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Top Selling Black & Death Metal CDs & LPs of 2025 According To Thrash Metal IQ

As we do each year, we are publishing our list of top selling new albums . These are new albums that we purchase from labels and distributors. We do not gatekeep, cancel, or deplatform anyone’s point of view from the furthest left to the far right. There are some controversial titles in this year’s list. We have no dog in this fight; this is just what sells. Because all albums we purchase in collections we buy are technically “one-offs,” they are not included in this list. 

  • Grand Belial’s Key – Judeobeast Assassination CD 2026 Weltenfeind – WFP022 
  • Goatmoon – Finnish Steel Storm CD 2018 Werewolf Records – EVIL009 [SEALED] *FN
  • Cannibal Corpse – Eaten Back To Life CD 2017 Metal Blade 3984-14425-2
  • Satanic Warmaster – Strength & Honour CD 2019 Northern Heritage NH-016
  • Lifelover – Pulver CD 2021 Osmose Productions – OPCD213 [France] NEW
  • Grand Belial’s Key – Mocking The Philanthropist LP 2025 Weltenfeind WFP021 [RED]
  • Mgla – Exercises In Futility CD 2018 Northern Heritage NH-089 
  • Arghoslent – Galloping Through The Battle Ruins CD 2022 Weltenfeind WFP009 [NEW]
  • Grand Belials Key – Kosherat CD 2023 Drakkar Productions – DKCD247 [Sealed] *FR
  • Satanic Warmaster – Exultation Of Cruelty CD 2025 Werewolf Records [Red 2 Disc] 
  • Suffocation – Effigy Of The Forgotten LP 2023 Listenable POSH332 [BLUE]
  • Immortal – At The Heart Of Winter LP 2024 Osmose – OPLP079 [Gold/Black Galaxy]
  • Iced Earth – The Dark Saga LP 2022 Floga Records – FL301 [New] [Greece]
  • Blood Incantation – Starspawn CD 2016 Dark Descent – DDR157CD
  • Mgla – Exercises In Futility LP 2021 Northern Heritage – NH-089 [Finalnd]
  • Arghoslent – Hornets Of The Pogrom CD 2025 Weltenfeind – WFP023
  • Goatmoon – Death Before Dishonour CD 2017 Werewolf Records – EVIL-001 [SEALED]
  • Odium – The Sad Realm of the Stars CD 2023 Osmose Productions – OPCS489
  • Immortal – Battles In The North LP 2023 Osmose OPLP027 [LTD Gray] 
  • Marduk – Panzer Division Marduk LP 2020 Osmose – OPLP080 [New] [France]
  • Nokturnal Mortum – The Voice Of Steel CD 2019 Osmose Productions – OPCD380 *FR
  • Lifelover – Pulver LP 2023 Osmose Productions – OPLP213 [Red Marble]
  • Iced Earth – The Glorious Burden LP 2024 Floga Records FL329 [2x Black]
  • Malevolent Creation – Retribution LP 2024 Listenable – POSH795 [Blue Vinyl] 
  • Cannibal Corpse – Tomb Of The Mutilated CD 2025 Metal Blade – 3984-14003-2 
  • Suffocation – Pierced From Within CD 2021 Listenable – POSH564 [Digipak] *FR
  • Sacrifice – Soldiers Of Misfortune CD 2022 Shadow Kingdom – SKR192CD [Sealed]
  • Mütiilation – Vampires Of Black Imperial Blood CD 2005 Osmose – OPCD372
  • Protector – A Shedding Of Skin CD 2020 High Roller – HRR 427 CD *DE
  • Lifelover – Erotik LP 2023 Osmose Productions OPLP214 [Yellow Splatter]
  • Suffocation – Breeding The Spawn CD 2021 Listenable – POSH563 [Digipak] *FR
  • Suffocation – Pierced From Within LP 2021 Listenable – POSH334 [Blue Vinyl] *FR
  • Cannibal Corpse – Tomb Of The Mutilated LP 2022 Metal Blade [LTD 500 Maelstrom]
  • Cannibal Corpse – Butchered At Birth LP 2023 Metal Blade [LTD 500 Sangia Vinyl]
  • Destruction – Eternal Devastation CD 2018 High Roller HRR 547 CD [Slipcase] *DE
  • Satanic Warmaster – Aamongandr CD 2023 Werewolf Records EVIL-088 [Gold Disc] NEW
  • Gorguts- Considered Dead LP 2024 Listenable – POSH336 [Clear Splatter]
  • Bathory – Bathory LP 2004 Black Mark Production – BMLP666-1 [180 Gram Sweden] 
  • Sacrifice – Torment In Fire CD 2022 Shadow Kingdom – SKR190CD 
  • Satanic Warmaster – Aamongandr LP 2023 Werewolf Records – EVIL-088 [Orange] *FI
  • Leviathan – The Tenth Sub Level Of Suicide CD 2023 Osmose – OPCD488 [France]
  • Immolation – Dawn Of Possession CD 2015 Listenable POSH295 [Deluxe Digipak] *FR
  • Grand Belial’s Key – Goat Of A Thousand Young / Triumph Of The Hordes CD
  • Theatre Of Tragedy – Velvet Darkness They Fear LP 2024 Cosmic Key CKC068
  • Satanic Warmaster – Exultation Of Cruelty LP 2025 Werewolf Records EVIL-XUL 
  • Beherit – Drawing Down the Moon CD 2023 Nuclear War Now – ANTI-GOTH 600
  • Infernäl Mäjesty – None Shall Defy CD 2016 High Roller – HRR 521 *DE [SLIPCASE]
  • Satanic Warmaster – Opferblut CD 2020 Werewolf Records – EVIL-048 [Sealed] *FN
  • Sadus – Chemical Exposure CD 2017 Listenable – POSH390 [Digipak] [Sealed] *FR
  • Immortal – Pure Holocaust LP 2023 Osmose Productions OPLP019 [France] w/ Poster

