United States of Mind

So I haven't taken any pictures since July and my pile of records has been stacking up. The more it stacks up, the less I want to take pictures. However, sometimes I want to be the first to post stuff. Usually if I am not one of the first to post it I quickly lose interest and put it off, and sometimes I just never post it. Yesterday I got the new Take Offense LP and wanted to be the first to get this bad boy up. 

Clear was the limited press out of /300, with /700 being on green. Sadly the green looks better. This release is ok but I am not feeling it like I felt Take Offense's last releases. They have definitely moved towards a more metal style and I feel like they are moving away from their signature sound a little bit. Maybe it just needs time to grow on me? I will say though, that this is the best album art of all their records in my humble opinion. I just love that cover!

I also ordered a copy of their "Live at the Socal Slam" 7" on red vinyl out of /500. It actually comes with a nice 8 page insert with a pretty cool collage on every page. Well done, Reaper.

So I was really surprised to find #19/500 on my copy. 19 has always been my favorite number. My Dad played one season for the Pittsburgh Pirates in the early 70's until he had a career ending injury and could never play baseball again (shoulder surgeries weren't as efficient in the 70's as they are today!), but when he did play he wore #19. Growing up playing all kinds of different sports I always wore #19 and it remains my favorite number to this day. Strange coincidence, I guess. 

Rude Awakening

Here is the 2nd press of Rude Awakening's "The Awakening" on Triple B Records. This is the rarest color on clear green out of /100. I have never been really crazy about Rude Awakening's recordings, but I saw them live a while back and I was really impressed. I've been trying to listen to them more but it's taking a while to grow on me I suppose. If you like Rude Awakening I would go pre order their new split with Death Threat that went up for pre order yesterday.

So ten days into the month and I am still at only 2 posts so far. The past month or so has been crazy, but I really need to step my game up. I've been waiting patiently for a bunch of pre orders to show up so hopefully once those roll through I will be rejuvenated and feel like taking more pictures and doing more posts. Record blogging is a cold game, yo.

Heavy Metal Kings

Ok, so follow me here. "Heavy Metal Kings" is a group consisting of Ill Bill and Vinnie Paz from Jedi Mind Tricks. Before they were an official group, this was a single put out in 2006 for Jedi Mind Tricks LP "Servants in Heaven, Kings in Hell" which featured Ill Bill. At the time the single was pressed on plain blue vinyl and has been extinct forever. I never even remember hearing about it and they are pretty impossible to find. Turns out, that 100 copies turned out on a turquoise vinyl as a pressing plant mistake and were held back by Babygrande. They just reissued these this year and they sold out right away, but luckily I was able to snag one before they were gone. This is a true piece of rap history and I'm glad I scored a copy!

Looking AMAZING on turquoise marble out of /100. This is a classic track to a classic album. Vinnie Paz and Ill Bill, does it get any better than that? For you hardcore kids out there, both of these rappers have been down with the hardcore scene for years and give shout outs in a bunch of their lyrics. If you don't know Jedi Mind Tricks, Vinnie Paz, or Ill Bill then I suggest you go check that shit out ASAP. Below is the original music video for when this came out.