Lot of Assorted Hardcore 7" - Snapcase/VOD/Quicksand

I have been following a seller on eBay who lists random lots of 7". Many of them end up out of my price range or include records that I already have. However, I got lucky on this one. There is only 1 record that I already own, a couple that I have been interested in and a couple that I have never heard of!

Snapcase: Comatose/ Crown of Thorns from 1992 on Victory VR09


V.O.D.: Clone/Soul Craft - Element (Demo)/Ways to Destroy One's Ambition (Demo) from 1998 on Crisis/Revelation


Quicksand: Omission/ Clean Slate - Unfulfilled/Hypno Jan With Dan from 1990 on Revelation Rev18




Swing Kids: Self Titled




Guyver: One


Awesome packaging all around on this 7"

Iron Maiden: Flight 666 Live Double Picture Disc

I found this at Sonic Boom this week and it's the newest Live record from Maiden.  I have been making more and more exceptions to live records and picture discs lately.  This one is pretty cool. Stereotypical Iron Maiden artwork all around and good heavyweight vinyl.  It's funny because the art looks almost exactly like Live After Death that came out 20 years ago.

Dropkick Murphy's: Blackout

One step closer to finishing up the Dropkick collection.  I have been putting together the full lengths this year and have been lucky and getting them at good prices.  I actually just ordered the last one this week!  

This is Blackout from 2003 on Hellcat records.  Nothing to special about the pressing, but a great record from these guys.  

Assorted New Purchases - Iced Earth pre-order, Nevermore: The Year of the Voyager, Terror: The Damned/The Shamed & Dimmu: Abrahadabra

I placed an order to get some the new Iced Earth pre-order and I found some great clearance vinyl from the distro as well! 

First is the new Iced Earth record Dystopia.

Simple packaging and another solid release from these guys. 

Next, is Nevermore: The Year of the Voyager.  I am usually not into live albums, but i love Nevermore and have been listening to this album for a while now.  Their sound has changed a whole lot, over the last 10 years and the live album brings some type of cohesion to their songs and that makes it a bit more palatable for me.

 

Just like live records, I do not collect picture discs, but its the last Terror record that I need, The Damned/The Shamed on picture vinyl.  I am prety sure this is the only vinyl release of this record and it was cheap, so I figured it was a good addition. 

Finally, Dimmu Borgir: Abrahadabra.  Sounds excellent on vinyl!  For some reason, this double vinyl release was only $6 new.

Agnostic Front: That's Life 7" with Screen Printed Boots/Laurel Logo

This is a really interesting release from AF.  It was released on black vinyl with the icon boots and laurel logo on the back and a clear version with the boots screen printed onto the b side. Both limited to 2000 copies.

H2O: New York City and California 7" Cover Songs (2 Variants Each)

H2O is coming out with an album of hardcore cover songs and they are releasing a total of 3 7" before the full length comes out.  I decided to get 2 variants of each.  There are actually 5 diferent colors of both these records, but I need to draw a line somewhere!

H2O: New York City covers

"Hard Times" by the Cro-Mags (7" exclusive)
"Friends Like You" by Sick of it All

"Pride" by Madball

H2O: California covers

Rancid's "Journey to the End of the East Bay"

Social Distortion's "Sick Boy"

Circle Jerks "Beverly Hills"

The last of this collection of 7" is D.C. which is still on pre-order

Sinking Ships: Ten (Orange Vinyl)

I was placing an order from Revelation Records and found this.  I have a copy on black, but have been interested in another variant.  These guys and Champion were my introduction to the Seattle hardcore scene and always evoke fond memories! 

Immolation: Close to a World Below and Failures for Gods!

These are some of the more sought after Immolation records and they were recently repressed by Cyclone Empire in Germany and limited to 500.  Needless to say, they disappeared very quickly.  I originally ordered them from Nuclear Blast and paid through Paypal with some other records and about 3 weeks later, the money just got returned to my account.  No explanation and no response to my email.  I went to repurchase them and they were both sold out.  So, I found their US distro and ordered them through there and again, 2 weeks later, my payment was left "unclaimed".  Finally, I got in touch with the US distro and they said that there was no history of the order but they had them in stock still.  So, once again I placed an order for them and contacted them right after to confirm they received it and that it would ship.  Yes and yes!  I will get it in a week.  So, 3 weeks later, I email him again and .. sorry, sorry..  2 more weeks.. sorry.   Finally... after a couple of months +, they actually showed up! They were sent express mail and they were sold out on the site.  I am curious if they forgot again and had to dig up a couple of copies from the back room somewhere.

Here they are in all their glory. 

