MUSIC

Official re-release of the second full-length album by Brazilian Thrash Metal band.
Brazilian Thrash Metal masterminds of Woslom, assumingly well educated in their society’s evolution process, share their pains and doctrines with their sophomore distribution of “Evolustruction”. Packed with diverse views, band sought to establish their own version of Thrash Metal, delivering comprehensive material, which might be influenced by North American Bay Area, particularly Megadeth, Testament and Metallica.
Fortunately that Woslom took upon themselves the decision of not attempting to patch old wounds (what can we say Sepultura as one of Brazilian leading Thrash bands lost itself after 1991 or just like Metallica when it lost its marbles after 1990), but to head out and achieve something different. With “Evolustruction” you'll sense an old hunger and conviction that eventually formulated their chosen path. Letting an artistic nature to plunge in, in favor of yet another piece of Thrash memorability, Woslom’s songwriting appeared to be smeared with nonconformity towards the old genre, paralleling features of both old and new school Thrash that resulted in considerably ambiguous song structures, creative riffery, exceptional lead guitar work, carving with harmonies and incredible soloing and a pulsating flair of rhythmic compositions. By all means, with their progressivism, Woslom still maintained a bewildered Thrash imagery as bashing skulls is still a part of the deal.
The album follows the idea that there are always choices to make in life and that one has to constantly decide between good choices and bad choices. Given the experience the band was able to accumulate, they promised to break all the rules! Fast and aggressive guitar riffs are the main ingredient in this Thrash Metal masterpiece. The fierce attacks of “No Last Chance”, “Breathless (Justice's Fall)” and “Evolustruction” (better his extended version at number 10), it might wasn’t the truest form of Thrash as it is widely known, but it had a reek of freshness, clever diversity and enough brutality to go around. “New Faith” recapped the old wrath fling of old Thrash Metal into ignition along with the band’s inventive antics. Furthermore, right before ending this chapter, the “Evolustruction” sound engineering provided the album with the rightful character, maintaining the old Thrash sound pattern yet with sharp and polished sound made by modern means, a great contribution for the album’s abilities to inspire while listening. In a nutshell, Woslom produced a fine revelation, clutching Thrash Metal and shaping it up to become more relevant!
For fans of Testament, Metallica and Megadeth!!
Punishment 18 Records, 2013/2014 (P18R 071). Made in Italy.


Tracklist:
1. Evolustruction 4:13
2. Haunted By The Past 6:30
3. Pray To Kill 2:59
4. River Of Souls 4:39
5. No Last Chance 6:33
6. New Faith 5:03
7. Breathless (Justice's Fall) 6:07
8. Purgatory 6:28
Bonus Tracks:
9. Breakdown (cover Mad Dragzter) 3:22
10. Evolustruction (Alternative Version) 4:53
Total playing time: 50:47 min.


Samples: http://www.last.fm
 

 

Official re-release of the debut full-length album by Brazilian Thrash Metal band.
Originally self-released in 2010, this is an album that doesn’t shy away from their Thrash foundations and really cooks some catchy and fun material with enough swagger and punch to work. While their sophomore effort went for an overall mid tempo Thrash sound, "Time To Rise" is a much faster and aggressive release. Not that there isn’t a bit of groove to be found throughout, but generally speaking there is a lot more ‘pep in the step’ of the Thrash contained on this release to be devoured. This is where Woslom really works their best and it’s the main portion of what’s being offered on this debut.
At times, these Brazilian Thrashers pull a bit from the early days of Thrash with their touches of melodic layering and general ambitious energy. “Checkmate” and “Power & Misery” have a slightly old school Metallica vibe to them with their winding structures and a bit of Megadeth in the snarling melodic vocals of the latter. From there the band builds on the classic Thrash sound with a slightly modernized style in the riff on the album title track or the slightly groove oriented notes on “The Deep Null”.
The truth remains that this debut is the best record so far from Woslom. It’s a catchy record with enough groove and melody to stick with the listener as a whole and enough Thrash punch and jabs to keep the moshing elite interested. Woslom is still a band that has yet to hit their full potential, but "Time To Rise" is definitely an album worth checking out for a Thrashing time!
For fans of: Testament, Metallica, Slayer and Megadeth!!
CD includes "Time To Rise" Video Clip.
Punishment 18 Records, 2010/2014 (P18R 076). Made in Italy.


