Freitag, 18. März 2016

integrity - systems overload

when i got into integrity i bought their newer records. post 2010 stuff. i really came to like those two full lengths, 'the blackest curse' and 'suicide black snake', and the 'black heksen rise' 7". good shit. naturally i stretched my hands out for other available vinyl of the band. at the moment those organized crime records re-issues of classic integ releases are accessible quite well. so i opted for 'systems overload'.
i wasn't really expecting this to be better than the recent stuff. somehow i was anticipating this album to be a rawer, unpolished version of the band's future sound. well, it is just that but at the same time it is so much better. 1995's 'systems overload' hit me like a train at full speed and i still feel like being pressed against the front of the engine.
i mean, their 'in contrast of sin' 7" which i bought last year did already set the tone, still 'systems overload' blew me away. i am really looking forward to recieve my copy of 'those who fear tomorrow'. if it's only partly as impressing, it will be a blast. strange to talk about those albums as if they were new releases at pre-order stage. anyway, you probably listened to 'systems overload' countless times before but if not, go check it!
organized crime does impressive jobs with their integrity re-pressings. they re-worked the cover art a bit which is really to its advantage, i'd say. the inner gatefold comes with the album credits and the iconic integrity skull printed with invisible ink. i confined myself to only show you the back of the cover with the track list printed with that same invisible ink, which has become a trademark for their releases.
also an insert with all lyrics and some real interesting liner notes by aaron melnick is included, as well as a huge poster with a live shot and on the flipside an intensive painting by arax melnick showing the 'armenian persecution' linked to the song on the record. has anyone more info on this? i couldn't really find anything. 600 copies made on grey marble vinyl. originally appeared on victory records. organized crime. 2012.