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To call this a compilation only tells part of the story. While most of the tracks on this double CD are taken from the German band’s 10 studio albums, there are also new recordings and one previously unreleased song. The 22 familiar tracks represent the way in which Edguy have developed into a powerhouse metal combination over two decades, but what makes this anthology of real interest is the hitherto-unheard Reborn In The Waste from 1995. There are also five fresh tracks; of these, Ravenblack and Wrestle The Devil are catchy and thunderous, with the current line-up showing their mettle. It was obviously important for the band, as they celebrate their 25th anniversary, to deliver something modern to underline their ongoing relevance. This package also contains a two-hour live DVD, adding further lustre to the release.

Malcolm Dome had an illustrious and celebrated career which stretched back to working for Record Mirror magazine in the late 70s and Metal Fury in the early 80s before joining Kerrang! at its launch in 1981. His first book, Encyclopedia Metallica (opens in new tab), published in 1981, may have been the inspiration for the name of a certain band formed that same year. Dome is also credited with inventing the term "thrash metal" while writing about the Anthrax song Metal Thrashing Mad in 1984. With the launch of Classic Rock magazine in 1998 he became involved with that title, sister magazine Metal Hammer, and was a contributor to Prog magazine since its inception in 2009.

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