Natural law-Spring trash 7"

Originally released as a tape in 2010. Everyone knows how much I hate those fucking things but thankfully Hardware records of Germany have put this out on the format it deserves. Basic no thrills hardcore which is so much better and effective for it's simplistic approach. The packaging for this is pretty minimal too. Good, good stuff though not up to the same standard as their LP, this is still worth grabbing if you're a fan. 100 on white vinyl and there's still some left in the hardware store so get in.

Propagandhi-Failed states LP

New Propagndhi album-about damn time. It's also exciting to see this band evolve with each release. They've certainly come a long way since their fat wreck days even though despite having a similar sound to most of the other bands on the label they still stood out from the pack-mainly due to their political views which are still strong today. Describing them these days is a tricky chore. It's like prog-thrash metal-hardcore if such a term exists or even makes any sense. Whatever-this album totally rules and will be in a lot of folk's best records of 2012 lists. Now on Epitaph records, I managed to bag a colour copy. Also it comes with an actual CD rather than a download so even those charlatans without turntables can grab one. Great package, great band, great record.

Off with their Heads/Discharge-Split 7" Second pressing/Fest version

Probably the oddest release for me last year was this 7". These two bands actually together on one record released by small UK label Drunken Sailor records?
 I have no interest in what Discharge are doing these days (they were so boring when I saw them in Summer) but I do like OWTH a lot although they put out too many split releases with other bands (this being one of many of them). This was originally meant to be a one off release but here's a second pressing anyway. 300 all on on white vinyl and 50 came with this white sleeve which was made up for some festival (Don't know which one). I bagged one of the leftovers when they hit the store. Look very nice I must say. Discharge don't sound that bad here but at the end of the day I actually prefer quite a few of the bands that they actually influenced rather than them. OWTH are still the reason to tune into this though. Good stuff!!!

Buzzoven-Sore LP

Another long time want removed from my list. I actually bought this on CD at the time and skipped the regular vinyl little knowing back then  that years later it would become a highly collectable item. Ah, the gift of hindsight. Anyway, Buzzoven were one of the first Sludge bands around. This was their big label debut (to Roadrunner). Knowing Roadrunner they probably dropped them when they failed to sell as many records as Sepultura-the guys who ran it were all about money. Still while Buzzoven may have never cracked the big time they were one of the pioneers of this style and have influenced many other bands. Members went on to play more angry and hateful bands like Weedeater, Sourvein etc. All good stuff!!!
 This was in the batch of stuff that I bagged the other weekend and I'm pretty damn stoked to finally own it on vinyl. With a cover like that, it needs to be 12 inches big to be apprecaited.

Carnage-Dark Recollections LP

Last weekend an old friend called me and told me he was having a record clearout. There went my plan of the window with not buying anymore records this month. One visit later and my collection was slightly bigger and my bank account a bit smaller. I'm not complaining though, one thing that I've learnt over all these years with my record collecting habit is that if you see something you want and you can afford it then grab it there and then because especially these days it may not be around if you decide to hold off and try picking it up later,particarly if the price is more than reasonable.
It was a pretty good haul but one of the crown jewels for me was this LP-the first and only ever Carnage album. It's become of a bit of a holy grail for collectors of Swedish death metal as not only was it one of the first records to capture that trademark Swedish sound but also because members went onto other highly acclaimed bands such as Dismember, Carcass and Arch enemy.
 It was released back in 1990 on Necrosis records-a short lived sub division of the mighty Earache records. It's a lovely item to have as this is from probably favourite era and genre of death metal. Listening to this reminds me why I have very little interest in what's going with the majority of current death metal these days unless they're playing it in a retro-style and you can't beat the genuine article-which is what this is.

Bad brains-I against I LP White

 

 

Picked this up in my local store last week in the second hand section which was a nice find. It's not the best Brains LP but by far the worst. This is a German Pressing on the Instant/Line records label. Line also did a white vinyl pressing of 'Rock for light' (Which I have a spare of, if anyone's interested). It is notably different next to the SST (blue lettering on the cover for a start). As I have the clear and green vinyl on SST already I decided to include a snapshot of the boys together.

 

Darkest hour-Undoing ruin LP Test press

 

I've been with Darkest hour since pretty much the beginning-since they first dropped their first CD on Art monk construction. That shocked many at the time as that label was notable for really releasing only Emo-ish stuff.  Needless to say Darkest hour stood apart from the rest of the Art monk roster. They moved onto others labels such as East coast empire, southern lord and eventually Victory. It wasn't until 'Mark of the Judas' where I really got into the band. What a blinding album that is. I still need a clear copy of that one.
 Recently I saw this on Ebay-a test press which is also signed by all members. Pretty much a unique item which I was pretty surprised that I won. Are the kids not as down with DH in 2012 as they were previously? Anyway I'm not complaining-my only gripe is that this purchase has made me realise how lacking my collection is DH vinyl. Damn, it all begins-again!!!