Van Halen’s final studio album, “A Different Kind of Truth,” will return to physical formats Oct. 23 through Rhino Records, marking the first official reissue of the band’s 2012 swan song in several years.
“A Different Kind of Truth” brought together Eddie Van Halen, drummer Alex Van Halen and bassist Wolfgang Van Halen with original vocalist David Lee Roth for the first Van Halen studio album featuring Roth since 1984. Released Feb. 7, 2012, the 13-track record debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 and was later certified gold.
The album drew heavily from the band’s early history. Seven of its 13 songs were reworked from older demos dating to the late 1970s and early 1980s, giving tracks such as “She’s the Woman,” “Blood and Fire,” “Big River” and “Beats Workin’” connections to material created during Van Halen’s formative years. Wolfgang Van Halen later described the process of developing the old recordings into finished songs as a way to reconnect the group with its original approach to songwriting.
The release will be available on CD and as a two-LP set pressed on 180-gram vinyl and housed in a gatefold package. A limited crystal-clear vinyl edition will also be sold through participating independent record stores and Rhino’s online store. The new vinyl lacquers were cut by Chris Bellman at Bernie Grundman Mastering.
The reissue arrives as renewed interest in Van Halen’s catalog continues following Eddie Van Halen’s death in 2020. The band, formed in Los Angeles in 1974, went on to sell more than 75 million albums worldwide and earned diamond certifications for both its 1978 self-titled debut and “1984.” “A Different Kind of Truth” remains the group’s final studio album and Eddie Van Halen’s last studio recording with the band.
To preorder, head to Van Halen’s website.
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