Maximum Metal Rating Legend

Goatsnake I + Dog Days 2004 Southern Lord

Track Listing"I" 1.Slippin The Stealth 2.Innocent 3.What Love Remains 4.Iv 5.Mower 6.Dog Catcher 7.Lord Of Los Feliz 8.Trower "Dog Days" 9.The Orphan 10.Long Gone 11.Heartbreaker 12.Raw Curtains 13.Man Of Light 14.Who Are You "Bonus" 15.Knucklebuster

I just recently got a small sampling of Goatsnake with their EP release "Trampled Under Hoof" earlier this year. The release was a gold nugget for me, really conjuring up a spooky mist of Cathedral, The Obsessed, and the mighty Sabbath. I had never heard the band before the EP, and now Southern Lord have answered my doomy prayers, working up a nice reissue package featuring the band's '99 release "I" and the 2000 EP "Dog Days".

Southern Lord has really turned up the amps this year, releasing heavy stones from the likes of Goatsnake, Hidden Hand, and Lair Of The Minotaur. They seem to be one of the few labels that seem to really listen to their core audience, focusing on the doom and stoner genre and delivering the goods seemingly month after month. Not only do they produce quality goods, but they do it cheaply as well. No, I'm not talking about their packaging or product, as Southern Lord always provides excellent layouts with their releases, but I'm simply talking about the retail prices. The folks like you and I, the hard working metalheads that go out and pay for the goods, can easily afford these products. Southern Lord is offering two of the Goatsnake releases as a two on one for a low price just about anywhere ($12). Top that off with the band's newest EP, "Trampled Under Hoof" for a measly $6, and you get three super, high quality releases for less than $20. Perhaps I should think of putting the whole metal journalist thing on the backburner and move into the world of Home Shopping, Shop At Home, or QVC. I can see myself as an on air personality selling everything from sandpaper to purses. Okay, moving on...

With most of my reissue reviews, I tend to stay away from reviewing the actual albums. Let me just state for the record that both "I" and "Dog Days" are must have releases for anyone claiming to enjoy a Black Sabbath record. Goatsnake were formed from the ashes of The Obsessed, and thus far have released two EPs (Dog Days, Trampled Under Hoof), and two full lengths (I, Flower Of Disease). "I & Dog Days" have now been packaged together as one release, complete with the bonus track "Knucklebuster", which was originally left off of the "I" record, then reshaped as "A Truckload Of Mamma's Muffins" for the band's "Flower Of Disease" album.

With the release come some interesting trinkets for the collectors out there. A nice little biography piece is written by original member Guy Pinhas, who documents the band's demo days all the way through the "Dog Days" era. Along with the bio documentation comes neat write-ups for each song, sort of like a journal entry explaining the idea behind the songs, recording notes, and other tidbits. Each entry is written by either Pinhas, Pete Stahl, or Greg Anderson. It's a really good read from start to finish, and makes it easier for new fans such as myself to time travel with the group and get a little of the back-story making up the band. If you are a longtime fan, then you will definitely want to pick this up for the notes, bio, and bonus track. With reissues it is sometimes hard for a longtime fan to "waste" another buck getting the same product again. This release makes it well worth it, with a ton of info neatly packaged among two releases, a bonus track, and a really glossy black and gold jacket to boot.


--EC 11.23.04