BELIEVER: Extraction From Mortality (2024)

The Iconic Debut

The 2024 reissue/remaster of the debut album Extraction From Mortality – from one of the finest and most innovative bands to arise during the golden era of Christian metal – will be released in several platforms/versions. Yes, the recording has been remastered and yes, the sound quality improved. And yes, the packaging is exquisite.

Permutations

There are two CD versions of Extraction From Mortality (2024) – silver and gold (Limited Edition) – each with the same new 12-page booklets. In addition to wonderfully readable lyrics, there is a nice write-up by Heaven’s Metal Magazine’s Keven Crothers which concisely and thoroughly describes the impact of this release back in the day.

Both CDs come housed in jewel case, but the gold disc version also has the outer slipcase. I love how the “hype sticker” is printed on the slipcase cover, which obviates the need to figure out what to do with the hype sticker! This may seem inconsequential, but when the sticker gets taken off at some point the residue ruins the cover (from a collector’s standpoint). And hype stickers that are on the outer shrink usually get discarded when the initial owner opens the package.

Worth noting, the discs themselves, while sharing the same design, look dramatically different to the eye. The silver CDs have the color image and for those who have seen the Goldmax series CDs they have the image in black and gold. Very cool. Also, both releases include a Spikes Up Trading Card, but the two cards are different. So, if you are a collector of the card series you will want to purchase both the silver and gold CD’s.

Furthermore, both CD versions of Extraction From Mortality feature 5 bonus tracks (see track listing below) which are well-worth it. More on those to follow…

1. Unite (6:42)

2. Vile Hypocrisy (5:37)

3. Desolation of Sodom (4:22)

4. Tormented (3:52)

5. Shadow Of Death (4:20)

6. Blemished Sacrifices (4:00)

7. Not Even One (3:38)

8. Extraction From Mortality (6:07)

9. Stress (3:04)

Bonus

10. Vile Hypocricy (ARGH!!! Remix) (5:55)

11. The Chosen (East Coast Metal) (4:45)

12. Unite (1988 Demo) (6:35)

13. The Return (1988 Demo) (2;57)

14. I/Y/F (In Your Face) (1988 Demo) (4:57)

In addition to the CDs, Extraction From Mortality (2024) will be released on Limited Edition purple clear shell cassette (copy in hand). There will be two vinyl editions forthcoming, Purple Splatter and Royal Purple. More on the vinyl once they are released.

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A Moment of Praise and Thanks

I just want to take a moment to praise the work Matt Hunt and his crew put into these reissues. These aren’t quick, replications of the original material. The contracts must be signed, the fees must be paid, the music must be remastered, the layout and packaging must be designed… lots of money, work and time. And the utmost care goes into “getting it right.” While they may not always get everything perfect, I love the innovation and striving to always make the next round of reissues even better.

So, thanks guys, for helping to not only bring this great music to a whole new generation of listeners but offering all of us a way to celebrate the quality of the artist’s accomplishments with the coolest media ever!

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Examination of Extraction (1900 hours, 09DEC23)

[Note: this review (as of the publish date) will include the two CDs and the cassette.]

I echo the words of Keven Crothers as found in the liner notes regarding the impact of Extraction From Mortality when it was released … and to this day, for that matter. I’ve included some parts of my personal archived (never published) review from the era:

The debut release from this thrash/speed metal band is very good and incredibly original. Believer is really a progressive/thrash metal band, but they choose a style unlike most progressive bands. The guitar rhythms and riffs are technically very difficult and fast. The vocal style is typical of most thrash bands and intelligible most of the time. The drumming, which is always important in a prog or thrash style, is excellent as well. This band really can’t be compared to anyone as they craft a unique brand of metal.

“Shadow Of Death” nicely exhibits the distorted and atonal quality of this band’s style. The riff in this song is just so incessant and intense. If that is not enough, the band then kicks in with a big classic metal riff in “Blemished Sacrifices.” This then degenerates into an all-out aural assault of speed and thrash metal. “Not Even One” is another really cool song. There is just one unorthodox riff after another in this one.

The title track is my favorite song here because of the slightly slower and more long-lasting quality to the sound. Here – better than any other place on the album – Kurt’s vocals shine through. Not to mention, the symphonic and eerie sounding strings in the introduction give this a totally unique sound. The one song that probably best deviates from the traditional thrash format would be “Stress,” which is a quirky song with some interesting guitar effects. This song has a punk/reggae feel, but I really like the message. Overall, this is a very impressive debut release. – Jonathan “Doc” Swank (circa 1990)

While my writing style at the time may have been a bit less refined or creative, I think readers can appreciate the enthusiasm I had for both the band’s talent and the originality of the music.

The CDs (Silver and Gold)

Aesthetics aside, how does this new version sound? Otherwise known as, “How do you make a great album better?” Short of remixing and rerecording it? Not being a sound engineer, I really don’t know how to answer that question. But as a critical listener, I can say the most common response to “remastered” material is to raise the volume as many of the older recordings were lower output. Check. Yes, its “louder” but not so much that listener fatigue kills the deal.

