You should be very careful when dealing with people selling any of the CDs below. Most of these have been re-released or -worst – bootlegged many times over the years. If you are after the original copy, make absolutely sure it is indeed the original copy and not a cheap bootleg or a later re-release that is being sold as the first copy. All efforts have been made to present the most accurate information. If you spot any mistakes please let us know.
 | MERCILESS – The Awakening Deathlike Silence Productions (1990) Cat Number: ANTI-MOSH 001 Matrix code: DURECO [01] ANTIMOSH 01 The first (of all the nine altogether) releases of Deathlike Silence which are all very, very rare and expensive. Deathlike Silence founded by Euronymous (aka Øystein Aarseth) in the late 1980's and lasted until his murder in 1993. This is the debut of Sweden’s Merciless, one of the pioneers of the Death Metal scene soon to emerge in their country. The album is simply a masterpiece blending influences from Possessed, Slayer, Kreator, old Bathory and adding their own craft. find it on ebay |
 | THUNDER RIDER – Tales Of Darkness & Light Self released (1997) Matrix code: W.O 603032-1 RSB IFPI L801 S.O TR01-2 An exceptional epic metal album by Canada’s best kept secret! First released on vinyl in 1989 (estimated value $150) this album is an adventurous mystical journey into the realms of impressive heroic metalness! Thunder Rider stand proudly next to Warlord, old Manowar, Omen and Manilla Road as classic timeless warriors of another age. Very difficult to find, this CD is worth every penny! find it on ebay |
 | NUCLEAR ASSAULT – Survive Combat Records/ Under One Flag (1988) Cat Number: CD FLAG 21, Matrix code: CD FLAG 21 MPO 03@ The second release by one of the most underestimated Thrash bands of the 1980’s! Raw and intense as – arguably – Thrash Metal should be, this little gem is not just a rarity but an awesome release too. Highly recommended! Apparently, there is also another CD release (1988) by I.R.S Metal (who also released the US vinyl edition of the album) with Catalogue Number IRCD – 42195 and Matrix Code: IRSD 42195 5842111 find it on ebay |
 | NECROPHAGIA - Season Of The Dead New Renaissance Records (1987) Cat Number: NRCD-15, Matrix code: NRCD15 W.O.+8044-1 Proto Death Metal that makes the perfect soundtrack for a cult horror movie! Creepy and haunted this is not your average release to get into. Driven by a bursting creative obsession with zombie and gore subject matter, this album stood the test of time as an almost unique wonder of Metal extremity. At least two different re-releases exist with the one by Areadeath Productions (2007) to include an extra CD with many demo recordings as bonus. The original New Renaissance pressing can be found for around $100. find it on ebay |
 | EXCRUCIATE - Passage Of Life Thrash Records (1993) Cat Number: 852314, Matrix code: 852314 MPO 02 @@@ 9 Yet another early 1990’s Swedish Death Metal gem, at the time ignored by the fans and the press, to emerge several years later into cult status. What makes Excruciate different from the pack is their ability to come up with sophisticated and complex arrangements but without passing across the ‘progressive’ border or being too technical. It has been reported that copies of this CD sold for around $400. find it on ebay |
 | IMMORTALIS – Indicium De Mortuis Morbid Music (1991) Cat Number: 08457062 Matrix code: 60901 08457062 The only album ever released by this legendary German Death Metal band. Fast and aggressive with intelligent arrangements this is undoubtedly one of the best albums ever released on this particular genre. Immortalis were doomed to stay forever underground known only to a handful of enthusiasts…. up until the age of file sharing. find it on ebay |
 | MUTIILATION - Remains Of A Ruined, Dead, Cursed Soul Drakkar Productions (1999) Cat Number: DKCD008, Matrix Code: DK CD008 The first original press of Drakkar Productions was limited to 1000 copies. The material is from the 1993 unreleased debut album "Evil: The Gestalt of Abomination" plus two tracks from 1996. Undoubtedly a cult Black Metal release, very raw and uncompromising! Market value: $100+ find it on ebay |
 | ANACRUSIS - Suffering Hour Metal Blade (1990) Cat Number: 7 72432-2, Matrix code: MASTERED BY NIMBUS 72432-2 (V) An underestimated and overlooked Thrash gem from the early 1990’s. Very original material way above the average due to their progressive approach – which later became prominent of their sound. Excellent in technical terms with a high degree of complexity. The original Metal Blade release can be found for $150-$250 find it on ebay |
