So is the Special Edition worth all the fuss? Well, the music is unchanged so consider that. Certainly a TON completist would appreciate this, but otherwise it could be a hit or miss affair as the live footage is relatively brief if only competent, the videos are a so-so feature, and the interview footage seems to be largely uninformative, particularly the terminal one with Josh Silver at Coney Island. The most poignant part of the bonus DVD occurs during the full band interview. Aside from a silent Josh Silver, the band's fondness and reverence for Pantera resounds as several anecdotes refer to TON's tour with Pantera from over a decade ago, as well as a nod or two to Dimebag (R.I.P.).

Maybe they should have called it the Dead Again (Not So) Special Edition as that would have been consistent with the band's dark sense of humor and self-deprecation. Bottom line: this is not essential if the original version is already possessed but recommended to fans of the band who don't have TON's latest. Musically this is more of the same high quality, gloomy, pseudo-Gothic Rock/Metal. Sonic highlights include the lead singles, songs for which videos were made, not inappropriately enough.

written by Tony Belcher

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