Virgin Steele reissue their first 2 albums with bonus tracks

 

Hot on the heels of last summer’s brand new Bombastic Epic release “THE PASSION OF DIONYSUS”, this summer the very first VIRGIN STEELE album will be re-issued on August 23, 2024, via Steamhammer/SPV in a very special edition, as a digi-CD and as a Gatefold Double Vinyl LP, and also in digital format. 

David DeFeis has included an additional moniker to this re-release he calls it…”The Anniversary Edition”, for he has completely re-mixed the album start to finish from the original multi-tracks. He states, ”I added that additional title because one, this is indeed a very special re-issue. And two…this is a celebration. Every song on the album has been lovingly restored, with faith, heart & Steele. Incredibly for the most part the original multi-track tapes held up quite well, but now and again some creative decisions had to be made, which not only did not at all hinder the record’s resurrection, but in the end actually resulted in making the album stronger, and the songs even more interesting. The original fire has been kept…enhanced, and sonically there is greater definition all around. You can really appreciate the explosive performances from everyone. It’s like being back in the studio the day it was recorded. In addition to the inclusion of the early demos, we were also able to include several new bonus tracks including a new thrashing doom type song called HELL FROM BEYOND THE STARS, plus an alternate version of THE FIRE GOD, and a new over the top version of the song VIRGIN STEELE (New Orchestral Version)”. 

Those like myself who have been privy to a preview of this blazing first album, can attest that the sonic experience has been greatly improved. If raw, rip-roaring high octane metal is your thing, grab a copy of this one at your very first opportunity.

Track Listing:

1. Minuet In G Minor - (Anniversary Re-Mix) 

2. Danger Zone - (Anniversary Re-Mix)    

3. American Girl - (Anniversary Re-Mix)  

4. Dead End Kids - (Anniversary Re-Mix)         

5. Drive On Thru - (Anniversary Re-Mix)  

6. Lothlorien (Orchestral Version) - (Anniversary Re-Mix)

7. Still In Love With You - (Anniversary Re-Mix)    

8. Children Of The Storm - (Anniversary Re-Mix)  

9. Pictures On You - (Anniversary Re-Mix)    

10. Pulverizer - (Anniversary Re-Mix)  

11. Living In Sin - (Anniversary Re-Mix)  

12. Virgin Steele - (Anniversary Re-Mix)  

13.The Lesson (Demo) - (Anniversary Re-Mix)  

14.Life Of Crime (Demo) - (Anniversary Re-Mix)  

15.Burn The Sun (Demo) - (Anniversary Re-Mix)  

16.Hell From Beyond The Stars - (New Bonus Track) 

17. The Fire God - (New Alternate Version Bonus Track) 

18.Virgin Steele - (New Orchestral Version Bonus Track)

These men of Steele have been busy! Hot on the heels of last summer’s brand new Bombastic Epic release “THE PASSION OF DIONYSUS” coming this summer in addition to the re-release of the very first VIRGIN STEELE album, the second VIRGN STEELE album, “GUARDIANS OF THE FLAME”, will also be re-released in tandem with the first album, on August 23, 2024, via Steamhammer/SPV in a very special edition, as a digi-CD and as a Gatefold Double Vinyl LP, and also in digital format. 

David DeFeis has included an additional moniker to this re-release…”The Anniversary Edition”, for like he has done with VIRGIN STEELE 1, he has completely re-mixed the album from start to finish. He had this to say to me, ”I felt compelled to add that additional title because just like with VS 1 this too is a very special reissue. And again…this too is a great celebration! As I did with VS 1, once again every song on the album has been lovingly restored, re-mixed with faith, heart & Steele. 

It was a joy to go back to the original multi-tracks, listen and find all the various outtakes, studio chatter and even a long forgotten about piano solo that I had done. In resurrecting this album, I did my best to try to preserve the original feel and integrity of what we were trying to achieve, while at the same time hoping to make it sonically clearer and more direct. The original energy and exuberant fire remains…and there is greater definition all around”. 

On the preview day I listened with several others and we were amazed at how fresh these Works sounded. The album sounds like it could have been recorded just this week! It has that classic 80’s sensibility combined with a timeless yet modern aura. Not an easy thing to achieve I imagine. 

David continues, “ for me it feels like being back in those days again only with the knowledge gained from having lived several lives since then. The full album is represented in its original entirety, plus we have included the tracks from the extended play single we had issued right after “Guardians”, which featured the songs, (I AM THE ONE, GO DOWN FIGHTING & WAIT FOR THE NIGHT) and… in addition we were also able to include several new bonus tracks, such as the lost diabolical piano solo…CHAOS CAPRICE, (from the original “Guardians” Sessions), a new alternate version of the song DESERT PLAINS, a brand new track called DIRTY BLONDE ANGEL, (that I had actually written for the AGE OF CONSENT album but we had never recorded until now), and there is also another bonus track in the form of “THE HEAVEN’S DOOR SUITE”, which contains a re-written cover of the song KNOCKIN’ ON HEAVEN’S DOOR combined with new music that I crafted…”

Like my listening experience with their re-mixed first album, I can attest that the sonic experience has greatly improved. Hold your flaming swords high…victory is at hand!

Track Listing:

01. Don’t Say Goodbye (Tonight) - (Anniversary Re-Mix)

02. Burn The Sun - (Anniversary Re-Mix)

03. Life Of Crime - (Anniversary Re-Mix)

04. The Redeemer - (Anniversary Re-Mix)

05. Birth Through Fire - (Anniversary Re-Mix)

06. Guardians Of The Flame - (Anniversary Re-Mix)

07. Metal City - (Anniversary Re-Mix)

08. Hell Or High Water - (Anniversary Re-Mix)

09. Go All The Way - (Anniversary Re-Mix)

10. Chaos Caprice - (Piano-Solo From The Original ‚Guardians’ Sessions)

11. A Cry In The Night - (Anniversary Re-Mix)

 

Bonus EP-Tracks:

12. I Am The One - (Anniversary Re-Mix)

13. Go Down Fighting - (Anniversary Re-Mix)

14. Wait For The Night - (Anniversary Re-Mix)

 

Additional Bonustracks:

15. Desert Plains - (Alternate Version Bonus Track) 

16. Dirty Blonde Angel - (New Bonus Track) 

17. The Heaven’s Door Suite - (New Bonus Track)