SABBAT and the sabbatical queen D&L017

Here’s a look at a special 20th-anniversary release from Japan’s legendary blackened thrash metal band, Sabbat. This is the compilation CD “…And The Sabbatical Queen,” released in 2004 for the USA & Canada market on R.I.P. Records (catalog number D&L017).

This album served as a celebration of the band’s two decades of activity, offering fans a unique collection of material. It is not a standard “best of” but a compelling mix of new recordings, re-recordings of classic tracks, alternate versions, and live material, making it an essential item for dedicated followers.

The 15-track album, recorded and mixed in 2003-2004, features Sabbat’s signature raw, thrashy black metal sound across songs like “Splatter,” “Gok Kan Ma,” “Satanician,” and “Kamikaze Bomber.” It also includes a “Special Epic Version” of “Mion’s Hill” and a “Japanese-English Version” of their classic “Black Fire.”

Furthermore, “…And The Sabbatical Queen” digs into their live archives, featuring several tracks recorded at the Music Farm/BM Tour in 1995 (“Screaming Murder,” “Satan Bless You,” “Hell Fire,” “Black Fire”). The album closes with a cover of Venom’s “Bursting Out,” paying homage to their influences. This is a must-have compilation for fans, offering a different collection of tracks than the similarly titled releases from that year.