Tracklist:
1. Time To Rise 3:46
2. Soulless (S.O.T.D.) 5:28
3. Power & Misery 8:34
4. The Deep Null 5:10
5. Mortal Effect 3:05
6. Despise Your Pain 5:04
7. Downfall 3:02
8. Checkmate 9:18
9. Beyond Inferno 4:02
Total playing time: 47:29


Samples: http://www.last.fm

Third full-length album by American Black Metal band.
Wrathful Plague's triumphant return after a 5 year hiatus with an Occult/Medieval Folk Black Metal opus.
Featuring a member of Cryptic/Panzerdivision.
Metallic Media, 2013 (METALLIC 0013). Made in USA.


Tracklist:
1. Introit 01:34
2. Within the Shadows 05:05
3. Transcendence 03:35
4. Thurisaz 04:59
5. Autumn's Eve 04:22
6. Beyond the Veil 05:54
7. Chalice of Dead Souls 04:14
8. Astral Abyss 06:28
9. Death's Embrace 05:37
Total playing time: 41:48

Second full-length album by the Irish Sludge/Funeral Doom Metal band.
Wreck Of The Hesperus, five years after their devastating debut work, "The Sunken Threshold", present their second attempt. 
The first highlight that comes to the surface while listening to the album is its production, it' s cleaner this time, something that helps the instruments unfold everything they want to present in the most appropriate way, alone and in unity at the same time. And then all hell breaks loose with the slowly expanding riffing as it blends with floating minimal anti-melodies while the echoing percussion embraces the intense drumming and the colossal bass lines. They have an Industrial, Ambient edge but there is also hints of free-form Jazz and even cinematic soundtrack music but mostly this is raw, filthy Funeral Sludge that is ugly, angry and monotonous but it still keeps attention despite is repetitive bleakness.
They still sound like a very pissed-off Thergothon or a Doomed-out Burzum or Darkthrone but this album unleashes a complex array of emotions through Blackened Ambiance and raw, Sludgy Doom that is thicker than molasses syrup.
What makes Wreck Of The Hesperus a unique band in the Doom scene it is what they don't do and don't play that makes them great. Their silences, pauses, starts and stops really makes this album the engaging, tormented experience that it is. The music keeps you guessing and keeps you on the edge of insanity for all of its 40 minutes.
This album comes in an interesting package; it is presented in A5-cardboard sleeve containing four beautiful graphic art cards that represent each track on the album.
Aesthetic Death Records, 2011 (ADCD 018). Made in Ireland. Pressed in Austria. First press.


Tracklist:
1. Kill Monument     8:46 
2. Cess Pit People     10:31 
3. The Holy Rheum I) Night Of Negative Stars II) Hologram Law     21:14
Total playing time: 40:31

The debut EP by Serbian Funeral Doom Metal one-man band.
"The Gloaming Tide" delivers some morose Atmospheric Funeral Doom, also displaying a more conventional Death/Doom approach at times.
Highly recommended for fans of Shape Of Despair, Skepticism or early My Dying Bride!
Limited Edition to 150 copies.
Narcoleptica Productions, 2022 (NP-376-22). Made in Kazakhstan. First press.


Tracklist:
1. Monarch of Obsidian Tears 10:56
2. Standstill at Aphelion 08:33
3. Amnion Oneirography 02:03
Total playing time: 21:34 min.


Samples: https://wurmlochdoom.bandcamp.com

The only compilation album by cult Italian Heavy/Power/Speed Metal band.
The history of winged dragon starts back in the cold winter of 1985, in a lonesome rehearsal room somewhere in the logs of northern Italy, fully packed with the Heavy Metal posters and pictures.
In their first years, the band recorded two demo tapes, the former just called "Wyvern", and sporting some strong NWOBHM influences, the latter called "Back To The Ancient Rage" already showing first seeds of Power/Speed Metal.
This compilation features remastered tracks of both demos:
track 1-7: "Back to the Ancient Rage" Demo 1988 (remastered);
track 8-11: "Wyvern" Demo 1987 (remastered).
The cover artwork is plagiarized from Ciruelo Cabral "Dark Dsurion" painting.
Unisound Records & Publications, 2002 (TRUE METAL 001). Made in Greece. First press.


