Van Halen’s ‘Balance’: Inside the Expanded Edition That Closes a Chapter

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In January 1995, Van Halen released an album that didn’t just top the charts—it subtly signaled the end of an era.

Balance, the band’s tenth studio album, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, sold over 3 million copies, and yet somehow felt like a storm cloud on the horizon.

It would be the last full-length album with Sammy Hagar at the mic, and the final studio collaboration from the classic second incarnation of Van Halen: Eddie, Alex, Michael, and Sammy.

Now, 30 years later, Balance is receiving the deluxe treatment it never got during the band’s original heyday.

Rhino Records is capping off its acclaimed Hagar-era reissues with a sweeping anniversary edition, out August 15, 2025.

The Balance release spans 2LP, 2CD, and Blu-ray formats—packed with rarities, remastered audio, and a treasure trove of never-before-seen footage.

But beyond the physical formats and audiophile upgrades, this reissue tells a story: of a band at a creative peak and emotional breaking point, and an album that deserves a more nuanced place in the Van Halen canon.

Revisiting Balance: The Last Hurrah Before the Split

Released on January 24, 1995, Balance arrived during a rock landscape in flux.

Grunge was dominant, alternative ruled the airwaves, and yet Van Halen proved their staying power with a record that embraced heaviness, introspection, and hooks all at once.

Tracks like “Don’t Tell Me (What Love Can Do)” showcased a darker lyrical edge, while “Can’t Stop Lovin’ You” proved the band still had pop-rock chops.

Deeper cuts such as “Aftershock” and the fast-and-loose “Big Fat Money” revealed a band both tight and restless.

Critics at the time were mixed—some praising the band’s evolution, others missing the flamboyance of earlier eras.

Time has been kind. In hindsight, Balance plays like a mature, confident statement from a band aware that change was coming. It balances melody with muscle, balladry with bombast.

The Balance Remaster: A Cleaner, Crisper Sonic Punch

The remastered version included in the new Balance set comes from Rhino’s 2023 release The Collection II, which brought high-fidelity updates to all four Hagar-era studio albums.

For the first time, Balance is front and center, and the sonic improvements shine especially on tracks like “Feelin’” and “Take Me Back (Déjà Vu).”

The remaster preserves the analog warmth of Eddie Van Halen’s layered guitar tone while sharpening the rhythm section’s punch—especially in Alex’s thunderous toms and Michael Anthony’s underrated bass lines.

Fans with high-end setups will appreciate the attention to dynamic range here.

‘Balance’ B-Sides, Soundtrack Cuts, and a Rare BBC Broadcast

The second CD in the deluxe edition pulls together a mix of rarities that have long circulated among fans but never officially appeared together.

Included are:

“Crossing Over” – a Japan-only B-side to “Can’t Stop Lovin’ You,” dark and brooding, and one of the band’s few direct stabs at mortality.
“Humans Being” and “Respect the Wind” – both from the Twister soundtrack, released in 1996 after Balance but unmistakably connected to its sonic DNA.

But the crown jewel is a previously unreleased live set recorded at Wembley Stadium on June 24, 1995 for the BBC. It captures the band mid-tour, fierce and on fire.

Highlights from Wembley:

“The Seventh Seal” – the opening track, now available digitally, roars with spiritual intensity and guitar wizardry.
“Feelin’” – a rare live rendition of one of the album’s most emotionally powerful tracks.
“Jump,” “When It’s Love,” and “Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love” – reminders of Van Halen’s deep catalog and stage dominance.

The live sound mix is clean, with just enough grit to preserve the energy of the venue.

Eddie’s solos feel spontaneous, and Hagar’s voice is muscular and emotive—a reminder that even on the cusp of fracturing, this band could still command a stadium.

Balance Extras: Promo Gold and a Lost Gem from Minneapolis

The Blu-ray disc is a visual feast. Fans finally get restored HD versions of music videos for:

“Can’t Stop Lovin’ You”
“Amsterdam”
“Not Enough”
“Don’t Tell Me (What Love Can Do)”
“Humans Being”

Each video reflects the aesthetic of mid-90s rock—earnest, raw, and unafraid to blend performance with narrative.

Perhaps most thrilling is the unearthed live performance of “The Seventh Seal” filmed at the Target Center in Minneapolis on July 30, 1995.

It’s the kind of gritty, intimate stage clip that rarely survives from that era, and here, it’s lovingly restored.

Balance Physical Format Appeal: More Than Nostalgia

For collectors, the physical editions go beyond content—they’re artifacts.

The deluxe 2LP/2CD/Blu-ray box comes with special packaging, archival photos, and liner notes contextualizing the band’s state of mind at the time.

The vinyl editions are especially appealing:

First time the full album spans three LP sides for optimal audio fidelity.
Side 4 features a custom etching themed around the Balance artwork—ideal for display.

There’s also a more affordable 2CD set for fans who want the audio without the extras.

Completing the Hagar-Era Story with Balance

With this Balance re-release, Rhino closes its chapter on the Sammy Hagar years, following 2023’s The Collection II, which included 5150, OU812, For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge, and Balance in remastered form.

For many fans, the Hagar years remain controversial. But this edition helps reclaim Balance as a legitimate creative peak. It showcases a band still capable of stretching their songwriting while delivering arena-sized anthems.

As Michael Anthony once said in a 1997 interview, “There was tension, but it made the songs better. You can hear it in Balance.”

Why Balance Matters

In an era when reissues can feel perfunctory, Balance (30th Anniversary Edition) feels like a true archival effort.

It’s not just a rehash—it’s a preservation of context, artistry, and transition.

It captures the band’s final moments as a unified quartet before egos clashed, before the passing of Eddie Van Halen, before Van Halen became legend rather than reality.

And for those who grew up with Balance, or discovered it later, this expanded edition is a reminder that even at the edge of collapse, Van Halen was still ascending creatively.

Balance Must-See and Must-Hear Moments

“The Seventh Seal” (Live at Wembley): thunderous, moody, triumphant—an essential live cut.
The “Don’t Tell Me (What Love Can Do)” video: restored and still gut-wrenching.
“Crossing Over”: a track that feels eerily prophetic and beautifully raw.

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