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Vinyl Me, Please
VMP ANTHOLOGY

The Story of Metal Blade

8 albums that chart the ferocious journey of Metal Blade, and metal music itself.

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NOTE: Please purchase this product individually, as it cannot be combined with other products in our store.
Orders are expected to ship in late May 2021. Timeline is subject to change due to COVID-19.
We will notify you of any shipping updates.
The Story of Metal Blade Logo
Bang your head to one of the most prolific heavy music labels.
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Beyond all the indisputably world-beating titles, the label’s back catalogue is a veritable treasure trove of unsung bands and under-appreciated records. Which is the point of this anthology.
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J. Bennett
Metal Writer

A great series unfolds in episodes

...and the best stories are told in chapters. Formed to release albums from the burgeoning California metal scene in the '80s, Metal Blade, over these last 40 years, has persevered by always staying with the times, capturing the cutting edge of metal as it splintered and evolved into many disparate strands. This Anthology charts the label's deep catalog of the most cutting, powerful metal albums of all time, with eight albums taking you from Metal Blade's scrappy '80s to the chart-topping '10s, with points in-between. Released with a podcast that tells the story of Metal Blade from the label's artists and founder to guide you on this four week journey through these hard-hitting albums.

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WEEK ONE
Omen
Warning of Danger (1985)
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WEEK ONE
Fates Warning
The Spectre Within (1985)
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WEEK TWO
Gwar
America Must Be Destroyed (1991)
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WEEK TWO
Cannibal Corpse
Butchered At Birth (1991)
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WEEK THREE
King Diamond
Voodoo (1998)
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WEEK THREE
The Black Dahlia Murder
Miasma (2005)
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WEEK FOUR
Amon Amarth
Twilight of the Thunder God (2008)
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WEEK FOUR
Armored Saint
La Raza (2010)

What's included

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8 Shredding Metal Blade Releases
In partnership with Revolver Magazine, we chart the evolution of metal and Metal Blade through these 8 albums. They are pressed on high-quality 180g color splatter vinyl and housed in heavyweight, direct-to-board jackets.
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Exclusive Podcast Series

Our five-episode podcast series features interviews with Metal Blade founder Brian Slagel, and many of the bands behind the albums in this VMP Anthology. Hosted by metal writer J. Bennett.
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Deluxe Liner Notes + Photo Booklet
Metal writer J. Bennett tells the story of Metal Blade through these eight albums, and with thoughts from the label's founder, Brian Slagel.
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Premium Commemorative Box
This heavyweight two-piece slip and slash box features the original Metal Blade logo with ‘UV spot’ blood drips and showcases a collage of ephemera inside. It is hand-numbered, with original design by Clay Conder. First Edition, limited to 1000.
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Exclusive AMA Video Session
Purchasers will be invited to an exclusive AMA with someone close to the Metal Blade story. Stay tuned for the guest announcement.
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Bonus Metal Blade Axe Patch
May your battle jacket swing a little harder.
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Engineered to Shred

TOP-TIER AUDIO MASTERING

The eight albums in this Anthology were lacquered from the highest-quality digital sources by Barry Grint at Alchemy Mastering at AIR and pressed on 180g splatter vinyl at GZ. Housed in heavyweight direct-to-board jackets, these albums sound, look, and feel as heavy as ever.

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Exclusive Podcast & Liner Notes

Get the Metal Blade Story From People Who Were There

Our podcast series features interviews with Metal Blade founder Brian Slagel, and many of the bands behind the albums in this VMP Anthology. Hosted by metal writer J. Bennett.

Included in this box you’ll find a very special liner notes booklet, written by J. Bennett, with interviews with Brian Slagel, the founder of the label. The booklet also comes with photos of the bands featured, from Metal Blade’s archives.

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FAQs

Got a question?

VMP Anthology is the vinyl box set, reinvented. It aims to use music to tell a story, and gives space for lots of listening, learning, and conversation along the way.
VMP started as a record of the month club in 2013 and has expanded into an online record store and magazine.
Shipping is free in the U.S. and $50 internationally. Records will be sent in one shipment. Orders are expected to ship in late May 2021. Timeline is subject to change due to COVID-19. We will notify you of any shipping updates.
We created VMP Anthology for people who recognize that every album has a deep story to tell. By breaking up the albums into 4 weeks, we give you space to truly listen and absorb each individual recording, listen to the podcast and soak it in. Of course, this is just a suggested cadence!
Nope! We built VMP Anthology as a way for all fans to experience music more deeply, and VMP membership is not required.
Yes, shipping is available in 16 countries in addition to the U.S. (view all FAQs for more details). For international customers, customs and duties will be pre-paid and nothing will be due upon receipt.
Afterpay is an interest-free financing option that allows you to make four bi-weekly (every two weeks) installment payments rather than one upfront payment. If you choose Afterpay at checkout, you will be redirected to the Afterpay site to create an account and to complete your payment. You won’t be charged any interest or fees, as long as your payments are made on time. At this time, Afterpay is only available for customers in the United States.
To get the Member Price, you must be an active VMP Member for our monthly record subscription (and make sure you are logged in).
View All FAQs

The Story of Metal Blade

The Story of Metal Blade
The Story of Metal Blade
Metal Blade Records

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