Tracklist:
1. Intro 01:09
2. Night Fire 05:16
3. Lonely in the Street 05:41
4. Fear for Fate 05:26
5. Speed War 03:36
6. Nightmare 05:58
7. Danger 05:10
8. Lady Killer 03:50
9. Back to You 04:22
10. No Chance 03:23
11. Stand Up 05:17
Total playing time: 49:08 min.

The second full-length studio album by cult Italian Power/Speed Metal band.
Wyvern finally follows up their cult 1990 debut, "The Red Flame of Pain", with "Lords Of Winter". Recorded between 1998 and 2002, and only finding official release in 2010, the album sounds as timeless and trend-free as all true Heavy/Power Metal should.
A must for all fans of fantasy-themed Euro-Metal!
Choirs in track 9 performed by Teatro Regio (Parma) chorus singers.
Jolly Roger Records, 2011 (JRR020). Made in Italy. First press.


Tracklist:
1. Lord Of Winter 5:50
2. Twin Factory 5:45
3. Her Majesty Rage 6:02
4. Reflections 11:02
5. The Other One 4:42
6. Winter Tale 3:32
7. Shine 4:24
8. Ice Guardian 5:40
9. Eternal Symphony 11:15
10. Out In The Rain 5:45
Total playing time: 63:57 min.

For the first time on CD, remastered re-release of the debut full-length studio album by cult Italian NWOBHM/Power/Speed Metal band.
Wyvern offers a triumphant Power/Speed Metal, with quite brilliant and galloping guitars and a nice powerful drumming.
Originally self-released on vinyl in 1990, now available on CD for the first time with new cover artwork. A must for fans of the ancient European Power/Speed Metal sound!
Jolly Roger Records, 1990/2010 (JRR011). Made in Italy. Pressed in Germany. First press.


Tracklist:
1. Wyvern 8:23
2. Behind Bars 5:29
3. It's A Waste Of Time 6:08
4. Fight For Your Life 4:43
5. Prophecy 2:23
6. And The End 8:29
7. Adolescent Sex 6:15
Total playing time: 41:50 min.

Debut full-length album by Greek Heavy/Power Metal band.
A mix of late Helloween/Savatage music with a more progressive side and also some Rock influences. Something that sets X-Piral apart is the voice of Michael Apostolakis, he has a good range but spends most of his time in the deep end. Tracks worth listen to would be ‘Winter Skies’ with its keyboard work, the catchy ‘Steel Tears’ or the moody ballad ‘Far Horizons’. Symphonic Heavy Power Metal with marvelous synths, also influenced by Warlord, Judas Priest or Savatage.
Enhanced CD contains "Crawling in Your Minds" video + photos, biography, lyrics, contacts and wallpapers.
Burning Star Records, 2005 (BSRCD002). Made in Greece


Tracklist:
1. Steel Tears
2. Crawling In Your Minds
3. Metal Storm
4. Poison Eyes
5. Winter Skies
6. Plains Of Perfection
7. Fifteen Years Of Lies
8. Far Horizons

The fourth split release of two Thrash Metal bands - Xanadoo from Singapore and Fastkill from Japan.
"Thrashing In The East" presents two Asian Thrash Metal bands on one CD, coming together to provide 8 tracks of good, Thrashing fun. 

Xanadoo is fast Thrash Metal with traces of Crossover. Band‘s 2010 debut full-length album "Black. Death. Grind. Shit!" contained re-recorded versions of the tracks that were on the band’s previous 2 demos, "Blood Is Dirt" and "This Demo Is Shit", and while the quality of the re-recorded versions were certainly awesome as f**k, the fact that it contained only 1 new track ("Subterranean Hemorrhoid Blues") left fans craving for even more new material. "Thrashing In The East" is then that long-awaited antidote, with Xanadoo finally releasing 4 (well, technically 3) brand new tracks along with their Japanese compatriots Fastkill!
Includes an Abigail cover!

