 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (March 2021) |
| Sonic Brew | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | October 28, 1998 (Japan) May 4, 1999 (US; was re-issued later in the year due to legal problems with original cover) | |||
| Recorded | 1998 (U.S. bonus tracks, 1999) | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 55:13 | |||
| Label | Spitfire | |||
| Producer | Ron Albert, Howard Albert, Zakk Wylde | |||
| Black Label Society chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [1] |
| Rock Hard | 8/10[2] |
Sonic Brew is the debut studio album by American heavy metal band Black Label Society, released on October 28, 1998, in Japan and May 4, 1999, in the United States by Spitfire Records. Unlike the albums that followed, this album still possessed a distinct Southern rock overtone that up to this time had predominated Zakk Wylde's solo writing style. It contained 13 tracks (lacking "Lost My Better Half" and "No More Tears"); the cover art was printed on clear plastic, with a separate paper booklet. The back cover was printed with golden ink, and the packaging was, overall, a lot higher quality than all later versions.
There was a long delay before it was released outside Japan because of poor audio mixing. Due to the delay, Wylde and drummer Phil Ondich recorded "Lost My Better Half" as a bonus track for the U.S. edition. (The recording of the more aggressive track reportedly prompted Wylde to pursue a heavier direction for the band's music thereafter.) Sonic Brew was finally released on May 4, 1999, with a standard gloss-printed booklet. Early copies came packed with a free Zakk Wylde guitar pick.
Subsequently, the Johnnie Walker whisky company issued a cease-and-desist order to Wylde on the album cover, which had been designed to match, except for its wording, the distiller's graphic design for its bottles of Black Label Whisky. The band decided to reissue the album with a different album cover, this time merely the band's skull logo and as an added incentive, they wanted to record a further bonus track for the fans who wanted to buy this now-third version of the album. Wylde, Ondich, and Mike Inez of Alice in Chains (who alongside Wylde had helped write the original) recorded their cover of Ozzy Osbourne's "No More Tears" accordingly.
"Born to Lose" and "No More Tears" were released as promotional singles for the album, though no videos were made. Bored to Tears had a promotional video released for the album's 20th anniversary.[3]
On May 17, 2019, Black Label Society released the 20th Anniversary Edition of Sonic Brew, titled Sonic Brew - 20th Anniversary Blend 5.99 - 5.19.[4] The remixed album contains two bonus tracks, a piano version of "Spoke in the Wheel" and an acoustic version of "Black Pearl".[5] On May 31, 2019, the remixed album was ranked number 8 on Billboard's Top Independent Albums Chart.[6]
- ^ a b Erlewine, Thomas. Sonic Brew at AllMusic. Retrieved March 30, 2021.
- ^ Renson, Michael. "Sonic Brew review by Rock Hard". Rock Hard. Retrieved March 30, 2021.
{{cite magazine}}: Cite magazine requires|magazine=(help) - ^ "Black Label Society - Bored To Tears (Official Video)". YouTube. April 25, 2019. Archived from the original on December 12, 2021. Retrieved March 30, 2021.
- ^ "Zakk Wylde Explains His "Fuck Limp Bizkit" Rsant in New Video Interview - "No, I Ain't Gonna Lay Down and Quit"". BW&BK. July 6, 2019.
- ^ Papan, Johnny (May 14, 2019). "Zakk Wylde Talks Black Label Society's New 'Sonic Brew' Reissue, Ozzy's Health, More". Revolver.
- ^ "Black Label Society's Independent Albums Chart". Billboard.