Epitaph - Outside The Law

Review by Juan Jose Saldaña

Outside The Law by Epitaph: A Genre-Bending Odyssey That Punches You in the Soul If you’re looking for an album that feels like it was stitched together from different universes, Outside The Law by Epitaph is your ticket. Released in 2010, this wild ride through rock, prog, folk, and even hints of heavy metal doesn’t just sit in one lane—it crashes into every style it can find. And honestly? It’s kinda beautiful. Let me start with “Train to the City,” because damn, this track sticks to your ribs like last night’s pizza. It opens with a riff so sharp it could cut glass, courtesy of Klaus Walz on lead guitar. Then Bernd Kolbe’s vocals kick in—gruff but full of heart—and suddenly you’re not just listening; you’re living some kind of cinematic escape scene. The lyrics are simple enough, but they hit hard. Something about chasing freedom or running away from yourself—it’s vague, but isn’t that what makes it stick? By the time Fred Kaz drops those grand piano notes halfway through (yes, GRAND PIANO), you’ll swear you’ve stepped into a smoky jazz club instead of whatever reality you were in before. This song reminds me why music exists: to make chaos feel meaningful. Then there’s “Outside the Law (Live).” Oh man, this version slaps harder than the studio take. Achim Wielert goes absolutely berserk on drums during the drum solo section (cleverly titled Jims Thing-Drum Solo), and it’s messy as hell—but in the best way possible. Like watching fireworks explode too close to your face. You know how live recordings sometimes lose their charm? Not here. This feels raw and alive, like everyone involved decided, “Screw perfection—we’re making memories.” There’s something almost rebellious about how unpolished it is, which fits perfectly with the outlaw vibe of the title. What strikes me most about this album is its refusal to play it safe. One moment you’re knee-deep in krautrock grooves, the next you’re swaying to acoustic folk vibes (“Reflexion”), then BAM—you’re headbanging to heavy riffs. It shouldn’t work, but somehow it does. Maybe it’s because the band sounds like they’re having fun. Or maybe it’s because Cliff Jackson wrote most of these songs while probably losing his mind—either way, I’m here for it. The credits alone read like a who’s who of unsung heroes. Dave Purple engineered half the tracks, Cliff Jackson mastered AND played acoustic guitar, and Dörte Witkowski handled artwork alongside two other designers. It’s clear no one phoned this in. Hell, even the liner notes by Matthias Mineur feel personal, like someone took the time to explain why all this madness matters. So yeah, Outside The Law isn’t perfect. Some tracks drag, others repeat themselves, and don’t get me started on the weird remix choices. But none of that really matters when the whole thing feels so alive. Listening to it is like flipping through an old photo album where every picture tells a slightly disjointed story—but together, they create something unforgettable. And honestly? If I ever meet Bernd Kolbe, I’d ask him if he knew how much soul he poured into this record. Because decades later, people will still be talking about the train that never stops and the law we all want to break free from—even if we don’t know why. Final thought: Whoever decided to release this across Germany, Russia, the US, AND Luxembourg must’ve known they had lightning in a bottle. Lightning that smells faintly of tequila and regret, but lightning nonetheless.

Artist: Epitaph
Album: Outside The Law

1978

Rating: 4.38

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Filename: epitaph-outside-the-law.zip

MP3 size: 177.1 mb
FLAC size: 1237.4 mb

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Tracks

Track	Duration	Preview
Big City (Live)	6:32
Jims Thing-Drum Solo (Live)	2:49
Outside the Law	6:5
In Your Eyes	2:51
Train To The City	4:03
Outside the Law (Live)	7:53
Kind Of A Man	4:54
Wasted So Much Time	3:0
Train to the City	4:3
Reflection	5:15
Jims Thing-Drum Solo	2:49
Woman (Live)	5:53
In Yours Eyes	2:50
Kind of a Man	4:54
Reflexion	5:17
Outside The Law (Live)	7:53
Fresh Air	9:1
Woman	4:18
Jims Thing - Drum Solo	2:49
Big City	5:53
Tequila Shuffle	4:59
Jim's Thing (Live)	2:49
Outside The Law	6:07

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Catalog Numbers

Labels

Repertoire Records
Membran
MIG, Billingsgate Records
Billingsgate Records
Babylon
Not On Label
Germanofon
MIG

Listen online

ouvir online
kuunnella verkossa
lyssna på nätet
escuchar en línea
online anhören
écouter en ligne
ascolta in linea
lytte på nettet
online luisteren

Formats

CD
Album
Reissue
Vinyl
LP
Remastered CD
Remastered Box Set
Limited Edition
Numbered
Unofficial Release
Promo
CDr
Remastered
Repress
Digipack
Gatefold

Companies

Role	Company
Licensed From	Cliff Jackson
Phonographic Copyright (p)	Billingsgate Records
Copyright (c)	Repertoire Records
Pressed By	Sony DADC
Published By	Slezak
Recorded At	Omega Studios
Remixed At	United Technique
Distributed By	Musik-Vertrieb Membran GmbH
Mixed At	United Technique Studio
Mastered At	Cliff-Studio
Lacquer Cut At	Celebrate Records GmbH
Designed At	Media 2
Manufactured By	Billingsgate Records Inc.