Fastkill is brutal fast Thrash the way it’s meant to be! As though the dosage of speed by Xanadoo weren’t enough, Fastkill begins their onslaught with a rough mix of "Stench Of Hell", off their recent full-length album, "Bestial Thrashing Bulldozer". The raw sound of this rough mix helps to bring out that high energy and intensity that is in the band’s playing, and is definitely a nice touch to the already devastating final version of the track. Toshio’s characteristic screechy vocals are still instantly recognizable, and so is the breakneck speed that Fastkill tends to indulge themselves in.
Sick Tankard cover includes!

Thrashing in the East is one hell of an exciting and enjoyable release, and while it is business as usual for speed maniacs Fastkill, the fresh tracks of Xanadoo definitely made this a noteworthy release as well! The craving is more than satisfied for now!!
Riff Raff Records/Nuclear Gaichal Recordings/One A Records/Rock Stakk Records, 2012 (RAFF-001). Made in Asia. First press.

Tracklist:

XANADOO:
1. Repression     2:00
2. The Keyboard Warrior     2:55
3. Fuck Tiger Beer     2:28
4. War 666 (cover Abigial)     2:52

Fastkill:    
5. Stench Of Hell     2:53
6. The Morning After (cover Tankard)     3:27
7. Die In Pain (Live)     2:39     
8. Toxic Tormentor (Live)     3:22

Total playing time: 22:36

Samples:  http://xanadoo.bandcamp.com

The second full-length studio album by Spanish Melodic Death/Power/Folk Metal band.
Recorded and mixed by Ruben Alonso at Kastell von Pahlomen Studios and mastered by Tony Lindgren (Dimmu Borgir, Opeth, Blind Guardian, Eluveitie, etc) at Fascination Street Studios (Arch Enemy, Amon Amarth, Sepultura, Moonspell, etc), "Na Alma" is the first part of a trilogy called "No Ser". This is an ambitious and extensive work already written in its entirety, which is an excellent introduction of Xhamain.
The style of the Galician sextet combines elements of traditional Celtic music, such as bagpipes and flutes, with the strength and energy of Metal with Gothic and Symphonic hints. The male/female vocal duality adds a great variety of melodic nuances to the final result.
Xhamain take the listener to a journey into the world of Celtic traditional Folk music enriched by a Metal sound, which is dominated by a mixture of melodic Death Metal and Power Metal.
“Na Alma” is a perfect combination of Melodic Death, Power Metal, and the dominating Folk Metal part. The strength of the album is the outstanding quality of all instruments, including the vocals. The compositions of the songs allow every band member to contribute equally towards their strengths. The songwriting is very mature, and the album is very well produced. Xhamain set the bar very high with their debut and the listener will be excited about the things to come with parts two and three of “Na Ser”. The album is a must-have for every Folk Metal fan!
Suspiria Records, 2021 (SPR027 | M-23681-2021). Made in Spain. First press.


Tracklist:
1. Entrando na Alma 01:28
2. Eterna Soedade 04:41
3. Tempo Atrás 04:55
4. Tan Só Tres 04:54
5. Soño de Inverno 04:30
6. Xunto a Ti 05:20
7. Plenilunio, Pt. 1 – Reflexo 05:12
8. Plenilunio, Pt. 2 – O Son do Mar 05:49
9. Plenilunio, Pt. 3 – Amencer 07:54
Total playing time: 44:45 min.

Debut full-length album by Italian Black/Death Metal band.
10 tracks of pure darkness and blasphemy. Touch the primordial Evil essence. Slow and heavy funeral moments blended with the classic speed and brutality as demand this kind of music.
Recommended to Black Metal fans in general, as well as to those who love the blackest, dirtiest, rawest Death Metal, to those who listen to War Metal. Also recommended for fans of: Archgoat, Pseudogod, Black Witchery, Morbosidad, Diocletian, Blasphemy, Proclamation etc...
Another Side Records, 2015 (ASR14-114). 
 

Tracklist:
1. Intro 02:30
2. Desecration of the Image of God 04:53
3. Die as a Sinner 04:09
4. The Cherub's Throne 04:15
5. LHP 04:17
6. Wirlwind of Fire 04:36
7. The Great Worm of the Third Circle 04:26
8. Primordial Evil Essence 04:13
9. Eternal Flame 03:40
10. Outro 00:43
Total playing time: 38:06 min.

