Recent Purchases (Christian)

Sovereign Cross— Rock in the Night

Great lineup on this one! 
Singer Mark Boals(Yngwie Malmsteen, Dokken) and Dion Colucci, drums by Vinny Appice(Black Sabbath, Dio); bass by Phil Soussan(Ozzy), Michael Manring, and guitars by Gary B. Sullivan.

I picked up a couple CDs from a rad music store in Slovakia while I was there:

Limetal - Limetal (members from Citron)
Dereš - Na panské

Just pre-ordered the new albums from:

Comrades
My Epic
Wolves At The Gate

recently grabbed a Spotify Premium account and never knew there was that much on there. Any recommendations for rare christian metal stuff?

Implement - Bleeding Alone

Alice Cooper - Trash
Amorphis - Under the Red Cloud

Irgalom - Winter Hymns / Spring Anthems
Irgalom - Autumn Psalms

Just recently bought all 5 Irgalom albums. Still digging into them as they came with a small stack of other releases.

^Nice!  I just saw on FB that he's working on a new one.  I love how most of the lyrics are just directly from the Bible.  Really worshipful stuff.

Have you heard one of his other projects The Arbiter?  It's doom/death and is really fantastic IMO.  I'm [eagerly] awaiting VOGR getting some CDs so I can order one and save a few bucks on shipping from Hungary.

Thee Final Chaptre — It Is Written

Kerrick wrote:^Nice!  I just saw on FB that he's working on a new one.  I love how most of the lyrics are just directly from the Bible.  Really worshipful stuff.

Have you heard one of his other projects The Arbiter?  It's doom/death and is really fantastic IMO.  I'm [eagerly] awaiting VOGR getting some CDs so I can order one and save a few bucks on shipping from Hungary.

So far I haven't enjoyed the two newest releases "When Strong Men Stoop" and "Song of Ascents" as much as the first 3. It's been a lot to take in getting them all at once though. Absolutely love the lyrics! It's truly satisfying and seems surprisingly fitting for what he's doing. That's what I need to do more than anything is just sit down and listen with booklet in hand.

Yeah. Just found out about Arbiter and listened to it a few weeks ago along with his other material. Very good stuff. I'm more concerned about me being overloaded or the styles blending too much between projects. I'll definitely consider picking it up though.

^I think I prefer the three season albums more than those two newer ones as well; there's a little more diversity in the first three.  I agree too that it is a lot to take in all at once.  As for The Arbiter, it's different enough than anything done under the Irgalom name that I'm not too worried about being overloaded by it too haha.    There's such a shortage of quality doom/death with good [and particularly Christian] lyrics so I'm extra excited for it.

Welp, I'm going over my monthly budget...  I just ordered from VOGR the debut CD from The Arbiter.  

Actually, the two newer Irgalom discs have really muddy production. That's holding me back. I prefer the more raw sound on the first three with guitars out front. The mix is off on the two newest. I'm hoping I get used to it.

Agreed on Arbiter and doom metal. Now that there are physical copies I'm likely to take the plunge.

Ah, gotcha.  The mix doesn't bother me any though I'm generally no audiophile anyways.

It looks like VOGR only has one copy of The Arbiter's CD left so you might wanna jump on ordering it right away!
https://visionofgodrecords.com/product/the-arbiter-water-from-the-river-of-life-cd/?fbclid=IwAR0pAvM9vJYKP09pRCFQbUg1NTsfEzi5gNdRFrCPt-r_LqhCBHEGYKl_t-g

Kerrick wrote:Ah, gotcha.  The mix doesn't bother me any though I'm generally no audiophile anyways.

It looks like VOGR only has one copy of The Arbiter's CD left so you might wanna jump on ordering it right away!
https://visionofgodrecords.com/product/the-arbiter-water-from-the-river-of-life-cd/?fbclid=IwAR0pAvM9vJYKP09pRCFQbUg1NTsfEzi5gNdRFrCPt-r_LqhCBHEGYKl_t-g

Mix isn't really a bother normally but I prefer this type of black metal with guitars forward, like the first three. He accidentally buried them in bass on the two newest. I like my riffs out front. Maybe it just sounds weird in my car? Unfortunately, that's where I listen most.

Got the last of the Arbiter CDs before they went on backorder.

Domine - Emperor of the Black Runes
DragonForce - Inhuman Rampage
Pathfinder - The Fifth Element

Zion — Thunder From The Mountain 2.0 cd

Tourniquet — Vanishing Lessons (smoke & mirrors vinyl)

Both came today in the mail...made my day!

^ Ammocas, how was the Zion reissue for sound and artwork?

How is the sound compared to the original?

I'm getting the vinyl and CD versions.