 | RAZOR - Shotgun Justice Fringe (1990) Cat Number: FPD3094, Matrix code: 708/FPD-3094 | |||||| ||||| ||||| |||| |||| made by/fabrique par DISQUE AMERICA & CANADA The sixth album from the Canadian thrashers Razor. Widely regarded as their best work ever, this album is an outstanding mix of speed and aggression! Collectors should keep in mind that versions of this CD with matrix code FPD3094 are bootlegs! The matrix of the original Fringe release is the one mentioned above and it is very hard to read. It has more characters plus symbols that are engraved and printed backwards. Over the past few years copies of “Shotgun Justice” (both originals and bootlegs) were sold for anything between $199 - $270. find it on ebay |
 | DESTRUCTION - The Least Successful Human Cannonball Brain Butcher (1998) Catalogue number: BBC 0715, Matrix code: A0100240106-0101 14 A0 A highly controversial album which the band does not consider as part of their official discography any more. After two EP’s, the last release of their ‘neo-Destruction’ era is a thrashing groovy mix of intensity and insanity. Very experimental, this album incorporates a range of different styles and influences. Copies of this CD are being sold for around $100. find it on ebay |
 | ANGEL DUST - Into The Dark Past Scratch Records (1986) Cat Number: 880 534 CD Matrix code: 880534CD X-724 A Classic German Speed/Thrash of the 1980’s! This is their first recording and is much differentiated from their later Power Metal approach. Apparently there are at least four known bootlegs of this CD. The only original is the Scratch Records pressing made in Japan. Copies with these matrix numbers: USDM 4013 MH #880534 13358-1 and 13358-1 are bootlegs. find it on ebay |
 | TARGET - Master Project Genesis AAARRG Records (1989) Cat Number: AAARRG 16 Matrix code: PILZ CD AAARRG-16 11 MASTERED BY DADC AUSTRIA This is one of the cases that the bootleg is very well made that even has the original matrix code! The only way to tell which is the original copy is the text in the outer edge of the CD. On the bootleg the word “prohibited” is spelled wrong: “proibited” and in two other circumstances words have no space in between them: instead of “no lending” it is written “nolending”. On the music side, this is an excellent album of technical Thrash in the vein of Mekong Delta (also in the same label at the time). Market value $250+ find it on ebay |
 | MASQUERADE – Masquerade Dino Music (1992) Cat Number: DINCD 15 Matrix code: CD PLANT MFG DINCD15 CDM 01 After 2 self-released singles in 1991 and 1992 (extremely difficult to find too), Sweden’s Masquerade release their first album. An extremely well made melodic metal in the vein of their Norwegian neighbours TNT with touches of Def Leppard and maybe some Whitesnake too. The original Dino Music press can be found for $60-$90 find it on ebay |
 | WARRIOR - Fighting For The Earth Metal Blade (1991) Cat Number: 9 26531-2 Matrix code: 1 26531-2 SRC-01 M1S2 An excellent US 1980’s Heavy album that was originally released on vinyl in 1985. The CD came from Metal Blade in 1991 and apparently there was also another CD release in Austria from 10 Records. Additionally, the album was also pressed in limited copies in Japan and was released there via the Burrn! Legendary Master Series in December of 1993. The Japanese edition (Mint with Obi) goes for $250 and the Metal Blade CD for around $50 find it on ebay |
 | GODDEFIED - Abysmal Grief, MCD Wild Rags Records (1993) Cat Number: WRR041 Matrix code: 55614X1 WRR-041 As with nearly all Wild Rags releases, this one is really rare and the only way you might find it is on ebay once in a blue moon. Six short tracks of early Swedish Death Metal in the path of Dismember and Entombed. Blood Harvest re-released it on 10” vinyl (limited to 500) in 2008. The MCD was released in slim jewelcase and had two major spelling mistakes (the band name and one song title). Value: $90-$120 find it on ebay |
 | HEXENHAUS - The Edge Of Eternity Active Records (1990) Cat Number: CD ATV 13 Matrix code: ATV CD 13 MPO 01 Q. Arguably, there are some similarities of this album with the aforementioned Master Project Genesis by Target. Both albums incorporate a complex, almost progressive, technical Thrash that will please the adventurous listener. The original Active Records copy can be yours for around $60. Beware of cheap-made bootlegs coming from various sellers.find it on ebay |
 | NECRONOMICON - Escalation Scratch Records (1988) Cat Number: 10822 CD Matrix code: 7841-2 P+O-2102-A 10-88 Excellent Thrash in the German tradition! This is their third album and perhaps the best of their 1980’s era. Copies of the original Scratch Records have been sold for more than $200. There are also two re-releases. One from Battle Cry Records (2006) and one from Laserlight / Delta music (1990) that has a different title (The Devil's Tongue) and a different cover. Matrix number of the Laserlight reissue is SONOPRESS D-3043/15197 A find it on ebay |
to be continued