As someone who has been wishing for a SOFAD boxset for as long as I can remember, naturally holding one is a dream come true. My absolute favourite DM record, the one that brightened my late teen years with its darkness. How this band throughout the mid '80s and '90s kept delivering brilliance so consistently, and progressing so impressively, it is beyond me.
Looking now at the artwork makes me shiver with the artistry these guys showcased all these decades ago, much of which is the product of Anton Corbin's creativity. I was not a vinyl fan back then (CDs were and remain my preferred format), but there is something special when looking at the covers in vinyl size. Just like with their previous boxes, the sharpness of the photos is astonishing whether in b/w or in colour, their team deserves credit for these reproductions.
Equally excellent is the sonic remastering. As mentioned in my previous reviews, I cannot compare these freshly-pressed copies to the originals, my opinion is solely based on the new ones. Those mixes of "In your room" and "Walking in my shoes" have me wanting to put them on full blast volume, man, they are slaying! That is the case with all 4 singles, I guess "IYR" and "WIMS" being both DM faves makes me want to single them out. Not that the gospel brilliance of "Condemnation" or THAT guitar riff of "I feel you" sound any less astounding.
As always a download card is also included, this time there was no issues like with the one from the "Violator" box set last time. All in all, another DM box that is worth owning, despite the hefty pricing (always a controversial subject, more so these past few months where many of us have lost jobs etc.). 2020 has been challenging on so many levels, but great to us all music-wise, so, let's enjoy the things that make us happy! Stay safe, faithful and devoted.
By: ScarlettJupiter