Yep. With my Napalm and Icarus Falkenbachs I can prove the difference between an Original and a Regional/Licensed disc!

I've been burned by these shitty licensed releases one too many times. I honestly have a hard time buying anything off of Amazon any more due to every used disc seller somehow having thousands of these CDs (which aren't even supposed to be available outside of Argentina, Belarus, Antarctica, whatever!) in their warehouses. Even on Discogs, you gotta check that shit carefully.

What about Mercury? I just bought the first few Motorhead albums on vinyl and some of them are by Mercury but I see that Bronze is the original label... Apparently the Sanctuary reissue is shit.
I saw a thread a while ago about Back on Black and how they sucked, although I've got a few by them and they seem ok.

A way to avoid getting these licensed rereleases (Icarus, Scarecrow, Irond) is to ask the supplier or seller prior to declaring that you will order this item.
In my case, I simply assumed that my 4 discs will be Napalms as there is no explicit notice that it is actually an Icarus (even in the additional notes!), according to Amazon. The Heralding and Tiurida discs are all listed as limited-edition digipacks. However, as I know that MUSICSHOP780, is a well known supplier of Icarus discs, I asked them. They ultimately confirmed that I will get the Icarus, again, with no explicit notice otherwise, and 2 weeks later, I got these Icarus discs from Argentina!

Have you asked the supplier prior to getting these releases? If yes, did they state that it will be a licensed-label release?

I understand Back on Black started out as really crappy, but got their shit together along the way. No idea about Sanctuary, but older Motorhead vinyls, as most records were, were pressed by different labels in different territories back in the day.



No, I didn't, because the release was very clearly listed as the Century Media deluxe digipack (I'm talking about Seven Churches). Since there are different entries for different versions, I had no reason to believe I would be getting something else. Mistakes do happen, but back then I had no clue I should have been paranoid about this. As for the other releases I mentioned, I believe I got them through Season of Mist but I can't even remeber precisely when by now.

I did start asking after I got the Morgoth cd (my second icarus cd) because I was so disappointed a seller would do that and know a lot of people on ebay don't care too much about their listings and do a half-ass job just to get it done. The possessed cd I bought off elsewhere and the seller didn't disclose it was Icarus and I just assumed it wouldn't be but yeah, my fault for not double-checking. I always check if in doubt now. Worst case scenario is some of the huge media stores say something along the lines of "We can't check our inventory because it's in different warehouses." Well, why don't you check it as you're listing it, especially in cases where they don't even list the record label? Ebay's gone to hell anyways and half the stuff I buy isn't as described, music or otherwise.

But you're right, double-checking is the best way to avoid what you don't want. Assume everyone is a half-ass and double-check just to be sure.

I don't get why Nuclear Blast and Napalm continue to deal with this label when they're obviously allowing their own sales to be undermined. Surely they must lose a fair amount of revenue from people who don't know any better loading up on cheapies instead of buying their own pressings.

That's what I thought, thanks

PS: I checked last night and have a few Icarus CDs, including Satyricon's 'Nemesis Divina'. I thought at the time that the cover, booklet and CD looked 'unfocussed', seems I was right. The others (including the aforementioned 'Transilvanian Hunger') seem fine.

Free from Icarus collection here

their cd (booklet, cd...) is worst than z-grade bootleg, stay away from.

I wonder if there are any pictures that prove the difference between a licensed cd (Icarus) and an original (Napalm)

You'd probably have to scan them at high resolution. I could arrange to do that with the Summoning - Old Morning's Dawn since I gave the Icarus version to a friend so I can just borrow it from him temporarily.

Merged, this is what this thread is for after all

Immolation - Stepping On Angels...Before Dawn has this been bootlegged?
This thing is usually closer to $100+ but now they are popping up for $50 and in "mint" condition.

Could be the Metal Mind reissue from 2008.

I would rather have rated it around $50-60, at least looking at prices you can buy it in Europe from time to time. $100+ is way above any realistic value. I can't remember a single sale in the 3-digit area

It's not worth $100 that's for real!

Never did I hear this was reissued... Is this for real???

http://www.discogs.com/Immolation-Stepp ... se/5748151

Seems kind of sketchy doesn't it? Uncharacteristic matrix, I can't spot a CAT#, no MM logo nor holographic seal. I mean, is this real or what?!

More reason for someone to reissue that bastard already.

It is also not worth $50

I think anyone who has heard the material would agree with that Asti78, I just want it for my collection.

oddbanana on ebay sends you those Icarus and other junk presses without any mention of it in the auction

Hey guys, you've noticed how in the past few months copies of John Petrucci's Suspended Animation started to appear at low prices, mint condition and from the Eastern front? Does anyone know how to spot the differences between the original and the boot?

