We Buy Or We Die

Earlier this year, I picked up the test press for the new Done Dying album, We Dream Or We Die...therefore, it was a foregone conclusion that I'd be picking up any and all available pressings when the album was actually released.

While I can't say that I enjoy the design of the cover at all...I don't know, it seems to have a modern metal feel to it that just doesn't sit right with me...the songs on the album, on the other hand, are great. Just straight ahead, no frills hardcore...and how cool is it to see the Workshed logo on the back of a record again?

250 pressed on grey, and 250 on blue vinyl.

Seems like a good time to get a "family photo" of the Done Dying collection. Only missing the test press of the Reaper Records release.

Done Dying For A Test Press

A couple months ago, Marcus gave me a heads up that Workshed was selling test pressings of the upcoming Done Dying LP. I sat on this piece of news for a few days, internally debating if I wanted to spend the money or not. I'd been hit with a few big expenses this year, and with the thoughts of other home improvement projects dancing in my head, I knew that the wise move would be to walk away, and save my money. After sitting on this choice for three days, I figured that if Workshed still had the test press available, then I'd buy one. I was fairly certain that they would be gone by this point, so I was very surprised when the label emailed me back to let me know they still had some on hand. Hey...a man can only stay strong for so long, and I bought one.

If I'd seen the sleeve for this test as soon as they were available, I might not have waited so long before deciding to buy one. Great black and white design with hand written labels.

I loved the first two Done Dying 7 inches, and this LP continues down that same well worn path. Straight forward, no frills Hardcore is what Dan O and Mike Hartsfield do best.

Hand numbered out of 20 pressed. I was happy to receive number 9, which coincidentally is the same number I own for the Dress For Distress test.

Forced Dying

Back in December when I was posting about the new Done Dying records that I'd received, I stopped by the Irish Voodoo site to get some info on pressing numbers and was surprised to see that a second pressing was available.

Of course I didn't hesitate to order a copy.

100 pressed on clear with black vinyl. It looks like a third pressing will be available soon, so I'll have to keep my eyes open for that.

While in the Irish Voodoo store, this Forced Down record caught my eye. Nothing really new here. The band found some lost copies of the Rise 7 inch in storage. They were without covers, so they worked with Irish Voodoo to help sell them. There were three different covers in all, but the one that interested me the most was the one with the Record Store Day sleeve.

Forced Down were around in the late 80's/early 90's. Still worth picking up vinyl from them almost 25 years later.

Numbered and limited to 50.

Double Done Dying

I've always been a fan of all things Dan O'Mahoney...well, I've never bothered to check out God Forgot...but with that one exception, I've always been excited to check out Dan O's new bands. I'd been hearing about Done Dying all summer, with word about two 7 inches on the way, and as soon as they dropped, I pounced on 'em.

When you bring together ex-members of No For An Answer, Outspoken, and Collateral Damage, you've set my expectations pretty high. Thankfully, Done Dying do not disappoint.

Reaper Records gave us the Shelf Life EP, and I'm loving these songs. When I first heard the old Carry Nation song, Temple Walls, kick in at the end of the record, I was ready to lose my mind in excitement. As I'm getting ready to start moshing through my music room, the song starts to fade 20 seconds in. What the fuck? Goddamn it...what a tease! I would have loved to finally have a studio recording of this song.

300 pressed on red vinyl. 400 pressed on yellow.

While Reaper gave us Shelf Life, Irish Voodoo releases Dress For Distress. Only three songs on this one, and it's over in 6 minutes. Thankfully we have both records, because just one would not be enough.

A total of 500 pressed for the first press of Dressed For Distress...100 on clear vinyl, and 200 each for red and black. Second press is now available, and looks to be going fast.

While Reaper threw their Done Dying test pressings up on eBay, to score over $100 for one auction, Irish Voodoo decided to sell their test pressings direct through their webstore, and charged the ridiculous amount of $6.00. Fucking scumbags at Irish Voodoo are looking to rip kids off with those prices. If this was the 90's, people would be calling for boycotts.

Seriously though, how great is Irish Voodoo? Support them and buy this record...well, not THIS record, because the test pressings sold out in about 5 minutes. You should still go pick up something from them though.

Such a great looking cover for the test pressing...weird that it is on colored vinyl. Only 28 of them, and I snagged number 9.