VAN HALEN – Balance [Japan remastered Forever Young series HDCD] Out Of Print

Few people know – even some rabid VAN HALEN fans – that the Sammy Hagar-era albums have been remastered as part of the WB Records ‘Forever Young‘ series. These are the only remastered versions available of these albums, and one of you asked for all to be featured here, all out of print and hard to find.
Let’s go with the excellent “Balance – Forever Young series remastered“, indeed one of the more balanced Van Halen albums ever, and one of my favorites.

All Van Halen albums from the Sammy Hagar-era have that bombastic, glossy ’80s production, but especially on the first two, the bass presence is scarce, typical from the era.
“Balance” belongs to other era, the mid-90s, and Bruce Fairbairn’s production is really complete and organic. The regular CD press sounds great to me, but this Japanese remaster is even better.

On this Japanese remaster you get a higher overall (as it is the norm on most remasters) level, but fortunately not saturated / brickwalled.
The waveforms are ever-so-slightly louder than the original US and Europe CDs, but extremely tasteful. The dynamics of the original recording also appear completely intact.

The most notable difference on this remaster is the brightness, much more defined.
It works very well with the bass lines which have been increased especially the harmonics, as well as the kick drums, and the guitars come out sharper.
And best of all, no sign of heavy dynamic range compression like most of today’s remasters.

“Balance” is a great Van Halen album, with awesome songs and in my opinion, some of the best Eddie six-string work ever. His guitar set-up sound is monstruous here.
This ‘Balance – Forever Young series remastered’ CD sounds fantastic. It’s not easy to find a copy and all are pretty expensive, but if you can afford the purchase you’ll be very happy.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

You’ve seen it first here, at 0dayrox

ＷＡＲＮＥＲ ＭＵＳＩＣ ＪＡＰＡＮ ～ Forever Young Series
Ｖ Ａ Ｎ  Ｈ Ａ Ｌ Ｅ Ｎ

01 – The Seventh Seal
02 – Can’t Stop Lovin’ You
03 – Don’t Tell Me (What Love Can Do)
04 – Amsterdam
05 – Big Fat Money
06 – Strung Out
07 – Not Enough
08 – Aftershock
09 – Doin’ Time
10 – Baluchitherium
11 – Take Me Back (Déjà Vu)
12 – Feelin’
13 – Crossing Over [Japan Bonus Track]

Eddie Van Halen – lead guitar, keyboards, background vocals
Alex Van Halen – drums, percussion
Sammy Hagar – lead vocals, rhythm guitar
Michael Anthony – bass, background vocals
additional personnel:
Steve Lukather – guitar, background vocals on 7
The Monks of Gyuto Tantric University – chants on 1

Out Of Print
www.cdjapan.co.jp/product/WPCR-75071
.