Album Rating: 2.0

If nothing else this made me listen to the album again and realize how great the music was/is. But I can hear what you're saying about the production.

Album Rating: 3.5 | Sound Off

—The same, but different (way fucking worse for no good reason)—

I am a little confused about how Paul Masvidal could have heard this and not sent them back to fix at least the guitar sound.

— The Dimmu Borgir remix that came out last year was good. I actually prefer it to the original because it sounds like an alternate version and not like an "updated" version.—

I forgot about the Dimmu Borgir Remix/Remaster. That was a remake done well.

— If nothing else this made me listen to the album again and realize how great the music was/is. —

If this at least encourages people to check out or revisit the original, I guess that’s at least a start.

Probably a cash grab tbh. It’s the only explanation for why people try to remaster classic albums. Part of what makes them classic in the first place imo is the “When’s” and “where’s” of the production, mixing, and mastering. You can’t just entirely recontextualize an album without losing some of the magic in the process.

Album Rating: 3.5 | Sound Off

Artist cash grabs are fine as long as they make it worth our money, too. I mean, the Atheist / Cynic tour is obviously a cash grab, too, but it's worth our money. Do you think Paul really wants to tour on Focus instead of the new album? No way. Basically, cash grabs don't have to be negative if they're beneficial to fans and artists... most remix / remaster albums are. There's a subset of people (me being one) that generally prefer an updated version. I would love an updated version of this that didn't neuter the guitar sound, for example.

great write up, particularly re the whole 90s weird metal things only getting their fair fame years down the line

everything sounds crap on this except the drums

Album Rating: 3.5

The magic is lost

Album Rating: 1.0

Dunno why i gave this a 1.5, it’s a 1.0



I need to not fear the 1.0

Album Rating: 2.5

wut about the original polygon boi

Album Rating: 1.0

5.0 obviously

Album Rating: 2.5

noice

“ wants to tour on Focus instead of the new album? No way. Basically, cash grabs don't have to be negative if they're beneficial to fans and artists..”

True. But I was mostly just putting in my 2 cents on your question on how Paul would have let the guitar sounds slide.

Album Rating: 2.0

So much to be gained here. They could have rerecorded just the rhythm guitars and EQ tweaked them to perfection. Fuck.

Album Rating: 3.5 | Sound Off

-- True. But I was mostly just putting in my 2 cents on your question on how Paul would have let the guitar sounds slide. --

Oh, yeah, you're right for sure. He hasn't held much love for this album in forever. During the press rounds for the original release, I think he had already moved on to the next album.

--So much to be gained here. They could have rerecorded just the rhythm guitars and EQ tweaked them to perfection. Fuck.--

Traced in Air Remixed showed he's not opposed to re-recording parts, if required. Like Potsy alluded to, I don't think there was any passion in this project.

--great write up, particularly re the whole 90s weird metal things only getting their fair fame years down the line--

Thanks. I figured I didn't really need to review the 'album' so I'd just provide some context instead.

Album Rating: 1.0

Yeah great point about Traced, put that remixed album next to this one and it’s like night and day

^^You mean Re-Traced?

Yeah, I liked it a lot too, unlike this one.

Album Rating: 1.0

Yeah that is what I meant by traced remixed abum

I wonder how Traced In Air Remixed sounds in comparison, haven't got to that at all.

Album Rating: 1.0

It sounds excellent, night and day when compared to this one

Well, it makes sense, because both albums aren't too distant in terms of era and technological means.

This and Focus on the other hand, straddle two different centuries...