Craft Recordings and Violent Femmes are commemorating 40 years of the band’s sophomore title, Hallowed Ground, with a wide vinyl reissue set for release on November 8th. The LP has been mastered from the original stereo tapes. First released in May 1984, Hallowed Ground is celebrated for its innovative exploration of American roots music, blending traditional folk influences with the band’s distinctive style. 

The reissue includes contributions from banjo virtuoso Tony Trischka on “Country Death Song” and “It’s Gonna Rain,” and avant-garde saxophonist John Zorn on “Black Girls,” both of whom added distinctive layers to the record’s experimental soundscape. The album’s lyrics delve into themes of faith, redemption and existential contemplation. This marked a bold departure from the more straightforward pop sound of the band’s breakthrough debut release, which featured “Blister In The Sun” and “Add It Up.” 

In addition to the standard vinyl, widely available for the first time in over a decade, Hallowed Ground can also be found in four limited color pressings, including a Green Smoke variant (available at vfemmes.com and craftrecordings.com), Orange Smoke (independent record stores), Azure Blue (Barnes & Noble) and Onyx (Spotify Fans First, available exclusively to followers).

To mark this milestone, Violent Femmes are currently on a North America Tour through October 9th. Find the tour dates HERE.