Credits

Role	Credit
Artwork	Dörte Witkowski, Günter Jenne, Ulrich Seithe
Bass	Bernd Kolbe
Vocals	Bernd Kolbe
Crew	Horst Wenzel
Drums	Achim Wielert
Percussion	Achim Wielert
Engineer	Dave Purple
Lead Guitar	Klaus Walz
Acoustic Guitar	Cliff Jackson
Liner Notes	Matthias Mineur
Mixed By	Ed Cody, Wally
Executive-Producer	Richard Semerak
Photography By	Artur-Photo
Producer	Epitaph
Words By	Bernd Kolbe (tracks: 6), Cliff Jackson (tracks: 1 to 5, 7)
Written-By	Kolbe (tracks: 2, 6, 7), Jackson, Walz (tracks: 5 to 7)
Design	Dörte Witkowski, Günter Jenne, Ulrich Seithe
Lyrics By	Bernd Kolbe (tracks: B2), Cliff Jackson (tracks: A1 to B1, B3)
Art Direction	Agnes Merkel, Tonia Lehmann
Backing Vocals	Klaus Walz (tracks: 8 to 10)
Lead Vocals	Bernd Kolbe (tracks: A1 to B3)
Design Concept	Media 2, Thorsten Syha
Management	Dirk Osterhaus
Lacquer Cut By	KM
Mastered By	Roger Wahlmann
Technician	Frank Gründer
Guest	Fred Kaz (tracks: 3, 4)
Grand Piano	Fred Kaz (tracks: 3, 4)
Organ	Billy Shaw (tracks: 6)
Remix	Ed Cody, R. Semerak, Wally
Guitar	Klaus Walz
Bass Guitar	Bernd Kolbe
Music By	Kolbe (tracks: 2, 6, 7), Jackson (tracks: 1 to 7), Walz (tracks: 6, 7)
Photography	Artur-Photo
Executive Producer	Richard Semerak
Artwork By	Dörte Witkowski, Günter Jenne, Ulrich Seithe

Notes

Issued in a jewel case with clear tray including an 8-page fold-out insert.
Originally released as US-Billingsgate BG 1009 / D-Membran 22-131-1
Recorded Omega Studios, Chicago November 1974
Remix at United Technique, Chicago
℗ 1974 Billingsgate Records.
Made under license from Cliff Jackson
Recorded at Omega Studios, Chicago in November 1973
Remixed at United Technique, Chicago
''Hifi Star Stereo'' on both cover and label.
Rear cover incorrectly gives recording date as Nov. 1974 (correct date is 1973 according to biographies & chronologies).
This is the non-gatefold sleeve version.
This exclusive collectors box, strictly limited to 250 copies worldwide, contains:
180 g original vinyl "Outside The Law"
CD incl. bonus and live tracks in a digipack incl. extended 16-page booklet
Reprint of the original inner sleeve picture
40th anniversary T-Shirt (voucher)
12-page booklet
Sticker
Signed and numbered certificate
Outside the Law was originally released as US Billingsgate BG-1009. ℗ 1974 Billingsgate Records
Recorded in November 1973 at the Omega Studios in Chicago and the final mix was done at the United Technique Studio on Chicago's South Side.
Original album manufactured in Amerika by Billingsgate Records Inc.
Distributed by Fountainhead Intl Inc
On digipak:
Tracks 8 to 10 taken from the never before released recordings 'The Lost Tapes' , recorded at Pommerin Studio, Dortmund, 1976. Digital transfer: Jam Studios, Flensburg
Tracks 11 to 14 recorded live at the Lindenbrauerei, Unna, 22-01-2000 (The Reunion Concert)
Track durations for A1 to B3 on the original label differ from those on the back of the box and on the digipak sleeve
Total playing time: 38'30"
℗ 1974 Billingsgate Records
Unofficial release packaged in a jewel case with clear tray, includes folding out 8 page booklet.
No Mould SID code on the matrix.
Track durations as on the covers.
Actual track durations (taken from EAC data):
Track 1: 5'17"
Track 2: 4'16"
Track 3: 5'54"
Track 4: 2'52"
Track 5: 6'08"
Track 6: 5'00"
Track 7: 9'01"
Released with gatefold cover.
Recorded at Omega Studios, Chicago in November 1974
(according to the band history, this album was recorded in 1973, not 1974 as stated on the cover)
STERLING RL in the deadwax
1.German-Press in FOC-Cover (very rare)
2.German-Press was issued in a standard non-gatefold sleeve (this one)
Released in a plain white cover, with a blue paper glued on front.
Only 1000 copies were made. Comes with label innersleeve.
(Information about the cover given by Bernie Kolbe and Cliff Jackson.
After the ruin of Billingsgate Records the only 1000 pressed copys arrived Germany on the Hamburg airport complete without covers! To bring the records in stores for sale was not possible. So the band takes the cheapest neutral covers, put the records inside, glued the blue paper on front and sell it only on concerts.)
℗ 1978
4-pages booklet
Originally released as US-Billingsgate BG 1009 / D-Membran 22-131-1.
Recorded in November 1974.
Tracks 8 to 14 are bonus tracks.
Recorded in November 1973 at the Omega studios in Chicago, Outside the Law is undoubtedly still the definitive Epitaph album. The sound engineer was Dave “Grape” Purple, who won the 1971 Grammy for Best Engineered Recording on Isaac Hayes’ Theme from Shaft. The recording of Outside the Law was completed in just 5 days, with very few overdubs, and the final mix was done by Ed Cody at the United Technique studio on Chicago’s South Side.
So how does a German rock band get to be recorded by studios and engineers who built their reputations on black music – and produce such a brilliant album?
Tracks 8 to 10 - Taken from the never before released recordings, the lost tapes
Tracks 11 to 14 - Recorded live at The Brewery, Unna (2000, The Reunion Concert).
This is the gatefold sleeve version.
Jewel case issue
Released with a gatefold cover.
Some copies may have an orange sticker added to the sleeve
which has "Sunrock" printed on it.

