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So how do you make better one of the most iconic releases in electronic\/metal hybrid history? With this 2nd installment in the 2016 resurrection of COD remaster\/re-release series, Klayton has managed to defy the odds and tweak this classic (once again) and make it sound like a modern metal release. Here are some excerpts from a review I wrote way back in time from the original \u201cneon green\u201d Mindwarp CD:<\/span><\/p>\n \n \u201cDifficult to describe, Brainchild is not your typical industrial piece with lots of noise, samplings and obscure lyrics. There are definitely lots of loops and samples to enhance the basic songs, but these songs have guitar driven riffs and audible\/discernable vocals. And the lyrics have tackled some really heavy sociopolitical and spiritual issues. Unlike most industrial metal, which gives the listener a headache after about 2 minutes, this can be enjoyed for the better part of an hour without interruption. While all of the songs here are groundbreaking, \u201cRegressor\u201d has to be one of the best with the \u201cAggressor\u201d remix not too bad either. I love the heavy riff in \u201cDeviate,\u201d which is just killer, and the upbeat, aggressive and heart throbbing \u201cCourse of Ruin\u201d is another highlight. \u201cPale Reflection\u201d is one of the darkest songs here with samples from the movie Blade Runner – \u201cI want more life.\u201d\u00a0 Surprisingly, it is the relative presence of a song structure and memorable groove (rather than the lack of it so to speak) which serves to distinguish this release from others within the genre.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \n \u201cWould you like to be modified?\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Originally released in 1992 as the side project Mindwarp, Brainchild has undergone metamorphosis and revision over the past 2 decades. The original \u201992 version was re-released in \u201994 under the COD moniker and 3 of the songs were \u201cmodified\u201d \u2013 the intro narration was dropped from \u201cTelltale Crime,\u201d \u201cPrayers of a Deadman\u201d was revised and \u201cDeviate\u201d was remixed, altering the opening sequence and lengthening the song by nearly a minute to accommodate the middle section \u201cgang warfare\u201d commentary.\u00a0 This version of the release was then remastered and re-released in 2005 by Retroactive Records in a Limited Edition series (1000 units).<\/span><\/p>\n \n \u201cI Want More Life\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n With Klayton regaining the rights to his music this past year, Brainchild has come full circle and truly been granted \u201cmore life\u201d with this deluxe 2CD edition which has been completely remastered and revitalized really. The original recordings suffered from the anemic limitations of Klayton\u2019s budget circa \u201992 and \u201994. But with over a decade of experience honing his skills in self-producing Celldweller on his F.I.X.T. label, all of the Circle of Dust material can now be experienced the way it was meant to be heard. As with the debut remaster released earlier this year, the guitars and drums have been brought way up in the mix, giving these tunes a monster crunch. And while the difference isn\u2019t quite as noticeable this time around, the difference is audible. For those wishing a deeper explanation as to what Klayton has done with these tunes, watch the videos he has posted on the COD Facebook. In other words, he didn\u2019t just make the whole track \u201clouder\u201d as has been implied by some.<\/span><\/p>\n \n \u201cI\u2019m afraid that\u2019s a little out of my jurisdiction\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n One of the perks of owning your own music is that you get to do whatever you want with your creation. Not only has the album cover been granted a facelift \u2013 didn\u2019t think anything could top the original \u201cneon eye\u201d but the new artwork is stunning \u2013 with this release, the 2nd CD worth of material contains 64 minutes of extra life. For those who haven\u2019t already heard \u201cContagion\u201d \u2013 a totally new 2016 song for the upcoming new release \u2013 you are in for a surprise. The song features all of the greatest elements from the COD vibe \u2013 the scathing\/truthful lyrics, the catchy riffs, the vocal samples and the electronic ecstasy. Blue Stahli\u2019s remake of the iconic \u201cDeviate\u201d is solid but in my opinion not as fantastic as his version of \u201cNothing Sacred.\u201d The controversial Steve Taylor remix \u201cAm I In Sync?\u201d is sure to make this bonus disc priceless for fans, as might be the live VHS audio of \u201cTwisted Reality\u201d and \u201cDeviate.\u201d\u00a0The first 4 \u201cdust\u201d tracks here are cool too, featuring some raw and rhythmic elements that would be more fully expanded on Brainchild<\/span>, but the noisy \u201cDust 14\u201d and \u201cDust 15\u201d (also appears at the end of the live version of \u201cDeviate\u201d)\u00a0 might tax the tolerance of even the greatest fan.<\/span><\/p>\n \n \u201cHe shot, the guy shot\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n The 3 songs that were modified for the \u201994 release are included on the bonus disc, perhaps to give back to the fans what was taken away from Mindwarp. I much prefer the original version of \u201cDeviate\u201d because of how it starts with the dialogue. While most all of the COD songs were prophetic in a way \u2013 and still highly relevant \u2013 the message of \u201cDeviate\u201d needs to be heard (and heeded) more now than ever.<\/span><\/p>\n \n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" So how do you make better one of the most iconic releases in electronic\/metal hybrid…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":2378,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1020],"tags":[654],"class_list":["post-3727","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-review","tag-circle-of-dust"],"yoast_head":"\n