Level 4 Outbreak

I love The Nerve Agents. There are even days when I think that Days Of The White Owl might be on my list of favorite hardcore records. Yet somehow the self titled Nerve Agents EP has been a hole in my collection for a long time. Any time that I'd see it listed on Discogs, I'd think that the price was too high, and I'd let it pass me by, certain that a more reasonable priced one would come along. At some point I should have just bitten the bullet and grabbed on when I could... but then when Revelation recently announced they were doing a reissue campaign for The Nerve Agents, I figured that I'd check it out.

I own Days Of The White Owl and The Butterfly Collection, so didn't feel the need to buy another copy of them, but that self titled EP... with the OBI strip... looked too cool to pass up.

419 pressed on clear vinyl.

The packaging on this is really good. The OBI strip is a really cool touch, but the booklet insert is really nice as well, with some images of flyers for Nerve Agents shows and various writings from different people around the scene on the impact the band had at that time. All of this is really cool, but it would have been nice to get some perspective and words from the band themselves.

Of course the version that I was most interested in was the special Linas Garsys black sheep cover for the EP, but that was sold out before I was able to place an order. I figured that I was fucked and would never be able to get my hands on one, so I was surprised last week when I saw once listed on Discogs for only $30. I didn't hesitate and quickly added it to my cart and checked out. So happy to have scored one.

Number 38 of 131.

Days Of The Pink Owl

There are some records that a reissue just won't cut it. Anything else just feels like a pale imitation. It's got to be the real deal.

Eric Ozenne's previous bands, Unit Pride and Redemption '87, were solid gold, and he didn't disappoint with The Nerve Agents. In the early 2000's, The Nerve Agents were one of my favorites...hell, they are probably my favorite Eric O band ever. Since I was late to the record collecting game, I missed out on the original pressing for their albums on REV.

I grabbed the Record Store Day pressing that REV did for Days Of The White Owl back in 2013 because it was convenient. I knew that the original pressing on pink was the way to go, but the reissue was just too easy, so I grabbed it. It was just a place holder to get the vinyl on the shelf.

At the end of 2016, my self control slipped a little, and I found myself unable to stop from clicking "Add To Cart" on Discogs with no regard for anything or anyone. "Okay, I need to calm down on my record spending...oh shit, it would be great to own this one...hey, there is a US seller that has one available...fuck, I've bought another one.". No regrets on buying this pink vinyl copy of Days Of The White Owl though, because that shit looks great.

Good look with the pink and white. 338 pressed on pink, and 774 pressed on white. Now I'm just missing the blue vinyl. If REV promises not to follow up with five more pressings, I might have to get that one as well.

Record Store Day 2013 - Part 1: The New Shit

I know that everyone likes to take a piss all over Record Store Day. I can understand the hate. With record stores slowly vanishing from existence, the day was created to celebrate those that were still around, as well as increasing the visibility of vinyl as a valid format as more kids were going digital. Like all things that start off with the purest intention, there will always be someone out there looking to exploit it and make some money. Over the past five years, we've seen more and more usless Record Store Day exclusive re-issues (do we really need another Jimi Hendrix 7 inch?) and some of the prices are retarded ($14 for a 7 inch?)...and do I need to mention the douchebag flippers that only want the most rare releases so they can cash in on eBay? Still, I'm not going to let these things get me down. I still look forward to this day, even if it is an excuse to head out for a day of record shopping.

This year, my shopping list of RSD releases was pretty small. There were only a few that I cared about, and of those, I wouldn't have been too upset if I didn't get my hands on one. Still, Jeff and I were standing in line at 8:45 in the morning, waiting for the doors to open.

The first piece of vinyl that I grabbed was the picture disc for Dio. People seem to love the Magica album, and claim it as their favorite from Dio's later years. While I do like it, I always prefer Killing The Dragon or Master Of The Moon over this one.

I generally don't care about picture discs, but I still have a love affair with all things Dio, so I quickly grabbed the only copy in the store. In years past, these Dio/Rainbow picture discs sell for around $26, so I was surprised to see this one only at $17.

Another picture disc that I was hoping to find was the Testament 7 inch.

Nothing new and exciting here. Just covers of Iron Maiden and Scorpions that were included on thier Dark Roots Of Earth album from last year. Still it is a nice collectable.

Next up is the recent batch of repressings from Revelation Records. This year's list was kind of a let down, but I do love The Nerve Agents, so at least there was one to look forward to.

I wasn't really interested in the other two REV releases, the first Sense Field LP and the Slipknot 7 inch. I'd never really bothered with either one of these, and chose to continue to ignore the Sense Field LP. Slipknot on the other hand, I figured that I'd give them a shot.

I remember reading some comparisons to early Corrosion Of Conformity, and this Slipknot EP definitely has some of that Animosity sound to it. I'm glad to finally have given this one a chance.

Victory has also gotten into the Record Store Day game, and unlike REV, Victory is sticking to those classics that will sell. No Baby Gopal or Hi-Fi and the Roadburners shit...nope, we get the classic Snapcase EP, Steps. I do love some early Snapcase.

One of Victory's biggest bands has to be Earth Crisis. I can only hang with the band though the Destroy The Machines album, so I'm glad the label chose to stick with the early years and repress the Firestorm EP.

Once I had all my RSD purchases, I headed over to the regular vinyl section. I'd downloaded the new Saint Vitus album last year, but it really didn't do much for me. I'd given it a few spins, and as much as I wanted to like it, it just wasn't happening. A month or so ago, I was out for a 10 mile run, and one of the new songs popped up in my running mix. I couldn't tell who it was, but I was loving the heavy doom sound, and singers voice pushed to song to another level. When I got home, I scanned back over the songs that had played and was surprised to find that it was Saint Vitus. It finally clicked, and I was glad to find a copy on Record Store Day.