Back catalogue: Rock (All)

Review: Dutch symphonic metal icons, Epica, deliver the ultimate fan service with the epic (excuse the pun) compilation box set,'We Still Take You With Us: The Early Years. Consisting of the band's first three, long out of print, full-lengths; 'The Phantom Agony', 'Consign To Oblivion', and, 'The Score', as well as the long sought after, 'Live At Paradiso' performance, recorded at the legendary Paradiso theatre in Amsterdam during the touring cycle of these early albums, there's no denying the care and attention to detail the band have poured into this expansive collection. Including b-sides, demos, as well as recordings from their first appearance on live Dutch television, this 11xLP beast is a vital puzzle piece/holy grail compiling of long sought-after physicals, collectively priced at a far lesser amount than any flipped singular, earlier editions.

Review: Since signing The Exploited in 2021, iconic metal/punk label Nuclear Blast have gone to lengths to reissue the three latest albums from the legendary Edinburgh oi-punks, who by the arrival of 1987's Death Before Dishonour, had moved towards an even more aggressive form of crossover thrash hardcore. This direction would continue to be pursued throughout their 90s output, with The Massacre in 1990, Beat The Bastards in 1996 and most recently (although 21 years and counting currently) 2003's vicious statement of latter-day intent Fuck The System. Coming seven years after its predecessor as well as marking the band's seventh overall full-length, it's the only album to date to feature guitarist Robbie Davidson and bassist Mikie Jacobs, while the project and its subsequent tour cycle would be marred in controversy due to the band being refused entry into Montreal, Canada in October 2003. This led to the cancellation of the show and a full scale riot of 500 fans smashing windows and destroying cars, ultimately leading to their Mexico City date also being cancelled for safety reasons. Is it really shocking to imagine that's how The Exploited's fans would react when they felt that burned? Juno don't condone, we're just not that surprised.

Review: With the arrival of 1987's Death Before Dishonour, Edinburgh punk legends The Exploited began to distance themselves from their pre-established oi/street punk demeanour, and move towards a far heavier, speed metal-inflected crossover thrash style of hardcore punk; a direction they would continue to pursue throughout the 90s. Following a six-year gap after 1990's The Massacre, 1996 would see the group return with easily the best LP from their latter-day output, Beat The Bastards. Packed to the brim with seething, feral bangers such as 'Law Tor The Rich', 'System Fucked Up', and 'Massacre Of Innocents', this new splattered vinyl double LP pressing comes courtesy of the wonderful folks over at Nuclear Blast who've worked to beautifully restore and reissue the band's heaviest final three albums ever since signing them back in 2021.