September 11, 2001 was a Tuesday – the day that new releases traditionally hit the streets for public consumption. It also happened to be a massive day for new music releases in what should’ve been the kick-off for the high-profile Fall Release season at a time when the music industry was seeing record sales numbers just prior to the collapse of the physical market and the shift to the digital realm. Among the high-profile releases for 9/11 were JAY-Z’s THE BLUEPRINT, BOB DYLAN’s acclaimed LOVE AND THEFT album, NICKELBACK’s SILVER SIDE UP, P.O.D.’s SATELLITE, and SOIL’s major label debut, SCARS. These are just a few of the many records to arrive on that fateful day – but a handful of titles also contained eerie elements that are still haunting a decade later.
DREAM THEATER – LIVE SCENES FROM NEW YORK
New York’s own progressive metal kings chose September 11, 2001 to release this live CD/DVD which was recorded a year earlier at the Roseland Ballroom. The cover art featuring a flaming heart crowned with the World Trade Center and Statue of Liberty within the flames was quickly recalled. The album would later be reissued with an alternate cover. The bonus DVD included with the set also featured the same flaming image on it’s menu screen.
SLAYER – GOD HATES US ALL
Performing next Wednesday in the Bronx, NY at Yankee Stadium as a part of THE BIG 4, SLAYER saw their 2001 album connected to tragedy by an unfortunate release date. The defaced Christian Bible on it’s cover was seen as a symbol of the Holy War that many perceived to have played a part in the attacks on Lower Manhattan and Washington, D.C.
Disciple, which contains the line “God Hates Us All” would later be nominated for a Grammy.
BIOHAZARD – UNCIVILIZATION
Brooklyn’s own BIOHAZARD released their cameo-heavy album on 9/11, complete with a cover featuring flag-toting youngsters indicative of a New World Order under the universally-recognized Biohazard symbol that the band had long-ago adopted.
Anthrax attacks post-9/11 would strike fear to the public through the threat of biological warfare.
LEFTOVER CRACK – MEDIOCRE DENERICA
While the album from surprisingly Manhattan-based punkers LEFTOEVER CRACK was originally intended to be called SHOOT THE KIDS AT SCHOOL, this September 11th anti-etablishment release was eclipsed by it’s 2004 follow-up entitled FUCK WORLD TRADE.
Other notable albums released on September 11, 2001 include: BEN FOLDS – ROCKIN’ THE SUBURBS, LONG BEACH DUB ALLSTARS – WONDERS OF THE WORLD, NO USE FOR A NAME – LIVE IN A DIVE, FABOLOUS – GHETTO FABOLOUS, and THEY MIGHT BE GIANTS’ MINK CAR.
And this National Tragedy…
MARIAH CAREY – GLITTER
