Top 10 best re-issues/re-releases of 2011

Our top album lists we be out later this week. In addition to a list of new releases I started doing a list of the top re-issues and re-leases two or three years ago. This year was had so many good entries that I decided to expand the list from 5 to 10. So here they are in order from 1-10.


1-Twisted Sister-Under the blade CD/DVD set
It's one of the best Twister Sister albums with bonus tracks and the DVD is a live show from when they were still raw and angry.

2-Orange Goblin-5 disc box set
Five great helpings of pure thick stoner rock and bonus tracks on each one. WOW!

3-Jethro Tull-Aqualung 40th anniversary special edition 2 disc set
A great sounding remix on Aqualung and a whole disc of bonus tracks.

4-Mos Generator-s/t
Their debut debut re-issued with bonus tracks.

5-Sigh-Scorn Defeat
They had a rougher sound nearly twenty years ago, but just as impressive.

6-Stone Axe-S/T CD/DVD set
The original just came out a couple of years ago, but this version has bonus live tracks and a whole DVD full of live songs.

7-Uncannny-MCMXCI -collected works
Their one album plus demos equals a massive attack of classic early death metal.

8-Thin Lizzy-The boys are back in town, Live in Sydney, Australia 1978
Not their greatest live album, but it's a prime Thin Lizzy show with the band sounding very relaxed.

9-Warlock-Hellbound
My favorite Warlock albums got the re-issue treatment this year.

10-Atomic Rooster-s/t
A very underrated album.

Warlock-Triumph and agony

Metal Mind
1987/2011

After getting some notice in the mainstream circuits from 1986's True as steel Warlock seemed ready to take the next step up the ladder. I remember seeing ads for this one in every metal magazine and seeing the video the opener and big time anthem "All we are". I am sure I bought it cassette around the time it was released and played it over after school for several months at least. Even though I hadn't heard it a while until recently I was quickly reminded by why I took this one so quickly. You get fired up songs like "Three minute warning" and straight up rockers like "I rule the ruins" with it's faintly haunting chorus. Still there's no denying the band decided to stick to the slightly more melodic style that also dominated the previous release "True as steel". Tracks like "Kiss of death", "East meets west" and "Metal Tango" all have very simple song structures and much of the weight relies on Doro's vocals. She delivers of course, but the music is slightly more restrained on numerous songs this time around. We even get multiple ballads with the slow winding ballad "Make time for love" and the march-like heart wrenching attempt of "Fur Immer" (Forever). Not the band's heaviest effort, but probably their most polished. Unfortunately the end for the band was near. After successful opening and then headlining tours both Michael Eurich and Niko Arvantis both left the group leaving Doro as the sole original member. She hired drummer Bobby Rondinelli and guitarist Jon Levin and was set to record Warlock's fifth album when the band's ex-manager claimed the rights to the band name. Unfortunately he won and with pressure from the record label the band changed to the name "Doro" and continued on under that moniker. This re-issue includes a lyric book, band biography and four bonus tracks. Still a powerful album.

Warlock-True as steel

Metal Mind
1986/2011

After the tour for 1985's "Hellbound" Rudy Graf left and was replaced by Nicko Arvantis (ex-Stormwind). Then the band signed with Phonogram and the stage was set for album number three. "True as steel" was released late in the summer of 1986 and this was the first album I heard by them. I can't remember if I heard the whole album or if I saw the video for "Fight for rock" first, but either way I was impressed right away. Dore Pesch's tremendous vocals are the same as during their previous outings, but the music took a slightly more melodic turn. "Speed of sound" is a barn burner and "Mr. Gold" and the title track are spine rattlers for sure. However other songs like "Love in the danger zone" and "Lady in a rock n' roll hell" are a little closer to say Dokken than the Accept/Judas Priest level of heaviness that much of Warlock's previous material was at. However that doesn't mean it's not enjoyable. Quite the contrary as the band handles the hard rock approach just as well as they do the metal sound. No filler to these ears and they branch out their style a little more on tracks like "T.O.L". Overall I probably prefer the early material a little more, but this was the album that got their name out there. This was due to the radio/video play for the aforementioned "Fight for rock" plus they played the Monsters of rock festival in Germany opening for the like of Def Leppard, Scorpions and Ozzy. After a tour and some more line-up changes they were on to record their forth and what would unfortunately be their final album. That's a story for another day (hopefully tomorrow). The re-issue includes lyric booklet, band biography and three bonus tracks. A nice package and as with "Hellbound" this album has stood the test of time as well.

Warlock-hellbound

Metal Mind
1985, 2011

Germany's Warlock's originally formed in 1982, then released a demo in 1983 which eventually lead to them getting signed and releasing their 1984 debut "Burning the witches". Their sophomore disc Hellbound was originally released on Vertigo records in 1985. That's the brief history lesson, but to my ears this was the point when they began to really establish the sound they would be know for during their all too brief career. Warlock walked the line between metal and hard rock as well as anyone in the 1980's and they were frequently riding on powerful guitar riffs as well as fantastic melodies. This album allowed them to really demonstrate those skills. Almost every song here serves as a showcase for the vocal talents of Doro Pesch. On "Time to die" she belts out some fantastic screams while the crunchy "All night" slows down the tempo and allows her to reach down and really put all she has into every word. The music frequently reminds me of what Accept were doing at the time. None to surprisingly two members of this line-up would later join U.D.O just two years after this album. Here guitarists Rudy Graf and Peter Szigeti do a splendid job churning out some cutting lead and slamming rhythms on songs like the title track and "Wrathchild". The rhythm section of bassist Frank Rittel and drummer Michael Eurich lay down the backbone for Warlock's sound and keep them driving particularly on the adrenaline fueled "Earthshaker rock". This re-issue includes a live version of the title track and the fist pumping anthem "Hellraiser" as bonus tracks. This album has certainly held up very well over the years.

Clash of the album covers

We have...



Riot-Thundersteel

vs.



Warlock-Triumph and agony

***Which cover do you prefer?