Wall of Sound Presents: The Vinyl Odyssey – Part 1

Welcome to The Vinyl Odyssey!
(September ’18 Edition)

With the current surge in popularity of vinyl collecting Wall of Sound proudly presents a new monthly feature, The Vinyl Odyssey!

Delving into rare releases, coloured and limited editions, signed copies, and more. If it’s vinyl, we’ll be all over it like Browny on a Blink 182 release, and if it’s collectable we’ll be even more frothing at the mouth! Obviously we won’t be able to cover ALL the releases for the month coming, there are simply too many these days, but we’ll dive head first into some that we believe should command your attention. It won’t end there either, we’re hoping by the end of 2018 to start presenting some feature videos of ‘unwrapping’ new vinyl (vinyl geek style!), as we check out some of the stunning art work to these collectables as well as delivering some reviews on LP’s. And keep an eye out for some vinyl competitions!

So come with us as we enter The Vinyl Odyssey and hit us up over on Twitter, @TheVinylOdyssey and Instagram @TheVinylOdyssey with any questions on anything vinyl, suggestions on upcoming releases or re-issues.

Upcoming releases on vinyl for October……

Alice Cooper – From the Inside
Release Date October 5
Originally released in 1978, From The Inside is a concept album by Alice Cooper. His 11th studio album was inspired by his stay in a sanatorium to recover from his alcohol addiction. This re-issue comes on limited crystal clear, transparent green “with a little bit of white” coloured vinyl. We’re not sure what that little bit of white is (*Editor – WTF!) but we’re sure it’ll look incredible. Featuring a special sleeve with two panels and printed inner sleeve. The album is perhaps, Cooper’s most vulnerable, whilst the concept lp is most definitely his most personal lyrical content. Guest musicians include Toto‘s Steve Lukather and Cheap Trick‘s Rick Nielsen. From The Inside is available as a limited edition of 1,500 individually numbered copies worldwide. Lush.

Fear Factory – Obsolete
Release Date October 5
About time!! Revered amongst Fear Factory fans this release will be much sought after. Obsolete will be released on a limited gold coloured vinyl. Limited to 2,000 individually numbered copies (I love when these things get that treatment!) and what is a must have these days, 180 gram with what we’re told will be a beautiful 4 page booklet. The follow up to the band’s ground breaking Demanufacture record, Obsolete continued the band’s rise, adding further sci-fi elements and a more dark theme. A must for any fan of Industrial music or of metal in general.  You can order Obsolete via our friends at Nerve Gas for just $39! You would want to be quick though, these will go fast.

Behemoth – I Loved You At Your Darkest
Release Date October 5
Blackened death metal legends, Behemoth will drop album number 11 next month and the accompanied vinyl version looks very drool worthy. Several versions are sweeping the ‘net, though there is  a limited Australian only coloured vinyl exclusive on blood smoky red with gold splatter, with 2lp vinyl in gatefold sleeve. If that doesn’t sound ghoulish enough you can grab a milky white/clear vinyl exclusive at Nuclear Blast and limited to only 300 copies, though not many remain. Also Limited to 300 black/swamp green splatter vinyls in a double gatefold sleeve incl. booklet. Going from the band’s, ‘God = Dog’ track, this album will be nothing short of album of the year material. You have been warned. Order now!

Alkaline Trio – Is This Thing Cursed
Release Date October 5
Reviewed earlier this month on Wall of Sound, read here, Alkaline Trio’s new album gets it’s physical release early next month. Available on boring black vinyl, the album can be collected on a much more interesting cool Bone coloured vinyl from the band’s website. Alkaline Trio site.

Shihad – The General Electric
Release Date October 12
The New Zealand hard rock legends are re-releasing their 1999 memorable album, The Geberal Electric on October 12 on limited red and white coloured vinyl. The General Electric was the band’s fourth album  and features the singles ‘My Mind’s Sedate,’, ‘The General Electric’ and ‘Pacifier.’ Whilst a stunning collectable vinyl, The General Electric will come at a price, with JB HiFi listing it for $69 (ouch!). The album has been newly remastered by Tony “Jack the Bear” Mantz who has overseen the previous Shihad reissues.

Powderfinger – Internationalist
Release Date October 12
Brisbane’s, Powderfinger release a limited 20th anniversary deluxe purple vinyl edition of Internationalist next month! The quintuple platinum, 4x ARIA award winning recording, Internationalist, will feature unreleased tracks including a triple j Live At The Wireless session from 12th October 1998 (never before available commercially), plus selected B-sides from the album. The anniversary edition will be housed in a gatefold sleeve and features new liner notes from the band on the inner sleeve, alongside unseen photos and memorabilia from the time. Stop drooling!

