Svart Records is set to re-release all four 1970s albums by the reunited Philadelphia-based doom metal forerunners Bang on heavyweight gatefold vinyl and CD in cooperation with the band. At first, the albums will be exclusively available during Bang's European tour, which starts at Roadburn Festival, Tilburg, on April 14th. The street date of these releases is April 29th.

Bang was founded in August 1969, a week or two after Woodstock, by 16-year-old high school dropouts Frank Ferrera (vocals, bass) and Frank Gilcken (guitar), who swiftly recruited a 26-year-old Tony Diorio (drums), who answered their ad in a local newspaper. Bang were shaping up to be the next big thing in 1972, with keen support from Capitol Records, their first single "Questions" climbing the charts, and shows lining up with numerous major bands of the era, including their mutual favorite and biggest influence, Black Sabbath.

In spite of hype, the success story never came to be, largely due to a corporate shakeup at Capitol Records, losing their producer Michael Sunday, and being blackballed from getting gigs. Bang disbanded in sheer frustration in 1974, only 3 years after the release of their self-titled debut.

Bang however left behind them a dominant recorded legacy consisting of four full-length albums: Bang (1971), Mother/Bow To The King (1972), Music (1973) and Death Of A Country, which was recorded in 1971 but remained unreleased for decades.

All four classic Bang albums will see the light of day in luxurious form, and the cover artwork for Death Of A Country has been made according to the original layout concept for the first time. Also, the self-titled album will be released in gatefold covers, as the band originally wanted, but the idea got shot down by the record label.