 

Debut full-length album by Italian Black/Death Metal band.
10 tracks of pure darkness and blasphemy. Touch the primordial Evil essence. Slow and heavy funeral moments blended with the classic speed and brutality as demand this kind of music.
Recommended to Black Metal fans in general, as well as to those who love the blackest, dirtiest, rawest Death Metal, to those who listen to War Metal. Also recommended for fans of: Archgoat, Pseudogod, Black Witchery, Morbosidad, Diocletian, Blasphemy, Proclamation etc...
Another Side Records, 2015 (ASR14-114). Made in Ukraine. First press.
 

Tracklist:
1. Intro 02:30
2. Desecration of the Image of God 04:53
3. Die as a Sinner 04:09
4. The Cherub's Throne 04:15
5. LHP 04:17
6. Wirlwind of Fire 04:36
7. The Great Worm of the Third Circle 04:26
8. Primordial Evil Essence 04:13
9. Eternal Flame 03:40
10. Outro 00:43
Total playing time: 38:06 min.

 

The eighth full-length studio album by legendary American Soft Metal band.
It is the first Y&T studio album to feature a different line-up since their debut album, with Jimmy DeGrasso replacing Leonard Haze on drums after he left the band in 1986.
The band used outside co-writers on many songs for the album. Taylor Rhodes has written hits for Aerosmith and Celine Dion and produced and wrote on an album by Glam Metal band Kix, the song "Temptation" is credited to Kennemore along with Megadeth and Savatage guitarist Al Pitrelli and Danger Danger bass player Bruno Ravel, while Robert White Johnson who cowrote "Eyes of A Stranger" with Rhodes also wrote songs for Celine Dion and Doro among many others.
30 000 albums were pressed with the track titled "Boys Night Out" instead of "L.A. Rocks." This was due to the song title chosen for that song that came from Jesse Harms (Sammy Hagar's keyboardist at the time), who was working with Dave Meneketti at the time, but when Geffen released a Sammy Hagar album using the actual song written by Harms, "Boys Night Out" Y&T was forced to change the title on the insistence of David Geffen.
The album peaked at #78 on the Billboard 200.
Geffen Records/Warner Bros. Records Inc./WEA Musik GmbH, 1987 (924 142-1). Made in Germany. First press. Used (cover/disc): VG/EX.


Tracklist:

Side 1
1. Contagious 3:19
2. L.A. Rocks 4:37
3. Temptation 4:22
4. The Kid Goes Crazy 4:14
5. Fight for Your Life 4:47

Side 2
1. Armed And Dangerous 4:17
2. Rhythm Or Not 5:05
3. Bodily Harm 3:31
4. Eyes of A Stranger 4:37
5. I'll Cry for You 2:33

Total playing time: 41:49 min.

The seventh full-length studio album by legendary American Hard Rock/Meavy Metal band.
The album marks the band's change to a lighter sound to find success in the Hair Metal scene. It contains the band's biggest hit, "Summertime Girls", which charted at #55 on the Billboard Hot 100. This song had initially appeared as the only studio track on the band's live album, "Open Fire", released earlier in the year. The album itself peaked at #91 on the Billboard 200 on December 14, 1985. It was the last album with the original line-up of Meniketti, Alves, Kennemore and Haze, as Haze left the following year.
A&M Records, Inc., 1985 (SP 5101). Made in Canada. First press. Promotional Copy. Used (cover/disc): EX/EX.


Tracklist:

Side 1
1. In The Name Of Rock 5:30
2. All American Boy 2:20
3. Anytime At All 4:29
4. Anything For Money 3:19
5. Face Like An Angel 4:32

Side 2
1. Summertime Girls (Studio Version) 3:26
2. Looks Like Trouble 4:02
3. Your Mama Don't Dance 2:46
4. Don't Tell Me What To Wear 4:00
5. Hands Of Time 6:10

Total playing time: 40:34 min.

