Live at Montreux 1996

Of course, the best-known (and just plain "best") incarnation will be what many fans regard as the "Mach II" lineup of , , and . But by the early to mid-'90s, an on-again, off-again reunion of this lineup had fizzled out upon the exit once more of , their founding guitarist. Instead of calling it a day, eventually found a permanent replacement in former and guitarist , and have been rocking and rolling ever since. Although not released until 2006, shows that the -era lineup, even in this early stage, had no problem cranking out the classics (albeit in a much more smooth and -- dare it be said -- predictable style than when was present). Kicking things off with one of 's heaviest tracks, the 12-track set balances the classics ( ) with newer/ co-penned tunes ( ). With so many countless live titles having hit the shops over the years, is hardly a necessary release, but it is sure to appeal to the diehards who need to buy everything . ~ Greg Prato