The Trouble with Treble

The one aspect of the original which could have been improved upon is more “bass” on the kick and bass guitar. While I won’t say the 2024 is a massive improvement from 1989, I will say, even at low volumes, its just a bit easier to hear all the parts and, most importantly the vocal lines. I think the bass guitar, in particular, steps out a bit more in the mix, especially noticeable on “Vile Hypocrisy,” which is just such an amazing track.

Nevertheless, Extraction From Mortality has always been on the ‘treble-y’ side so there isn’t going to be much to change that short of remix/rerecord. However, on the cassette (see below) – and I expect this will become more apparent even on the vinyl versions – there is perceptibly more of that bass vibe in the way the sound hits the ears.

Silver or Gold?

For those who want to have the “silver vs. gold” debate take me out of the equation. I’m an analytical person, for sure, but from all I’ve researched and experienced digital is digital and there isn’t a difference in how the music “sounds.” The argument for gold is both aesthetic (it just looks cool) and it may stand up to time longer (less CD rot). So for archival purposes, go for it. From a collector’s perspective this particular pack is primo – the slipcase a nice touch.

The Bonus Tracks

Not sure where the “ARGH!!!” remix of “Vile Hypocrisy” came from, but the comedic words alone in the introduction are worth the price of admission. Amazing song.

To say that “The Chosen” was one of the best and most aggressive songs on the 1988 East Coast Metal Compilation is an understatement. Seems appropriate to include it here as this was never included on any of the other releases.

The Demo-lition

It’s fascinating to hear these ’88 demo songs if for no other reason than to garner a better appreciation for just how big a step the band took from here to Extraction… The 3 songs exhibit an obviously talented thrash band, but at least on these recordings they don’t really bring anything original to the genre. However, the sound quality is very good, so these tracks don’t represent the usual “waste of space” so many “bonus” songs usually represent on “reissued” releases.

The Message

All this talk of music and sound and packaging and all that is great. I mean, most readers familiar with Extraction From Mortality know the music is great. But what gets lost in the hype with this release is how great was the message. These lyrics are really good, and they’ve held up well to the test of time.

“Struck down but not destroyed/You lift me from the depths/You brought me from the grave/Redemption from death” – “Tormented”

“We must die/Our sins will bring us death/At the end of time/Jesus Christ/Death no longer reigns/Human sacrifice” – “Shadow of Death”

“Be transformed by renewing/The intensions of and thoughts of your mind/Your life must be hidden in Christ/Leaving the corrupted flesh behind” – “Extraction From Mortality”

“Rid yourself of needless tension/Lay your burdens on the Lord/He will give you strength you need/If you’ll believe His Word” – “Stress”

When this album was originally released, Believer wasn’t just an incredibly gifted group of musicians, they transmitted the message which served as a beacon of hope to a nation, a world mired in the muddy mortality of mortality.

The Cassette

Starting with the physical details, the 2024 insert is a simple fold-out with band credits/thanks and original pictures. The paper stock isn’t as thick as the original 1989 version, but I love the full cover image. On the 1989 tape, the song list was included on the bottom half of the cover, which detracted from the cover image. Also, the lyrics were included (1989) but they are so small that only an “eagle-eye” could read them. No lyrics on the 2024 tape.

Purple? Just Make it Work

The purple shell is obviously the biggest difference from the original clear shell, as the songs are in the same order with Side A/4 tracks and Side B/5 tracks just like the original. Cassettes are tricky. If the reels function properly, the analog-ish EQ on a tape can still sound excellent on a decent functioning deck with a clean head. The other key is making sure the tape plays flat against the head. This can best be accomplished by fast-forwarding the tape a few times on both sides before trying regular playback. This task will also reassure you the reels are working properly, because if the tape is slow or “binded” in any way during fast-forward then it’s likely the sound isn’t going to render properly, or the tape will just “lock-up” during playback.

Analog Nostalgia?

Personally, I think most of these analog era recordings sound great on tape (assuming all of what I just described works). Extraction From Mortality is an album I first heard on cassette, so naturally, this new rendering is equally enjoyable. However, this media is never going to surpass CD or vinyl, so most people question, “Why bother?” Cassettes are nostalgic for some of us who grew up listening to a lot of them. And, like I stated previously, they have a nice warm analog feel compared to digital music.

More importantly, though, if tapes are something you are interested in … its tough to find a cassette more than 30 years old that works well. This 2024 tape works just fine.

Extraction From Extraction

For those who love the original and are well-familiar with all its nuances, this new version is highly recommended (in either silver or gold). Even if you don’t like “louder” and newer digital versions, the booklet and layout are worth the cost – as much as any can argue about how great the original ’89 “sounded,” you would have a hard time arguing a case that the original booklet was superior to anything. And, as I’ve alluded to above, the Believer lyrics deserve to be both heard and “read.”

For those who aren’t familiar with Extraction From Mortality, hopefully our words here will provoke your curiosity and excitement.

Retroactive Records

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