary like a said