NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO: EXODUS RE-RECORDING BONDED BY BLOOD
Friday, June 20th, 2008 at 10:46am by Axl Rosenberg
Holy shit, I don’t even know what to write. I feel so sick right now. I wouldn’t even categorize myself as a hardcore Exodus fan, and I actually really like new(ish) vocalist Rob Dukes, but the idea that the band is re-recording their seminal album Bonded By Blood just rubs me rawer than my dick after a lubeless, hour long jerk-off session.
I was just talking about re-recordings a little while back, and I think at the time that I came to the conclusion that this was a pointless but ultimately harmless exercise.
I see now that I was wrong. This is the metal equivalent of all those terrible remakes and franchise revivals that Hollywood is pumping out these days. The best case scenario is that the only people who ever listen to this are those who have heard and appreciated the original album and are just kinda curious about why the band would ever waste their time doing such a thing.
HOLY DEEP FRIED CHICKEN SHIT, CAN YOU IMAGINE IF SOME STUPID FUCKING KID ACTUALLY LISTENS TO THE RE-RECORDING FIRST, FALLS IN LOVE WITH IT, AND SOMEHOW NEVER GOES BACK TO LISTEN TO THE ORIGINAL?
I know. I know. I’m overreacting. “Calm down,” I can hear you say. “It’s not like they’re burning all the copies of the original in the world.” And in a way, you’d be right.
But I can’t see any motivation for this except for money. And call me overly idealistic, but that’s some fuckin’ bullshit right there.
Now, Gary Holt has said he also wants to do a 25th Anniversary tribute to deceased singer Paul Baloff and re-record the entire album using a different all-star singer for each song. I can kinda get behind that, I guess. It seems more like a legitimate “tribute” than just a cash-in.
Look: if the band wanted to do a deluxe anniversary re-release of Bonded by Blood with a DVD or a Rob Dukes-fronted version of the title track as a bonus or something, I don’t think I’d have a problem with that.
But for the love of all things holy, I implore every band out there to stop re-recording their shit.
-AR
Exodus is my favorite metal band, and this definitely rubs me the wrong way. It’s not the end of the world, but not a great choice to re-record. Classics should be left untouched.
Exodus is one of my favourite bands, but just re-recording BBB is pointless(or should I say: blasphemy?) since it’s a classic and classics should be untouchable unless you try something new with it and respect the original(I quite like the idea of a Paul Baloff tribute with different singers)
Now I have to go into the weekend trying to wipe clean from my mind the image of Axl in an hour-long JO session sans lube.
@Sammy: Since you have no idea what I look like, I imagine that won’t be too hard.
@Axl
He has no idea what you look like, but if he is like most people, has already built a mental image of you.
Much like you might do with a radio DJ.
@Axl: You disappoint me. You must be hungover or really tired, because I would have expected at least a sophomoric insult or a derogatory questioning of my sexuality. Or some reference to me just imagining you looking like David Draiman. Something!
Well anyway, you’re still my co-favorite douchebag. Have a nice weekend.
You are 100% correct in your analysis, sir. It would be much cooler if Exodus and Vader just decided to rerecord each others albums, you know?
Hm….I’m curious. I’ve heard some bootlegs of Dukes doing the BBB stuff live and it was actually pretty damn good, but I’m glad everyone agrees that re-recording old stuff is a bad idea. I get the feeling that I’ll enjoy it, but I’m gonna feel a bit dirty every time I give it a spin instead of the original.
I never thought Bonded by Blood was that great. I know where you’re coming from w/ the cash in sell out manuever. Regardless, I think Killing is my business and business is good would be a good candidate for a total re-recording.
But….. only if the original members would do it. Obviously, Gar is dead, so that’s out.
I don’t mind if they re-record this, but if they fuck this up, I will hate them forever.
Joining in the trend of misguided nostalgia is Obituary who are recording a 4 song EP called Left To Die. One of the songs is a re-recording of their classic “Slowly We Rot.”
Granted, it’s not a full on album re-recording, but this trend needs to stop.
Suicidal Tendencies re-recorded their first album a while ago & ruined it completely, this was in the mid 90’s maybe?
I love “BBB” but I have to agree that this is a bad idea. Not only is it a kind of cheap ploy to capitalize on mindless nostalgia, but it also draws attention to the fact that their first album is still their strongest one. Their last album was pretty good & well received, so to me it seems like this would be an unnecessary step backwards.
Anyway, they sort of already did re-record “BBB” on the live “Another Lesson In Violence” album (which kills BTW), the only “BBB” track not on it is “Metal Command”. It was like Paul Baloff’s tribute to himself, in a way.
How could you even think of rerecording this classic with out Paul Baloff ? And why would you want to ? Gary dont do it…….
If your original vocalist sucked, re-recording is entirely justified. Exhibit A: Iced Earth re-recordings with Matt Barlow. Barlow RULES, the other guy just drools.
Re-recording songs has been done in one way or another… First Strike Still Deadly (Testament), 25 Years in Beers (Tankard), etc…
The other side of the coin sometimes is re-mastering (Megadeth doing this to their whole discography -which I think was a bad idea to do, particularly albums post 1988). But, I’d love to hear …And Justice For All with bass.
Ok neat news and all, but what happened to the Atrocity Exhibition Exhibit B? (The supposive follow up to A)
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the rerecording of this album is the only one available on itunes. so i bought it. an loved it. suckit axl
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EXODUS is my fave band, and Bonded is my fave album from them. At first I was pissed about them getting rid of Zetro, but I’ve grown to like Robs voice a lot. Also, EXODUS hardly ever put out a new album without some kind of line-up change. Plus, now we have another great band, Tenet, to listen to with Zetro as lead vocalist and now they are another one of my top faves!!! It didn’t bother me that they were re-recording Bonded, but I just figured it would not be one of their best moves. I gotta say, though, that after listening to it, I think it’s fuckin’ awesome!!! EXODUS is still (and always will be) one of my fave bands (right next to SLAYER). I’m glad they re-recorded Bonded now and I actually don’t know which one I like better.