The first live album by legendary American Hard Rock/Heavy Metal band.
The album also introducing a new studio song, "Summertime Girls". The live material on the album was recorded at various venues in Greater London in early 1985, and during April 5–6, 1985, at the Keystone club in Palo Alto, California. The Keystone songs, "Go For the Throat" and "Open Fire", were recorded by Guy Charbonneau in Le Mobile, a mobile recording studio. All the live tracks were remixed at A&M Studios. The song "Summertime Girls" is a studio recording, produced and engineered separately by Kevin Beamish at Sound City Studios in Van Nuys.
"Open Fire" spent 17 weeks on the Billboard 200, peaking at Number 70. "Summertime Girls" Single became the band's biggest hit, peaking at Number 16 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Chart. The song also appeared on the band's next proper studio album, "Down For The Count", which was released in November 1985. Despite this, "Open Fire" would go on to become a one of the hardest to find albums by the band.
A&M Records/PGP RTB (2223040). Made in Yugoslavia. First press. Used (cover/disc): EX/NM-


Tracklist:

Side 1
1. Open Fire 4:26
2. Go For The Throat 4:51
3. 25 Hours A Day 4:21
4. Rescue Me 5:54

Side 2
5. Summertime Girls (Studio Version) 3:29
6. Forever 5:55
7. Barroom Boogie 4:34
8. I Believe In You 8:05

Total playing time: 41:35 min.

Debut full-length album by American Sludge/Doom Metal band.
10 tracks of excellent Sludge/Doom Metal from Michigan City, Indiana. Fuzzed out, Sludged up, pumped full of Death, and Stoned out of its goddamned mind, Disgust is the product of a veteran trio of 40-somethings that have done time in Chronic Disorder, Sea Of Tranquillity, Shades Of Grey, Skullview, Nocturnal Torment, and Invasion.
The album has a distinctly ’90s-style Death Metal production — the guitar of Hank McGinnis is crunchy more than fuzz-laden as one might expect, and his vocals are barked out like earliest Morbid Angel or maybe even Max Cavalera when Sepultura were a Death Metal band. Yellowtooth‘s rhythm section of bassist/backing vocalist Peter Clemens and drummer Ed Kribs strike an excellent balance between proffering extreme abrasion and highlighting riff-led nod-fodder.
The band has certainly has unleashed an album which is openly inspiring and a certainty to capture vast amount of imaginations for all things Yellowtooth.
Orchestrated Misery Recordings/Cursed Productions, 2012 (misery003). Made in USA.


Tracklist:
1. Wizard Dust 05:41
2. Soulstalker 04:16
3. John Wilkes Booth 04:52
4. 75 Black Pontiac 04:44
5. Burning Daylight 05:30
6. Prophetic Ramblings 04:26
7. On the Trail of Lewis Medlock 05:11
8. Traitor 03:50
9. Decaying from Within 04:39
10. 11th Hour 04:09
Total playing time: 47:18

​​​​​​​

The second full-length album by American Sludge/Doom Metal band.
Hailing from the state of Indiana, the band make a mighty return with their new album entitled “Crushed By The Wheels Of Progress”. This album is definitely going to take the Underground Sludge/Doom scene by storm for the simple fact that these guys are so devastatingly awesome with the music that they create. What makes them so awesome? Well, they take a form of music where all that can be done has been done and they add their own special magic to is to breathe new life and start a new legacy of Doom-like Sludginess that is sure to satisfy the most critical of fans.
Even though they are labelled as a Sludge/Doom band, there are several instances throughout this album where you can definitely feel a Death n’ Roll type vibe going on. Try to picture, if you will, Entombed playing a Cathedral album.
The guitar work on this album is phenomenal. The use of Groove-laden riffs at precise moments really compliment the straight forward Sludge/Doom riffs. In most instances the Groove style of playing is brought to the forefront which is done in a way and intended to be more than just an accent to the music. The way these riffs are played hits you right in the soul and then continues to dig even deeper.
If you are into bands like Cathedral, Entombed (Death n’ Roll era), Black Label Society, Down, or bands similar to these, then it's highly recommend to check out this album! The caliber of the music contained in this CD almost commands respect!!
Orchestrated Misery Recordings, 2015 (misery006). Made in USA. First press.


