Back On Black

I bought Burzum 2022 reissue on cassettes. Almost all cassettes have a lot of misspellings in track titles, artist names and so on.

From about 2013 onwards, these guys upped the quality of their vinyl releases significantly. Every release I own from 2013 onward sounds properly mastered for vinyl, with obvious increases in dynamic range compared to the digital versions.

I was able to do a comparison between BoB's 2013 grey pressing of Emperor - Prometheus, and the 2022 Abby Road Half Speed pressing, and they sound identical.

Yes, their pressings from 2010 and earlier are iffy, with many that sound identical the digital at best, or distorted messes at worst. But they've pulled their finger out and started using high quality sources, and properly mastering for vinyl. Modern releases are even lacquer cut, as opposed to the cheaper GZ DMMs they used exclusively for so long.

From what I own and listened to, Exodus Impact Is Imminent on blue vinyl, Judas Priest Painkiller 180 gram black vinyl, and Judas Priest Angel Of Retribution clear vinyl, there are some things that I would have gripes with, one is the static straight out of the jacket. One of the first things that I do as soon as I open a new record or after taking it out of a mailer is immediately clean it with a solution I buy from my local record store. Immediate difference in sound from putting the needle on the disc, no static sounds or pops, just silence. Another gripe I have is some of the covers are matte finish, especially on my Angel Of Retribution copy, fingerprints are visible if hands are a bit sweaty or oily. Now for what I like about these reissues, if and only IF you clean the records before you put in on for a listen, the sound is thick and heavy, Painkiller is very punchy and pronounced, Impact is heavy and thick as well, and Angel is glossy and punctual. Each time I put a record on I use my micro-bristle brush I bought off of eBay for 7 bucks, so much dust can be brought up from a freshly cleaned record, so each time I put one of these three on I put an effort in making it sound the best it can be. I also adjust the platter speed to what it is supposed to be at with the pitch control and make some sound adjustments on my speakers, LGCM4550. I by no means have an expensive or even professional setup, but with the sound I heard, I prefer these records over their CD and digital counter part.

Desecrating outstanding albums since 2004. This company doesn`t give a shit about their releases.

The label Back on Black is specialized in shitty pressed lowest quality vinyl ever made in man history. I tasted 8 of their releases (bought in the same order), and none of them was decent enough to be listened to. Back then, I wrote many (none hateful) emails to them regarding this major issue and never get answered back. So be warned!

The "Back on Black" label makes the effort to make nice sleeves: when lyrics are available, they include them.. so.. but the quality of the actual record is just a CD remaster. People went back to vinyl so they can get the "punchy", "warmer", "crispier" sound - NOT the case for 'Back on Black" . You get the same sound as you get on CD. I just got myself Van Der Graaf Generator 1975 "Godbluff" reissue on Back on Black -the original 1975 vinyl Charisma record is just way better!! I wish some other label re-issues VdGG, say, SALVO - not "Back on Black"

I have bought a lot of their records since their inception as a label, and one of the worst labels in my opinion, at least 5 out of 10 have issues. If the bad records are not warped and pitted, they are mastered at the wrong speed and/or sound horrible(i.e Venom singles box). They are not getting any more of my money. 5 out of 10 bad ones? It's beginning to worry me sick!

The Chucky Cheese of vinyl reissues, no doubt young blood

I have 40-50 records pressed by BoB. The earlier ones are quite poor, Emperor's Nightside for example, but later pressings have really improved and I have no issues in picking up these pressings now. Don't let their earlier stuff stop you from buying some great reissues.

burzum records and crowbar's odd fellow's rest reissue are excellent. im reading the comments for BOB and it doesn't appear that opinion is shared by everyone. i can only speak for the limited number of albums in my collection repressed by the label.