Disturbed – Evolution
Release Date October 19
Disturbed will release new album Evolution next month but of more note to vinyl lovers will be the Deluxe 2-LP 140 Gram Black Vinyl edition that is available for a little extra coin. Is it worth the extra though? Personally we’re not sure but the ‘The Sound Of Silence’ lovers will no doubt want to scoop it up as this live version of the cover also features Alter Bridge’s Myles Kennedy. The deluxe version will also contain a remix of current single, ‘Are You Ready’ and a bonus track. Unfortunately no coloured versions or anything else exciting comes with Evolution which is a shame. Nevertheless if you’re down with the sickness….get on board!

Hellions – Rue
Release Date October 19
Sydney band, Hellions release their fourth album, Rue next month and there are a few vinyl collectable options available including the limited edition transparent blue w/pink and blue splatter vinyl! And who doesn’t love a splatter vinyl! Our friends at 24Hundred also have some sick vinyl merch combo’s for pre-order including a very cool 3-Colour Segment vinyl limited to only 220 copies in Australia. You will receive a download link too, sent to your email on release day.

Rise of the Northstar – Legacy of Shi
Release Date October 26
French hardcore cross infused Japanese culture band (that’s amouthful!), Rise of the Northstar are back with a new album, Legacy of Shi. It will drop in a limited white/black combo coloured vinyl only available via Nuclear Blast and limited to 500 copies. At the time of this write up however, only a handful remained. Be quick. Also comes in plain black or plain white vinyl.

Kreator – After the Attack
Release Date October 26
This is a replica of an original Noise Records LP picture disc originally released as a limited edition in 1987. It is the bands classic second album Pleasure To Kill with a rare bonus track ‘After The Attack’ added to it. Picture disc?…I hear you say. Yes, picture disc, all vinyl collections should have one and this a highly collectable gem in the world of thrash metal. If you can’t find the original 1987 issue this is the next best thing.

Blink 182 – Enema of the State
Release Date October 26
Boy oh boy, are we excited about this one! Blink 182’s classic, Enema of the State re-issued on opaque blue vinyl and limited to just 1,500 copies! This will sell out and will sell out soon. Srcvinyl is giving the Blink 182 catalog the full SRCHIFI treatment with limited edition audiophile-level pressings and premium packaging. The deluxe version of Enema of the State was mastered for vinyl by Kevin Gray (Coherent Audio), and will be housed in a thick 24 pt gatefold jacket with a matte finish and includes centre labels unique to this pressing. The deluxe edition of Enema of the State includes a 28 page booklet which we have dubbed the Ultimate Enema Guide featuring lyrics and expanded artwork. At the time of this article, Amazon Australia were selling the pre-order for a ridiculous $38, please mindful though that Amazon change prices daily. Check it out though, here.

Soulfly – Ritual
Release Date October 26
Max Cavalera and co return with a new Soulfly album end of next month and from the first few singles released, Ritual will be one to saviour for old school Soulfly fans! It will be released on several coloured vinyl options limited as follows; Gold 700, Grey 500, Red 300. Whilst not many Australian stores at this point in time have the album available for pre-order, you can track down several international stores all selling these colours, though the gold version I’m told is almost sold out. If you don’t mind spending a little on postage you can even nab a signed copy of the album here

 

Helloween – Starlight: The Noise Records Collection 
Our final insight for The Vinyl Odyssey (Part 1) is from German legends, Helloween, who release their limited deluxe vinyl boxset, Starlight: The Noise Records Collection which includes a massive 6 LP’s! Formed in 1984, Helloween are one of the finest power metal bands out of ’80s. The band has released 15 albums throughout its three decade-long career. This crazy fan package will make their wallets bleed but it’s jam packed with goodness. Check out what’s inside:

Helloween LP (red vinyl)
Judas Maxi Single (yellow vinyl)
Walls Of Jerico LP (orange vinyl)
Keeper Of The Seven Keys Pt.1 LP (purple vinyl)
Keeper Of The Seven Keys Pt.2 LP (silver vinyl)
The Best, The Rest, The Rare 2LP (blue / green vinyl)

It also comes with an exclusive Pumpkin Slipmat, 90cm x 60cm Bandposter with the line-up of the classical era (printed on both sides). All these albums are re-issued on coloured vinyl for the very first time. Got a spare $235? Head to JB HiFi here

Next month we’ll be taking an in-depth look into Metallica‘s remastered re-issue …And Justice For All, Architects’ Holy Hell, Tenacious D‘s new one and some sweet limited vinyl options and Opeth fans will want to have a read on where to find a special re-release of their Sorceress album in a sweet 4 x 10″ boxset!

Some amazing vinyl for a host of different genres. Please make don’t be shy to offer suggestions, as stated, over on Twitter @TheVinylOdyssey and Instagram @TheVinylOdyssey, but in the meantime, grab some headphones, a quiet corner, a beanbag and play some damn vinyl!!! Read the lyrics, enjoy the artwork. Music is so much more than a stream.

Cheers

Plugga @KeepnTabs73 
The Vinyl Odyssey