Tracklist:
1. Meet Mr. Mossberg 5:48
2. Climbing The Mountain 5:15
3. Season's End 7:15
4. Manifesto 5:11
5. Crushed By The Wheels Of Progress 8:33
6. Spiral Stairs 4:52
7. Before I Return To Dust 5:02
8. Virginia Creeper 4:52
Total playing time: 46:48


Samples: http://www.last.fm

The eighth full-length studio album by legendary English Progressive Rock band.
“Going For The One” saw the return of Rick Wakeman and found the band incorporating shorter form songs.
The album topped the U.K. charts and reached #8 on the Billboard 200. It includes the hit Singles “Wonderous Stories” and “Going For The One.”
Trifold cover sleeve.
Atlantic Recording Corporation/WEA Records B.V., 1977 (ATL 50379). Printed in U.S.A. Made in Netherlands. First press. OIS. Used (cover/disc): EX/EX.


Tracklist:

Side 1
1. Going For The One  5:30    
2. Turn Of The Century  7:58
3. Parallels  5:52

Side 2
4. Wonderous Stories  3:45    
5. Awaken  15:38    

Total playing time: 38:43 min.

The first re-release of the seventeenth full-length studio album by legendary British Progressive Rock band.
The band's first “full” studio album after the twin projects "Keys To Ascension" and "Keys To Ascension 2", which were both live and studio albums. It is also the first album with former session member Billy Sherwood on guitar, and the only one on which he also plays keyboards.
Following the 1996 revival of the 1970s "classic" line-up of Yes, the band's relationship with management had broken down and keyboardist Rick Wakeman had once again left the band. While various other members dispersed, guitarist, keyboardist, and producer Billy Sherwood (a long-time Yes associate and contributor) began developing new songs with band bassist and de facto leader Chris Squire to prevent the band from losing momentum and fully splitting. Yes' new management company suggested adding a couple of songs originally written for Squire and Sherwood's other band, Conspiracy, to help build up material for a new Yes studio album. With the writing and production sessions dominated by Squire and Sherwood, and with singer Jon Anderson, guitarist Steve Howe and drummer Alan White only involved later in the process, the writing and creative input of the latter three members was limited.
"Open Your Eyes" received mixed reviews from music critics and became one of the band's lowest selling albums, reaching number 151 on the US Billboard 200 and failing to enter the UK Albums Chart. Its lead Single, "Open Your Eyes", reached number 33 on the Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, which was followed by a second, "New State of Mind". A limited edition with a surround sound mix was also released (the first album ever released in that format), containing a surround mix developed by Seattle Audio Imaging Labs, Inc. with an encoding system more suitable for home theatre audio systems. This version had the ambient section of "The Solution" omitted.
Yes supported the album with a 12-month world tour from October 1997 that coincided with their thirtieth anniversary. The band were joined by russian keyboardist Igor Khoroshev, who had played on the album as a guest musician and who became a full-time member at the tour's conclusion. The tour saw the band perform in smaller venues such as theatres and amphitheatres. The Alan Parsons Live Project was the opening act on select dates. The show at the Universal Amphitheatre in Los Angeles saw the band joined on stage with a school choir for a performance of "No Way We Can Lose".
Many Yes fans really dislike this album. However, it is a disc, as much of the classics in the band's catalogue are, that is not fully appreciated on the first few listenings. You really need to give this one the time to sink in. The faithful in Yes' fandom had very high hopes for this release, as it was the first full studio album after Steve Howe re-joined the band. Many were anticipating another "Close To The Edge". The album certainly does not live up to that standard. It actually works better, serving as a bridge between the classic Yes sound of the '70s and the more Pop-oriented Trevor Rabin-era material. It also seems at times to carry on in the direction begun with such albums as "Tormato" and "Drama". There are at least a couple of standout tracks here that would, having been released on a different album, probably have become Yes classics and fan favourites.
Beyond Music/Eagle Records, a division of Eagle Rock Entertainment Plc./Sony Music Entertainment Czech Republic s.r.o., 1997/2010 (8869745570249). Made in Czech.


Tracklist:
1. New State Of Mind 6:00
2. Open Your Eyes 5:14
3. Universal Garden 6:16
4. No Way We Can Lose 4:56
5. Fortune Seller 5:00
6. Man In The Moon 4:41
7. Wonderlove 6:06
8. From The Balcony 2:43
9. Love Shine 4:37
10. Somehow.....Someday 4:47
11. The Solution 5:25
12. The Source (Hidden Track) 16:22
Total playing time: 74:10 min.