High-end Japanese audiophile cd madness
Posted: Sat Feb 28, 2009 12:08 am
A little background.
A huge part of my cd metal collection is on Japanese issues. Back in the days I first started collecting the Japanese were sometimes the first to release crucial metal albums on cd like "Death Penalty" the first 2 WITCHFYNDE albums and FIST's "Back With A Vengeance".
These issues were often later supplanted in quality by Euro versions that had bonus tracks and better mastering.
The latest twist is that the Japanese are going on a wild tear with a bunch of VERY (up to $40 a disc) expensive reissues of some classic nwobhm albums in the new SHM format. These are faithful repros of the original vinyl pressings with all inserts and original packaging beautifully duplicated.
SHM discs are supposed to sound better than regular cds (though no special equipment is needed) but even audiophiles cannot agree on this.
How does this relate to metal collecting? Well, I almost busted a rib laughing when I saw that the Japanese have released SHM cds of the first 2 VENOM albums. Those albums are all-time favorites of mine but while I think they sound like they were recorded in a toilet bowl I still love the raw production and thats one of the things that makes them great.
Now the Japanese have dressed them up in a fancy new format thats probably better suited to YES reissues and it makes me wonder who the market for these is? Is is collector's who just dig the limited numbers and beautiful miniature reproduction of the original vinyl, or is there actually some crazy audiophile metalhead who thinks that "Black Metal" is suddenly going to sound as good as "Close to the Edge"?
Now I have the STAMPEDE - "Official Bootleg" SHM cd - and while it sounds really nice the main reason I got it is that its the first cd release for that material. It also has the "days Of Wine And Roses" ep tracks and in a really nice touch repros all of the original artwork from both releases. I also have RAVEN's "Wiped Out" which sounds good (but not much different from the original Neat cd remaster) because I needed another copy and decided to splurge.
Those VENOMS still crack me up though - whats next? Some HELLHAMMER? Too funny.
A huge part of my cd metal collection is on Japanese issues. Back in the days I first started collecting the Japanese were sometimes the first to release crucial metal albums on cd like "Death Penalty" the first 2 WITCHFYNDE albums and FIST's "Back With A Vengeance".
These issues were often later supplanted in quality by Euro versions that had bonus tracks and better mastering.
The latest twist is that the Japanese are going on a wild tear with a bunch of VERY (up to $40 a disc) expensive reissues of some classic nwobhm albums in the new SHM format. These are faithful repros of the original vinyl pressings with all inserts and original packaging beautifully duplicated.
SHM discs are supposed to sound better than regular cds (though no special equipment is needed) but even audiophiles cannot agree on this.
How does this relate to metal collecting? Well, I almost busted a rib laughing when I saw that the Japanese have released SHM cds of the first 2 VENOM albums. Those albums are all-time favorites of mine but while I think they sound like they were recorded in a toilet bowl I still love the raw production and thats one of the things that makes them great.
Now the Japanese have dressed them up in a fancy new format thats probably better suited to YES reissues and it makes me wonder who the market for these is? Is is collector's who just dig the limited numbers and beautiful miniature reproduction of the original vinyl, or is there actually some crazy audiophile metalhead who thinks that "Black Metal" is suddenly going to sound as good as "Close to the Edge"?
Now I have the STAMPEDE - "Official Bootleg" SHM cd - and while it sounds really nice the main reason I got it is that its the first cd release for that material. It also has the "days Of Wine And Roses" ep tracks and in a really nice touch repros all of the original artwork from both releases. I also have RAVEN's "Wiped Out" which sounds good (but not much different from the original Neat cd remaster) because I needed another copy and decided to splurge.
Those VENOMS still crack me up though - whats next? Some HELLHAMMER? Too funny.
