REV25: Chicago Style

The first two Revelation 25th anniversary shows, first in CA and then in NYC, they gave us a shitty live compilation record for each as a souvenir. A nice keepsake, but pretty pointless and not something to really get excited about. I had friend hook me up with the Cali record, and then I went to the NYC and grabbed a copy of that one while I was there. When REV25 takes place in Chicago, they create a 7 inch package with unique pressings of the Gorilla Biscuits, Youth Of Today, Into Another, and Texas Is The Reason records. Figures that the one release I was excited about was also the one that was the most difficult for me to acquire.

I didn't know anyone going to the REV25 Chicago show, so this meant that I was going to have to hope the label sold the extras in their webstore if I wanted to score a set. Doug was good enough to send me an alert when REV added them to the store, but I was unplugged at the time. By the time I got the message an hour or so later, they were all sold out. When REV put the second round of records in the webstore, they again sold out before I was able to grab one. Third times a charm though, and when REV bundled the 7 inch set along with other REV25 odds and ends, and stuck a $60 price tag on it...that was when I was finally able to get my hands on a set.

I love the look of these records, as each on gets a start black cover with each band's logo on the front, and is pressed on clear vinyl.

The Chicago skyline b-side labels, along with the REV25 logo on the back cover, is a nice touch.

As I was going through my set of vinyl for this blog post, and was taking pictures, I noticed that my copy of the Texas Is The Reason 7 inch had Youth Of Today labels, with the YOT name crossed out and TITR's name hand written. What the hell? I checked Doug's post...nope, his had the right labels. How many were made like this?

Overall it was a pretty good package deal. I already have the NYC LP, and I'm not too bothered with the posters, but the REV mug and the shirts are nice...especially the NYC once, since I was there.

Orange Splatter Goblin

Where has the Hardcore been in 2013? Here we are nearing the middle of May and I've only got five new Hardcore releases loaded on to my iPod. I'll admit it, part of it has been my fault as I haven't actively been searching out new Hardcore music. For the most part, I've been consumed by Metal/Doom lately. In addition to an incredibly strong start to 2013 for Metal, I've also been finally discovering and appreciating some older bands. Enter Orange Goblin...

When I first heard Orange Goblin's new album, A Eulogy For The Damned, last year, I didn't think too much of it. Yeah, it was okay, but my musical attention was focused elsewhere. As the year came to a close, it grew on me greatly, and as we rolled into 2013, I downloaded the band's first five albums and could not get enough of them. Perfect timing on my part as Rise Above has started reissuing the back catalog on vinyl again.

When preorders first went up, I was right there on the Rise Above site, prepared to grab the clear vinyl pressing that was limited to 100. I had second thoughts, however, when I thought about my bank account and the recent car repairs I had just done. I hung my head, and with a tear in the corner of my eye, I turned and left the Rise Above webstore empty handed.

A couple months later, I figured that it was time to finally grab the first Orange Goblin album...and with the perfect color combo of orange splatter on clear vinyl. Yet another splatter vinyl pressing that I surprisingly really like. Limited to 300.

The first Orange Goblin album, also comes with a bonus 7 inch that contains demo recordings of two songs.

Nice job, Rise Above, with the matching colors for the LP and 7 inch.

The Devil's Blood

After falling in love with Blood Ceremony back in 2011, I decided to give The Devil's Blood a try. They both had female singers, and had this 70's rock/occult band thing going on. Since I was loving the hell out of Blood Ceremony, I thought I'd try my luck with The Devil's Blood, and downloaded their album The Time Of No Time Evermore album. After listening to a couple songs, it wasn't feeling it at all so I deleted it.

Now in 2013, I find myself excited for the new Purson and Blood Ceremony albums, and again I'm searching out other similar bands. I decided to give The Devil's Blood another chance and this time I downloaded their The Thousandfold Epicentre album.

Maybe I'm just used to this style more now than I was then, but I found myself enjoying it. While out on a shopping trip to one of the local record stores, I saw the vinyl and on a whim decided to pick it up.

One of the coolest things about this album is the incredible full color booklet. Within it, each song gets a full two page spread with some incredible art and lyrics. Devil boobs and little kids ripped apart by wild dogs. Absolutely stunning.

Magic The Gathering

What do you get when you take the singer for Rival Mob, the drummer from Boston Strangler/Mental, the guitar player from Mental, and add in another guitar player from Prisoner Abuse/No Tolerance? Who would have guessed that you get a killer Doom Metal band? Seriously. Where the fuck did this come from?

Doug was asking me about this band back in February, and honestly, I had no clue what he was talking about. Never heard of them. I've been on a huge Doom kick lately, so I was excited to check it out. He sent me a youtube link for the song Scream Evil...I checked it out...loved it...downloaded the album, and it has been getting regular spins since then.

