Reutgivelse av PESTILENCE “Spheres”

Pestilence doesn't require any introduction. Known for mixing various influences, from thrash to jazz, from fusion to classic death metal, the band has become a legend long before its final split-up in 1993. Patrick Mameli (guitar, vocals), Randy Meinhard (guitar) and Marco Foddis (drums) recorded their first demo, Dysentery, in 1986. However, it was only after The Penance, recorded in 1987 with a new member, Martin van Drunen (bass/vocals), that the band caught the attention of Roadrunner Records, who agreed to release their first official album "Malleus Malficarum" (1988). Pestilence released four studio albums during their career. The final one – "Spheres" from 1993 – brought along a thrilling mixture of jazz-fusion elements with death metal and, thanks to the extensive use of synth guitars, constituted a totally new quality in aggressive music.

Today, Metal Mind Productions presents the re-release of "Spheres": classic material from Roadrunner Records' archives, released in a new digipack edition, limited to numerated 2000 copies. The new version includes bonus material. It is released with new artwork: this, in fact, is the original artwork, done by a UK artist Dan Seagrave, that wasn't used on the first pressing of the album.  

Digitally remastered using 24-Bit process, released on a golden disc. Release date: 20.08.2007 Europe /  15.10.2007 USA (via MVD).

Pestilence
"Spheres (remastered + bonus tracks)"
Label: Metal Mind Records
Cat. No.: MASS CD DG 1049
Barcode: 5907785030152
Format: CD Digipack (limited edition of 2000 numerated copies)
Genre:  technical death metal
Release date: 20.08.2007 Europe /  15.10.2007 USA  

Tracklist:
1. Mind Reflections
2. Multiple Beings
3. The Level Of Perception
4. Aurian Eyes
5. Soul Search
6. Personal Energy
7. Voices From Within
8. Sphere 
9. Changing Perspective 
10. Phileas 
11. Demise Of Time  

Bonus tracks:  
12. Demise Of Time (Remix)
13. Soul Search (Remix)
14. Mind Reflections (live)
15. Multiple Beings (live)  

Bio
Patrick Mameli (guitar, vocals), Randy Meinhard (guitar) and Marco Foddis (drums) recorded their first demo, Dysentery, in 1986. However, it was only after The Penance, recorded in 1987 with a new member, Martin van Drunen (bass/vocals), that the band caught the attention of Roadrunner Records, who agreed to release their first official album "Malleus Malficarum" (1988). While the two demos were certainly rooted in a thrash metal tradition, the debut showed a raw, more aggressive, but also focused approach towards heavy sounds. Soon after the album was released, Randy Mainhard left the band.
Pestilence continued its musical voyage, teaming up with a new guitarist, Patrick Uterwijk. In 1989 they released their second album "Consuming Impulse". The thrash influences have been swept away, as the band turned its efforts towards technical death metal. With the release of this album Pestilence brought upon itself international attention, quickly becoming a new death metal icon. Yet, before the follow-up LP was recorded, another change in the line-up occurred, as vocalist and bassist Martin van Drunen departed to front Asphyx. His successor was Tony Choy (Cynic). From now on, Patrick Mameli took over the vocal duties. With this line-up Pestilence released in 1991 their third album "Testimony Of The Ancients". This LP was not as aggressive as the former, but it showed a definitely more complex musicianship, backed by the best production in the band's history. Soon after the release Tony Choy left for Atheist and Pestilence enlisted Jeroen Paul Thesseling as their new bass player.
Over the next few years the band intensively developed their style, incorporating ideas mostly from the jazz-fusion genre. The fourth and final album "Spheres" (1993) brought along a thrilling mixture of jazz-fusion elements with death metal, which thanks to the heavy use of synth guitars presented a totally new quality in aggressive music. However brilliant the combination was, the album divided Pestilence's fans, being for some too controversial in its substance. The group also lost the support of its label and touring became more and more problematic. This caused growing tensions between the band members, which eventually lead to a split-up, due to, as the musicians claim themselves, reaching their "creative climax". But the story did not end here. In 1994 Roadrunner Records released "Mind Reflections", which was a compilation of the band's best songs, along with one rare track and six live recordings. In 2006 Metal Mind Productions released remastered version of the "Mind Reflections" album.