J: dea. 001 / 15 tracks / 1998

EU: epitaph. 86555 / jan 1999

RI: supersoul. / 2000

Roadrunner didn’t want to release this LP because they were afraid it would affect sales of the just-released Shelter CD (Beyond…), so Ray “bootlegged” the record and put it out in Europe (CD only) and Japan (vinyl only I think). After good sales Supersoul decided to finally release it in the US as well. Japanese press: 500 made on white vinyl in red sleeve, hand numbered on the back of the sleeve. 500 on clear vinyl in black sleeve, 500 on blue vinyl in blue sleeve. + lyric sheet.

Youth of Today, Shelter… now it’s Better than a Thousand for Ray Cappo. Sometimes it takes a step backwards to get ahead, and they definitely take a huge step - back into 1988. Great powerful straight edge HC in the YOT spirit, just a bit more melodic and catchy. Excellent, even the lyrics are good. [8]

Nach Youth of Today und Shelter nun also BTAT… Ray läuft hier nochmal zu Bestform auf, erinnert mich viel mehr an YOT als an die manchmal sehr poppigen Shelter. Mitreißender SE-Core mit echten Old-School-Choruses, eingängig und kraftvoll. So schön kehlig wie 1988 ist Rays Stimme zwar nicht mehr ganz, ansonsten aber ist das ein Schritt in die richtige Richtung; auch die Texte sind nicht mal übel.

Tracks: demand independence / born to give / self worth / poison in your brain / i’ll not resist / crisis of man / once again // like the wind / power within / transformation / we must believe / twelve / you were there / synergy / responsibility