I had that happen before. I opened a case and got my money back. Its funny, they kept sending me messages in broken English asking me to leave positive feedback lol

If someone hates Mexican/South American pressings, avoid these sellers like the plague: fast.metal.canada, chuff000, metalpinns, musicshop780 (used to be music from argentina, I think), etc. I Love how some of them try to pass these off as legitimate limited editions and slag Russian pressings (which are probably better). I guess you get what you pay for...

It pisses me off more when I get these shit pressings from distros like Century Media, The Laser's Edge, The End Records, CDConnnection, etc.

Hi!, I have a doubt about 'Club Edition' CDs, for example this King Diamond - Conspiracy, have a little 'barcode' thing in the matrix, not this thing comes out like in 1994 or later?, why there some early 80s / 90s with this thing if there is not IFPI code, ¿maybe re-press or what?...

They are good to buy them or nah?

That barcode thing is on the matrix of every CD pressed by DIDX, nothing wrong with those. Club editions are identical to regular CDs other than having a different catalog number and barcode (or sometimes no barcode), they were pressed in the same factories by the original labels for supply to mailorder music clubs. The "club edition" seems to have been a US-only thing, I used to get CDs from a New Zealand club back in the day and those were just regular pressings with no difference to the ones available in stores.

Oh ok, thanks, next question, there is a Anacrusis repeat CD versions on discogs except 'russian' edition with matrix information, but I see many like that, so what is the correct matrix to the "official release" or just change the font or what?...

first link, unknown information

http://www.discogs.com/Anacrusis-Manic- ... se/1980863

russian, just matrix information

http://www.discogs.com/Anacrusis-Manic- ... se/7295941

Well this is what the original looks like:

Thanks, just the matrix changes or any other thing too?

I said, because some people mix CDs with other booklets or covers on different version...

I've edited my last post because I am not sure the second picture was actually of the bootleg, as the font and spacing looked identical to the the original, it may have just been weird lighting hiding the other parts...

But yes, the matrix is the best and easiest way to identify a bootleg, even it it contains the same letters/numbers, it will usually be in a different font and/or spaced differently. As for the inserts they are almost always identical to the original, but they won't have the proper wear you would expect a 20+ year old item to have.

As for discogs, you're not going to want to buy from those Russian/Greek/Lithuania/Bulgaria etc. that are selling that cd. Even then I would always give the seller your e-mail and request a matrix picture before purchasing.

The inserts will generally be printed on lower quality paper. Also the resolution will be inferior because they're made from copying the original inserts digitally, so you'll be able to see pixelation. But yes the easiest way to spot a bootleg claiming to an old pressing is wear and tear, even when handled with utmost care a CD will still show signs of use and aging after 20+ years.

I would disagree with this point of yours:



I have a bunch of CDs that I bought new in the early 90s which I only played once or twice and you definitely do not see the smallest tab on the booklet or any other mark on the CD. Jewel cases are easily to replace so thats no reference. It might be an indication if it looks mint but this does not 100% indicate that it is a bootleg.

I guess what he meant was that bootlegs will more often than not have a characteristic feel and smell, like it was just printed the other day. It's not foolproof I agree, but when you pick an obvious bootleg it will smell like fresh ink so to speak and the feel of the paper will be like if it was never opened before. Even if you haven't played those albums for 15-20 years I'm sure the simple fact that they aren't shrink-wrapped and have (even though little) contact with air will make them have a different feel. Paper ages just by being exposed. But again I agree, it's not a 100% valid method, though it can be helpful.

I agree, also the jewel cases of 80s and 90s were way studier than the shit that they sell you today.

older CDs which are only printed one side of the tray card will sometimes have a slightly yellowing on the non-printed side, looks almost like a shape of a CD, brand new items will not have this discolouring.

^Yep, this. Also, I have lots of CDs where the ink on the right-side title tab has faded from UV exposure, even though everything else is in immaculate condition. Paper just ages, even if left alone. Plus the ink and processing methods used these days gives the paper a different texture, and the paper is usually either too glossy or too rough on bootlegs.

Any ideas about Sempiternal Deathreign / The Spooky Gloom with matrix D.O.C. - 80222, which recently appears in some distros? Ugly quality of print / CD ...

I haven't seen it but it's definitely a boot since that album was never reissued and never will be.

European pressing is on Steamhammer, and there was a North American edition on RC Records (Roadrunner).
Just sold my copy on ebay. It ended at $20.50. I have seen it go for twice as much. So,somewhere between $20-$40.
I also have the version with the white disc and so does someone else i know. I never seen the other version though.

Watch out for this seller on Amazon Marvelio, I placed an order with them for two Messhugah CD's, and got the Icarus music pressings in the mail, which was irritating. Also metalseason on Ebay and Amazon sell Mexican pressings of releases.