The Book of Burning

The Book of Burning
Compilation album by Virgin Steele
Released	January 2002
Genre	Heavy metal, power metal
Length	73:34
Label	T&T / Noise / Sanctuary
Producer	David DeFeis
Virgin Steele chronology
Hymns to Victory (2002) The Book of Burning (2002) Visions of Eden (2006)

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]

The Book of Burning is a compilation album of the American heavy metal band Virgin Steele. It was released in January, 2002 by Noise Records, to celebrate the twentieth anniversary of the band, together with the compilation Hymns to Victory. The Book of Burning was cause of a new controversy between founding members David DeFeis and Jack Starr about the format of the recording, with the result of Starr renouncing to any involvement in the production of the album and in other reunion projects.

This album contains primarily re-arranged and re-recorded songs taken from the first two Virgin Steele albums, published only in vinyl and at the time out of print. Also included are songs written at various points in their career but never before released. Tracks 5-8 are re-recorded versions of songs written by David DeFeis and Jack Starr in 1997.^[2]

"Conjuration of the Watcher" and "The Succubus" are two songs originally written in 1986 for the American all-female heavy metal band Original Sin on their debut LP Sin Will Find You Out, which were reworked and by Virgin Steele in different recording sessions.^[3]

Track listing

1. "Conjuration of the Watcher" (David DeFeis, Edward Pursino - reworked song from The House of Atreus Act I sessions) - 4:24
2. "Don't Say Goodbye (Tonight)" (D. DeFeis, Jack Starr - re-recorded version) – 4:42
3. "Rain of Fire" (D. DeFeis - new song) – 6:27
4. "Annihilation" (D. DeFeis - new song) – 1:05
5. "Hellfire Woman" (D. DeFeis, J. Starr - new song) – 6:57
6. "Children of the Storm" (D. DeFeis, J. Starr - re-recorded version) – 6:19
7. "The Chosen Ones" (D. DeFeis, J. Starr - new song) – 8:04
8. "The Succubus" (D. DeFeis, E. Pursino - reworked song) – 3:15
9. "Minuet in G Minor" (J.S. Bach - re-recorded version) – 0:48
10. "The Redeemer" (D. DeFeis, J. Starr - re-recorded version) – 5:42
11. "I Am the One" (D. DeFeis, J. Starr - re-recorded version) – 3:48
12. "Hot and Wild" (D. DeFeis, E. Pursino - new recording of a song written for Noble Savage) - 4:05
13. "Birth through Fire (D. DeFeis - re-recorded version) – 0:39
14. "Guardians of the Flame" (D. DeFeis, J. Starr - re-recorded version) – 6:44
15. "The Final Days" (D. DeFeis, J. Starr - new song) – 5:50
16. "A Cry in the Night" (D. DeFeis - re-recorded acoustic version) – 4:45

Personnel

Band members

• David DeFeis - all vocals, keyboards, percussions, guitars, orchestration, effects, producer
• Edward Pursino - acoustic and electric guitars, bass
• Frank Gilchriest - drums

Additional musicians

• Joshua Block - bass, guitar
• Steve Young - guitar, bass, programming, engineer, mastering
• Frank Zummo - drums
• Jim Hooper - backing vocals

References

1. O'Neill, Brian. "Virgin Steele The Book of Burning review". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 2011-07-12.
2. "Virgin Steele - The Book of Burning". Encyclopaedia Metallum. Retrieved 2011-12-06.
3. "Original Sin - Sin Will Find You Out". Encyclopaedia Metallum. Retrieved 2011-12-06.