April 12, 2019 saw the re-release of RAUNCHY's "Velvet Dream". Born In Aabenrå, Denmark, "Velvet Noise" was born in 2000 after spending weeks with Jacob Hansen at his studio for the debut album. "Velvet Noise" was remastered for LP print in January 2019 by Henrik West at Medley Studios, Copenhagen. The album will be released for the first time on Orange vinyl, gate fold vinyl format, in a limited edition of 500 copies. So let us re-visit the almost 20 year-old album and see if it still holds high on the list.

"Twelve Feet High" comes blasting in with quick riffs and even quicker doubles. At first listen, they remind me of FEAR FACTORY. They hold an Industrial sound even through the vocals. The chorus holds tight as it crosses a different threshold, but the sound remains the same throughout the entire song. The highlight of the breakdown is really the synth. It gives an eerie feeling to the song. "Tonight" has a crunchy sound. It still adheres to that Industrial sound that made quite a few bands famous. If FEAR FACTORY are not a major influence, then I guess I shouldn't be writing. The guitars of Lars Christensen and Jesper Andreas Tilsted certainly sound like Dino Cazares. Mike Semesky's vocals are certainly as good as Burton C. Bell's. "Leech" starts off with creepy synths just before the drums of Morten Toft Hansen kick the song in this heavy mellow sound. The down-tuned strums of the guitars give the intro an even scarier feeling. The verse thrusts into a blast of vocals and band. The doubles quicken pace as the screams of "I tried just to avoid you, I was never able to" parade the song forward strongly. The chorus heads back to a mellow sound as the soft vocals repeat, "Cause I wanna break your bones, And make you regret that you ever came here." The musical transitions hold the bands distinct sound. At almost seven minutes, it rocks.

"Crack of Dawn" is also another seven-minute epic. The guitar brings in the intro to the song. The bass joins into the fray soon after along with some drum licks. When the song really hits the good stuff, the guitars hit a solid crunch and you cannot stop from bobbing your head even as the chorus hits. Vocals ring out with "Explosions in my thoughts keep going on and on, It's keeping me up until the crack of dawn" and the chorus of "I am falling through the holes of my mind, I know that it will be that way till the crack of dawn" keep pace with the many transitions of the song. From fast to faster to slow, the song keeps you banging your head. "This Is Not an Exit" is another long ballad coming in at just under eight minutes. The verse really gives me such a WHITE ZOMBIE feel in the beginning but it transforms back to that Industrial sound in pre-chorus and chorus. It really flows well together with the two sounds. The lyrics still hold gems such as, "Emptiness hold my hand and join me here tonight, "I tend to forget that thoughts reflect my words," and "Coming Down on me, I must try and find, substance or sense and stability." The lyrical content is amazingly crafted along with the song itself.

RAUNCHY seem to have found a distinct sound that a lot of people enjoy. With six albums under their and even with member changes, the band has stayed strong and followed their musical vision. As a first time listener, the album definitely kept me on my toes and listening to everything within each song. I also have to say that I wish I had heard these guys a lot sooner, but with five more albums out there, I most certainly will catch up and see how they have progressed.