Immolation: Failures for Gods

 Immolation: Close to a World Below

Madball: The Real American Hardcore 7" Single on Black and Blue Swirl

 Madball is one of those bands that have stuck with their style over the course of 20 years or so.  I am always hesitant when I hear they are working on new material because I am afraid they are going to dilute their reputation.

I feel that bands like this his a crossroads and too many of them choose to try and emulate a situation that they were in.  This music was formed as an outlet to a specific set of circumstances and when those circumstances do not exist any longer, how do you keep moving forward? 

Some bands just replicate what they did in the past and try to speak to the same struggles as they had and others mature musically and others yet, mature conceptually. I think the latter is what I respect the most and what contributes the most to the unity and progress of the scene.  Madball may not be struggling on the streets of NY any longer, but they bring a mature perspective to what it was like and what it is like now and are looking out, in a sense and remaining positive.  I am proud to add this to my Madball collection and am happy to see the direction they are going in.  Gives me faith in the future of the NYHC scene!

Madball: All or Nothing

Anyway, this the last of the records I picked up from Reaper and the pressing is awesome! Both sides have very different splatter patterns.  Stripped down and simple, all around. 

Trapped Under Ice: Stay Cold 7" On Blue and White Vinyl

This is the old school single from TUI that has been repressed from Reaper Records on "ice cold" blue and white vinyl.  

Wisdom in Chains: Pocono Ghosts 7" on Red Vinyl

Wisdom in Chains strikes again!   In the last couple of years, these guys have really grown on me.  This is the newest single from these PAHC forerunners.

Wisdom in Chains: In Case You Forgot

Converge/Dropdead:Split 7" 20th Anniversary on Green Marble

20 years of Converge?!  Amazing, if you ask me.  It really is crazy to think that Jane Doe was released in over 10 years ago.  It still seems as fresh and relevant today.

So, this here is a self released 7" that had 2 separate distros, each with a different color.  Also, there was a tour version which was another color still and that color had many, many variations.  This is the type of pressing where you can buy 15 or 20 copies and they will still be varied.  

My copy is on marbled green vinyl and suits me just fine!

The track from Converge is Runaway and is exactly what you would expect from these guys.. straight forward, semi-melodic and completely saturated.

Trapped Under Ice: Big Kiss Goodnight Preorder Package with Shirt, Poster and Limited Vinyl!

I have been excited for the new Trapped Under Ice record for a while and Reaper Records offered a limited pre-order package that had a color vinyl option that was only available in that package, that was limited to 300 copies.  The record comes packaged with a big poster and the bundle came with a TUI shirt and as Reaper always does, they threw in some stickers and a TUI 8x10. Great presentation for a great sophomore record from these guys!

Cold World/War Hungry Split 7" Repress with New Layout

I kept meaning to pick this up and there have been so many presses of it that it's not really hard to find. However, since Cold World is such a sought after band for people in that scene, they get bid up beyond my interest. So, I thought that a new pressing would be a great way to get it.

The cover art and inner label are different and they printed it on some color vinyl and then on black. I ordered 2 color copies and received black ones and when I went back to the site, they were totally sold out... already. I think it was in press for a short time. So, here is the new printing of Cold World/War Hungry: Split

Between the Buried and Me: Colors repress on Double Purple Vinyl

Between the Buried and Me: Colors was recently repressed and I was able to find some copies from a distro that were really cheap. They printed a total of 1000 copies, 700 purple and 300 orange. I picked up a purple copy and I think it looks awesome.



BTBAM was one of the first really nerdy tech metal bands that I got really interested in. To this day, I still think that this is one of the more seminal releases in this genre. It is such a quirky record that ranges from guttural metal with blast beats to soft, acoustic parts with 3 part harmonies.. I love it!

Dropkick Murphys: Going Out in Style Limited Double While Vinyl + CD

I just love this record! As with the Mayhem record, I bought it on eBay and expected generic black wax, but was surprised to see that it was on dual, solid white vinyl. A great record to add to the collection. I need 3 or 4 more Dropkick records to fill in the gaps.





Dropkick Murphys: Going Out in Style

Mayhem: Ordo Ad Chao! White vinyl from Back on Black

One of my fav Mayhem records that has been on my wish list for a while! I ordered this on eBay, sealed and it was unknown what version of the vinyl it was. It's exciting when I am not sure of a press or color. I really am happy with this record, but the vinyl doesn't seem to match the aesthetic of the record. It is good looking wax, but just not tie in with the theme. the Chimera pressing was much more in line with the art.

Regardless, awesome.



So broody and dark, but brilliantly conceived.