Want To Appear On This List?

Are you a label or disrubutor that wasnt to be included in this list? Contact us here!

Want To Sell Your Metal Records Or CDs? I Pay More Than Anyone!
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Collection of Metal / Punk LPs I Bought from a Guy Going to Prison for 10K

Collection of Metal / Punk LPs I Bought from a Guy Going to Prison for 10K

In the video below, I showcase an extensive collection of grindcore, punk, and death metal that I picked up from a seller who was about to go to prison in 2 days.

I paid $10,000 for over 600 12″ LPs and 700 7″ singles and EPs. Most of the collection consisted of death metal, punk, and grindcore, although there were some outliers. About 60% of it was first-press stuff, and the rest consisted of various reissues and limited editions.

The Backstory To This Collection

The acquisition of this collection has an interesting backstory. In February 2024, the same seller hit me up about selling a collection of death metal and grindcore CDs. We did the deal by mail. He told me he had an insane collection of records he was thinking about selling. The seller didn’t want to part with them, but was facing legal trouble that could involve prison time. He would only sell them if he needed to.

Fast forward to September 2025. I got a call from him saying that he wanted to sell those records. He described to me what he had to sell. It was such a massive collection that it would be worth a trip from Los Angeles to just outside Phoenix, Arizona. I told him that I would try to make some time in the next few weeks. He said if I wanted to get these, I had better come right now because there’s a distinct possibility he could be in prison for 25 years come Friday. He didn’t say what he was in trouble for, but I’m assuming it was some significant drug offense.

The Deal

I left LA at 10 p.m., drove to Arizona, checked into a hotel at 3 a.m., and met the guy the following afternoon. Most of the collections I buy are by mail, and I never meet the actual seller in person. For transactions over 10K, I will frequently go to the seller’s location and pick it up myself. We agreed on a price of $10,000 via Zelle for the entire collection. Normally, I usually only do deals via PayPal, but since we were meeting in person, I could see everything was on the up and up. I didn’t bother haggling with him because the price was fair. It came out to about six dollars a unit when you divided it by everything.