Soldier777 wrote:^ Ammocas, how was the Zion reissue for sound and artwork?

How is the sound compared to the original?

I'm getting the vinyl and CD versions.

Hey Soldier777, I’ve listened to the reissue a few times now and then I listened to my download of the original from iTunes as I don’t have the original on cd. There is a difference in sound. I’m not an expert so this is only my opinion. Personally, I have always liked the original and thought the sound quality was good. The biggest difference in the reissue is that to me it sounds cleaner. On some songs of the reissue it seems the vocals aren’t as upfront as the original.. they seem to be toned down or lower in the mix...Don’t get me wrong, it doesn’t sound bad, but if you listen song to song, original to reissue, there is a slight difference. Just my opinion, everyone hears things a little differently. But, everything seems more pronounced or cleaner. I still like the original but I also do like the reissue. I also need to listen to both with headphones...I’ve only listened in my car stereo system while driving to work...I’m sure I’ll hear more pronounced differences with headphones.
    As far as the artwork, I do like the new artwork...it’s a nice update...its more colorful and dramatic. The thing I don’t like is the packaging. I personally like jewel cases...the reissue came in a cardboard digipak but without a tray for the cd. It is held in a slot or pocket. It’s also very thin packaging. Is it too much to ask for lyrics? They are missing here! It opens up like a gatefold album to cool artwork and some pics of the band and thank you notes. As a metal fan, I appreciate lyrics, and some extras like liner notes....it kind of completes the package...hopefully when we receive the vinyl it will have a lyric sheet! By the way, do you have any idea about the colored vinyl? What color? I didn’t see any info on the website about it or when it will be ready.

I'm getting the vinyl and CD. I may get the deluxe version with the goodies. I was chatting with Rex and he me where I live in Canada I would select the European International orders. And overage in shipping will be refunded.

When I buy reissues and I have the original I will sometimes sell the original or keep it. In this case where the original Zion is rare I'm keeping it. I'm looking forward to hearing the 10th bonus track Big Fall (I think that's what it's called). The demo version is on the 2007 compilation album Thrillseeker. I'm a Zion/X-Sinner fan. Zion has that Pyromania era Def Leppard sound with a touch of Helix. X-Sinner Get It has that Brian Johnson AC/DC, Cinderella and a touch of Def Leppard. Peace Treaty and World Cover in Blood has that Bon Scott era AC/DC early Def Leppard On Through the Night/High n Dry/Pyromania sound.

^ Same here, I’m a X-sinner/Zion fan as well...I actually was introduced to X-sinner with the Peace Treaty cd. It definitely has that AC/DC sound...World Covered In Blood is another favorite...I saw Zion TFTM way back when it first came out in a Christian book store and passed on it because I didn’t have enough cash and was getting something else(probably Stryper or Rez or something popular at the time). I always figured I would buy it but for some reason never did...I wish I did though as they are quite expensive now! So I’m glad for the reissue.

By the way, the bonus track (The big fall)is one of my favorites on the reissue...has a great sound!

Apologetix - Double Take
The Detritus reissues
Rob Castles - Straight Shot
Rob Cassels - Thunder Fire
Rob Cassels - Kamikazee Christian
Rob Cassels - Evening Pastoral
Zion - Thunder From The Mountain 2.0
Lordchain - Civil War

Ordered and received:

Girder Music:
Ken Tamplin - Tamplin Girder Reissue
Shout  - Shout Back Girder Reissue
Stryper - Roxx Regime demos
Daniel Band  - Run From the Darkness 2018 Retroactive Reissue
Daniel Band  - Straight Ahead 2018 Retroactive Reissue
Sacred Warrior - Rebellion 2019 Retroactive Reissue
Sacred Warrior - Wicked Generation 2019 Retroactive Reissue
Sacred Warrior - Obsessions 2019 Retroactive Reissue

From a trade I received:
Guardian  - First Watch original Engima Records presisng on vinyl
Bloodgood - Detonation original Frontline Records pressing on vinyl
Sweet Comfort Band - Hearts on Fire original Light Records pressing

On order from Roxx Productions:
Deliverance - self titled on red vinyl
Join the Dead - Armed for Battle 7" vinyl
Saint - In the battle white vinyl
Sacred Warrior - Master's Command 2017 reissue
Deliverance  - River Disturbance Retroactive Records reissue

On order from Girder:
Angelica - demos
Angelica - Angelica Girder Reissue
Angelica - Walkin in Faith Girder Reissue
Saint - Time's End original Pure Metal vinyl pressing
White Cross - Live on the Line EP original Pure Metal vinyl pressing

Ebay:
Ken Tamplin  - Wierd Odds and Ends CD