Barcodes

Barcode: 4009910488522
Matrix / Runout: Sony DADC A0100322853-0101 24 A0
Mastering SID Code: IFPI L554
Mould SID Code: IFPI 94W3
Rights Society: AUME BIEM
Label Code: LC 08065
Rights Society: GEMA
Matrix / Runout (Runout, A): 22-131-1 A
Matrix / Runout (Runout, B): 22-131-1 B
Barcode (Box): 885513002914
Barcode (CD): 885513002921
Matrix / Runout (Runout A-side, etched): 118039 A1 KM
Matrix / Runout (Runout B-side, etched): 118039 B1 KM
Matrix / Runout (CD matrix): 00095 52604 850 01 + 52610636 B
Mastering SID Code: IFPI LV27
Mould SID Code: IFPI 0147
Rights Society: austro mechana
Label Code: LC 23370
Other (Category on digipak): MIG 00292
Other (Category on digipak spine and CD): MIG 00292 CD
Barcode (Printed Text): 4 009910 488522
Barcode (Compact Text): 4009910488522
Matrix / Runout: Sony DADC A0100322853-0101 24
Mould SID Code: none
Rights Society: AUME / BIEM
Matrix / Runout: Side 1 ΩS-0012-1 BG-1009-01-A
Matrix / Runout: Side 2 ΩS-0013-2 BG-1009-01-B
Matrix / Runout (Side A, stamped): 22-131-1A
Matrix / Runout (Side B, stamped): 22-131-1B
Matrix / Runout (Side A, handetched): PF
Barcode: 88551300292
Barcode: 885513002921
Barcode: 8 85513 00292 1
Label Code: LC23370
Matrix / Runout: 00095 52604 850 01 + 52610636
Other (In the mould): B
Barcode: 885513002907
Matrix / Runout (A Runout Etching): BG-1009-A [STERLING stamped] RL
Matrix / Runout (B Runout Etching): BG-1009-B

About Epitaph

Thrash metal band from Finland, active in late 80's.{;}Hard rock outfit from Dortmund, Germany that was founded in 1969.

Members

Volker Sassenberg
Fritz Randow
Luitjen Janssen
Cliff Jackson
Klaus Walz
Bernd Kolbe
Achim Wielert
Jim McGillivray
Heinz Glass
Michael Karch
Tim Reese
Carsten Steinkämper

Interesting fact about Album

Here’s something cool: the album *Outside The Law* by Epitaph is like a musical passport. It blends genres like Krautrock, Heavy Metal, and Folk Rock, taking you on a journey through Germany, Russia, the US, and Luxembourg. Fun fact—four different drummers left their mark on this record, but Achim Wielert handled most of it. Oh, and Fred Kaz added some serious vibe with his grand piano on a couple of tracks. The artwork? A team effort by three artists. So yeah, it’s not just an album—it’s a patchwork of talent from all over the place.