Agalloch, Colloections of Colonies of Bees, Sunn0))) and Boris

Folk metal band Agalloch's records are pretty difficult to find, especially at an affordable price. That is why I biked down to Vacation Vinyl the minute I heard they got copies of their most recent album "Marrow of the Spirit" in stock. Agalloch has long been one of my favorite metal bands and this was my first opportunity to purchase one of their records and not have to pay $150+ for it. The release is pretty great too. Heavy duty gatefold packaging with clear writing on the front and back. It is a 2xLP pressed on clear vinyl and includes a really nice 12 page booklet.










Next up is an album that I accidentally bought twice. It is Collections of Colonies of Bees - Giving. I preordered this album months ago and then forgot all about it. Later on I saw it on another site and ordered another copy. Now I have an extra copy, if anyone wants to buy it off me...
Collections of Colonies of Bees are a post-rock band that I have really gotten into over the past couple of years. It is former members of Pele(and it really sounds like it) and is the backing band for Justin Vernon(Bon Iver) in the band Volcano Choir.
This release comes on a really cool looking black/magenta swirl colored vinyl. It includes a digital download and has a really weird image of a deer with a human head on the front of it.







The final one today is Sunn 0))) and Boris - Alter. This is a record I actually already own, but found it for such a good price I had to get it again. I already own the Daymare release of this album which is a little bit different than this one. The Daymare version is a box set with a ton of goodies in it and is pressed on black 200 gram vinyl where as this one is on 180 gram vinyl.
I am a big fan of both of these bands and this is one of my favorite releases by both of them. I found this on sale at Amoeba at a price I couldn't pass up. This is the Southern Lord release and is a 3xLP set that is pressed on opaque yellow vinyl. It includes a really nice booklet with lyrics and pictures and has really amazing artwork. This pressing was limited to 1,500.

Om, Beecher, Envy, Sharks Keep Moving

I have a huge backlog of LP's that I got recently that I need to go through and catalog, but here are a couple of good deals I got.

First off is Om- Conference of the Birds. This is the second record from Om with their original lineup of Al Cisneros and Chris Hakius. It consists of two excellent songs that are 15 and 17 minutes long. While I really love the new energy and creativity that Emil Amos brings to the band in it's current form, this is probably their best album overall.

The release is pretty standard from Holy Mountain records. Black pressing (they pressed it on orange and green as well), lyric sheet, and free download coupon.








Next up was a steal I got from Amoeba records a few weeks ago. It is an album by British hardcore band Beecher titled This Elegy, His Autopsy and I got it for only $6! The unique thing about this release from Earache Records is instead of pressing it on one 12" record they decided to press it on five-7" records and release it as a box set. As a collector piece that is really awesome, but trying to listen to this album in its entirety is actually really annoying. I'm really glad I picked it up, especially with how little I paid for it, but I can definitely see myself not playing this record much. As much as I like the music, it is a real hassle to have to get up and change or flip the record after every 1-2 songs.

1000 copies pressed.








Next up is long out of print album Insomniac Doze by Japanese band Envy. Envy is a screamo band that I have been in to for quite some time. This release is not one of my favorite albums of their, but it still has some really good songs and it was only $8 at Amoeba, which is a great deal! This release is the first edition color pressing that was only available through mail order on the Temporary Residence website. It is a 2xLP release with the first LP on transparent red while the second LP is on transparent blue. Holding next to each other gives you a really cool classic 3D glasses kind of feel.








Finally is Sharks Keep Moving - Desert Strings and Drifters. It is a release I got from the web store www.invinylwetrust.com. For those of you who have never been there, you should check it out. They have an excllent selection, really affordable prices, and a great, friendly staff. I had been looking for this record for a while and every place seemed to be out of it. Sharks Keep Moving was one of the first math rock bands that I got in to way back in high school, so I was really thrilled to finally find this release available online. This release is a reissue that was pressed on 523 copies in 2009 from Second Nature Records. It is pressed on translucent orange with black splatter and looks spectacular.