As I Lay Dying has been a staple of the metal industry since the release of Frail Words Collapse and Shadows are Security. They were soon vaulted to the top of the metal fans' lists of favorite acts in the genre. But sometimes, bands need to go back to their roots, and thats what As I Lay Dying did here with this release.

To sum A Long March: The First Recordings up is to basically call it Beneath The Encasing of Ashes 2, for this is a re-release of their debut album and follow-up EP on Metal Blade. The disc has the whole Beneath The Encasing of Ashes record along with their split EP and re-recorded versions of the songs "Forever" and "Illusions," among others. Listening to this record was like taking a trip down memory lane, because As I Lay Dying sounds so different these days. It's actually quite refreshing really to listen to some older stuff. Spiritually, some of the themes include salvation and hope.

For the As I Lay Dying fans looking to go back a few years, A Long March: The First Recordings is your ticket. Enjoy!