As soon as Painkiller announced that they had copies of the LP, I was adding it to my cart and checking out.

Ten Inch Orchids

Yeah, shit got a little crazy with my last post, as I worked to grab every pressing of the first two Orchid releases, Through The Devil's Doorway and Capricorn. In collecting the bands two EP singles, Heretic and Wizard Of War, the insanity only intensified.

I already owned three copies of the Heretic ten inch single, and when Nuclear Blast Germany threw down the dreaded Triple Dog Dare with three more pieces of colored vinyl, I couldn't back down from the challenge.

I love the hand numbered stickers on each different pressing.

When Nuclear Blast USA upped the Orchid game with a North American pressing, there was no way the I was going to fold. I was all in at this point.

No individual sticker for the North American pressing. They all get the same one that announces that the record is limited 666...222 for each color.

I was hoping that there would be a bigger difference between the white Euro pressing, and the cream US pressing. The difference is only slight. I can tell them apart, but just barely.

Not to be forgotten, I also grabbed the last copy that I needed for the Wizard Of War ten inch single.

Add these new pieces of vinyl in with the copies that I already owned, and we are looking at a total of 12 ten inch records. The crazy thing is, I'm missing one. Before I was completely sucked into the madness of collecting Orchid, I let the black vinyl pressing of Heretic pass me by.

Orchid In Full Bloom

Orchid have a new album coming out this year, and as this post will clearly show, I'm kind of excited for it.

A year ago, I picked up the first two Orchid records, Capricorn and Through The Devil's Doorway, on vinyl. I quickly ordered as soon as they were available from Nuclear Blast, only to find that I should have waited and ordered the colored vinyl direct from the label, Church Within Records. The problem was that these records were only pressed overseas, and after spending the money on the black vinyl, I couldn't justify buying them again on colored vinyl...until now. As my excitement and anticipation grew over Orchid's upcoming 2103 release, I found that my desire had finally overshadowed any money concerns, and I decided to spring for the colored vinyl.

I was thankful that the label still had the first press on red vinyl available. Limited to 200.

Much to my surprise, the label had a second pressing available as well, with two new options for colored vinyl. Suddenly, I realized that this endeavor was going to get more expensive than I had initially thought. I was committed though, and ordered all three colors.

I'm not typically a fan of splatter vinyl, but I find that this black and white pattern looks really good. Limited to 300.

The third color option available was listed as "red white and blue". I was disappointed when this color did not arrive with my order, and instead the label sent me two copies of the black and white splatter vinyl. I emailed the label and they said that they would be willing to offer me a discount if I wanted to order another copy. Instead, I quickly sold my copy on ebay, and found that there was a U.S. distributor, Doooomed.com, that had it in stock, so I ordered it from them instead.

I was hoping for a cool red, white and blue pattern like the Bridge Nine pressing of Agnostic Front's Live At CBGB album. Instead we get a mix of red, white and blue, which makes purple. Limited to 200.

With my original order, only the original first press of Through The Devil's Doorway was available. After I received my order, and was working through the issues with the label on the duplicate black and white splatter of Capricorn, I noticed that they had put up two more colored vinyl options in their store. Yup, I'm going to need those as well. I'll skip the overseas shipping this time around though, and just grab them through doooomed.com.

First pressing on white vinyl. Limited to 200.

Clear orange/gold vinyl is part of the second pressing.

Lastly, we have the clear vinyl with red pressing...also part of the second pressing.

So while I don't typically buy multiple copies of records from Metal bands, there has been something about Orchid that has captured my attention and I haven't been able to resist the call to collect their vinyl. Much more to come very soon.

Iron Reagan Is Dead

Iron Reagan released a 5 song demo last year that had me salivating for more of their Crossover awesomeness. I was so excited for their new LP that as soon as I saw pre-orders go up at Interpunk, I didn't hesitate to order one.

Shortly after ordering, Doug sent me a message to let me know that the label, A389 Recordings, had limited red vinyl pre-orders up. Oh shit. I was worried that in my excitement, I'd ordered a more common pressing in error. Thankfully, that wasn't the case, and I was glad to receive the LP on white vinyl.

As an additional bonus, I was surprised to find that the pressing from Interpunk was signed by the band, with each member's signature on the lyric sheet insert. Love the upside-down cross on Land Phil's signature.

As for the record...I don't know. It is good and all, but it doesn't completely kick my ass. Parts of it reach towards brilliance, while others seem to float by on auto pilot. I had the same kind of attitude towards the last Municipal Waste album...good enough not to skip, but not enough to make me want to reach for it. Who knows...I warmed up to the last Waste album a little bit, so maybe this Iron Reagan LP will take some time as well.