Darkest Hour’s Mike Schleibaum Dishes on Reissues — and Not Just His Own

Victory Records is reissuing previous Darkest Hour releases 'So Sedated, So Secure' and 'Hidden Hands of Sadist Nation.' It's a common record label tactic, which either delights fans with collector mentalities, or infuriates those who feel snookered when they have to buy the same album twice for the extra odds and sods and bells and whistles.

Noisecreep spoke to Darkest Hour guitarist Mike Schleibaum about the re-introduction of the albums into the marketplace, and he was surprisingly pro this process, saying, "Many of my friends have opinions about the Victory re-releases, but for the record, I actually like the idea. As a super fan of many bands myself, I always am interested in more content. I personally am not that excited when bands have extra video content, but extra bonus songs, unreleased tunes, demo tracks? I love all that s---! I guess I am the type of guy who wants to collect everything."

Schleibaum doesn't believe the reissue bilks the fan out of extra cash, either! "There is something to be said about owning the album in its 'official' from as well," he said. "The first version of all the records is the 'actual' or 'intended' versions. Sometimes it just doesn't get more classic then the first version. At the same time, for all you super fan geeks out there, like myself, bring it on, because I got to have all those tracks!"

The 'So Sedated' reissue has two cover songs, making it special, according to Schleibaum. The covers are 'Go Back to the Gym' by Washington, D.C.'s Battery and 'Be Forewarned' by Springfield, Va.'s Pentagram. "Both covers are pretty out there for us, but I have to admit, I love the Pentagram song. It's weird. Most people don't mention this little bonus track, but to me they are really special," Schleibaum said.

The 'Hidden Hands' reissue was remixed and "juiced up," the guitarist said. "For 'Soul of the Saviour,' which is originally from our 'Mark of the Judas' record, I like the way the new mix sounds. And the solo on the end of this song is much better, in my opinion, than the old record. The nice thing about the re-release, for the artist, is that it gives us a chance to go back and possibly change things that always irked us just a little."