Hmm, since everyone in Hypocrisy is busy with everything but Hypocrisy, Peter Tagtgren decided he would essentially redo their most misunderstood album, Catch 22. Fans took it as a backhand bitchslap since they thought it sounded nu-metal and wimpy, pretty much the same scenario as Metallica's Black Album. On this re-release, Peter aimed to achieve, as Woody Allen would say, heaviosity. Well, here's a pat on the freakin back Peter.
From the first song, you'll notice the drums are more sound and deep. The guitars are completely remastered, and sound way more like death metal than the "lack-of-punch" from before. Just these two things make this album sound more...appropriate. Songs like Uncontrolled and A Public Puppet are actually badass now instead of just ok, just from a bit of editing. And sorry for any who wondered, there's no extra solos. All keyboards and what have you haven't seemed to be touched, and still sound fantastic, especially in Hatred. All Turns Black is a completely different song. Anyone who felt it had potential to be great will be fulfilled here.
The most noticeable change in the album is the vocals. They haven't just been remastered, they've been redone. If you enjoyed Peter's deeper vocals from Virus, place those here with a bit more higher screaming. His sing-screams sound way better than before, in that they sound more powerful. Hell, all the vocals sound more powerful and forceful. The ONLY problem I had with them is that at the end of Don't Judge Me, he didn't do that awesome alien giggle. Also, Turn The Page has rid itself of almost all the high screams he had before, which I personally liked better. Almost all vocal overdubs are gone as well; usually it works, but in songs like Hatred, it would've been better to incorporate those.
For one dude to take an album and turn it 180, retain the same feel but pack it with more energy and attitude, it's pretty awesome that this didn't suck. It's almost like the re-release is a completely different album. If you enjoy the old one then you'll love this. Plus, the bonus track included here is nothing short of awesome, sounds like it belongs on their self-titled album. I do have one bone to pick here though. Peter said he redid the album because people didn't understand it though he felt it was "***ing awesome." In my opinion, that's a poor reason to redo the album, because he was happy with it before, and that's good. All in all, it's definantly worth checking out if you liked or disliked the old Catch 22. I doubt this will welcome anyone who never cared for Hypocrisy, but this is more for the fans than anything, which I commend.
Worth listening to before you buy:
Don't Judge Me
Hatred
Seeds Of The Chosen One
All Turns Black