Morbid Angel: Covenant (Limited Candle Wax Repress)

In my opinion, this is one of the best death metal releases in history. I have been looking to pick this up for a long time and when I was in Wacken last year, I had a copy in my hand and it was about 1/4 of my budget and I decided against it. Thought the last year I have looked for a copy and have never been able to find one even close to as cheap or in as good of condition as the one I found in Wacken.

So, a couple of months ago Earache re-released this on vinyl and it was around $25. New, gatefold cover and inside art etc. They also released a very short run of candle wax colored vinyl which I very luckily got on eBay for way cheaper than I would have expected. This ends up being the same price that I was going to spend at Wacken last year and got the best press possible!

Candle Wax - 100 Copies - SOLD OUT
Sanguine Red - 200 Copies - SOLD OUT
Diseased Green - 300 Copies
Black - 900 Copies

Converge: No Heroes (Brown and Clear Split)

This is another one of the great Converge releases. Almost everything they put out looks and sounds just amazing and this is no exception. This is a repress, but the coloring on the vinyl is an excellent compliment to the cover. Check out the sticker on the inside of the wax, how well it blends in. I have gotten really lucky on eBay and scored this one used and cheap because it is still in print.

It fits right in with the other Converge records I have

Converge: "Petitioning The Empty Skies" and "When Forever Comes Crashing"

Converge: Jane Doe Repress (2 copies) & Axe to Fall

Manowar: Hail to England (1984)

Another guilty pleasure here, Manowar: Hail to England fills in the last gap of the old school Manowar records!

Sir Mix A Lot: Iron Man (Yes, the Black Sabbath Song)

Why did he cover Iron Man? I have no idea.. but I could not pass this up. There are 2 mixes on here and they are all equally terrible. But really.... this is just .. I don't even know.

Believe it or not, this song was made with the Seattle natives Metal Church.



Just to show you how bad, check the video below!

1:52... met Clint Eastwood, slapped his mama!

Big Business: Head for the Shallow

ahh.. Big Business. They are that band that comes on random and I just have to pause it, go to the first track of the record, queue up the second record and listen to them both through. I think these guys are excellent and really put together some solid records from end to end. I have been tracking these on eBay and missed out on a couple of copies and was bidding on one that was getting a little high for me. Instead of putting in the next bid, I looked around to see if it was available elsewhere and it turns out the label Wantage is still selling them for $12 and free shipping! So, I ended up buying one for myself and 2 more for my friends who do not have them. Wantage seems like a really fun label. I chuckled a bit when I saw the label on the B side.

Dragonforce: Ultra Beatdown

I was purchasing a lot of records from a shop in the midwest and they so happened to have this record sealed for pretty cheap. Regardless of what genre this fits into or how cheesy this record is, I think its great! Maybe I'm not entirely proud to admit that, but its true ;)

Nothing too special about this one (except for the fact that it rocks).

I don't think its possible to listen to this without rocking out!

DragonForce - Through the Fire and Flames (HD Official Video) from DragonForce on Vimeo.

Immolation: Majesty and Decay (Mail Order Special Edition)

Finally, my first Immolation record. These have been on my wish list for a really long time, but Immolation records go for a bit too much money. I decided to suck it up a bit and get them, when I see them at fair prices.

This is Majesty and Decay on 180g vinyl, which is the limited mail order pressing, out of 500 from Nuclear Blast. A fantastic record and some great presentation on this one.

Wu Tang Clan Collection! Bobby Digital (Rza), Method Man, Redman, Ghostface

Slowly but surely, I have been working on the first and 2nd generation Wu Tang Records. From a couple of auctions, I was able to score a good 6 key pieces to this collection!

I picked up more than 6 in total, but these are the best of them

Rza as Bobby Digital
Ghostface Killah: Supreme Clientele
Method Man: Tical 2000: Judgment Day
Method Man and Redman: Blackout!
Chef Raekwon: Immobilarity
Cappadonna: The Pillage



This made a pretty big dent in the wish list!
If only I could find Gravediggaz: 6 Feet Deep for under $60!

Cold World & Sean Price: How the Gods Chill

Excellent song from Cold Wold collaborating with Sean Price. This is limited to 1000 copies and from what I read there were 200 in red and the rest were black. I asked the seller what color and he stated he didn't know, but got them as soon as they were releases. I was pretty surprised to see that its printed on an awesome marbled blue!



Comes complete with How the Gods Chill 3-d glasses!

Check out the track!

Weekend Nachos and Ensign!

2 interesting records from Easy Street. First is some old school hardcore...

Ensign: Direction of Things to Come from 1997



and.. Weekend Nachos: Punish and Destroy.




I took a gamble with this one. I have heard a lot about these guys and wasn't totally sold on what I had heard, but I thought it was worth a shot to pick this up used. Sadly... not very impressed.