I loaded up my truck and drove back to LA, and that was that.

Highlights

Here are some of the highlights from this awesome metal/punk collection.

Misfits – Halloween 7″ Single

Misfits - Halloween 7" Single 1981 Plan 9 – PL1017

Misfits – Halloween 7″ Single 1981 Plan 9 – PL1017 – This album is a true holy grail for punk collectors. Because of Glenn Danzig’s insistence on never reissuing anything (until now), this heavily bootlegged single is almost impossible to find.

VALUE = $1400

Misfits – Walk Among Us LP

Misfits – Walk Among Us LP 1982 Ruby Records – 1-25756

Misfits – Walk Among Us LP 1982 Ruby Records – 1-25756 – Although reissued several times, the first pressings are the ones you want. This copy is complete and includes the original inner sleeve and the Fiend Club flyer.

VALUE = $500

Impaled Nazarene ‎– Tol Cormpt Norz Norz Norz LP

Impaled Nazarene ‎– Tol Cormpt Norz Norz Norz LP 1993 Osmose ‎– OPLP010

Impaled Nazarene ‎– Tol Cormpt Norz Norz Norz LP 1993 Osmose ‎– OPLP010 – This album was the only black metal title in the entire collection. Fortunately, like all first pressings of Impaled Nazarene from the 90s, it’s worth a fortune.

VALUE = $370

Crossed Out / Man Is The Bastard – Split 7” EP

Crossed Out / Man Is The Bastard - Split 7” EP 1992 Slap A Ham - #14 VG+/VG+

Crossed Out / Man Is The Bastard – Split 7” EP 1992 Slap A Ham – #14 – I’m not even sure why this one is as expensive as it is.

VALUE = $300

Incantation ‎– Onward To Golgotha LP [RED]

Incantation ‎– Onward To Golgotha LP 1992 Relapse ‎– RR 6037 - 1 [RED]

Incantation ‎– Onward To Golgotha LP 1992 Relapse ‎– RR 6037 – 1 [RED] – “Onward” is the only Incantation album I give a crap about. The first pressing on red vinyl is very sought after by death metal heads and is worth a pretty penny.

VALUE = $300

Assuck – Anticapital LP

Assuck - Anticapital LP 1991 Sound Pollution Records – POLLUTE: 07 

Assuck – Anticapital LP 1991 Sound Pollution Records – POLLUTE: 07 – the price on this classic communist punk album will turn anyone into a capitalist real fast!

VALUE = $250

Do You Have A Collection Like This To Sell?

Do you have a rare, extreme punk or metal collection like this that you’d like to sell? I buy collections from all around the world, and will even travel to you if the score is big enough. Use the contact information below to reach me.

Want To Sell Your Metal Records Or CDs? I Pay More Than Anyone!

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Collection of 400 Black/Death Metal CDs and Vintage Shirts I Scored For $1700

In the video below, you can see a collection of around 400 CDs and 25 vintage T-shirts that I picked up for $1700. The original owner bought them up in the 80s and 90s while stationed in Germany in the military.

The seller contacted me, and we completed the transaction by mail with no issues, paying via PayPal. The seller was pleased with the amount that I paid, and honestly, I’m sure I could’ve paid less, but I like to be fair.

While $1700 is a lot to pay for a collection this small, I figured I could easily recoup my money on the T-shirts alone. Included were original Slayer tour shirts from 1987 and 1994, Stormtroopers of Death 1992 tour shirt, Agnostic Front, and many others.

There were even some DVDs and VHS included with the deal. The Dissection VHS included was very rare.

We are expanding our buying efforts here at Thrash Metal IQ and are actively seeking collections of vintage heavy-metal T-shirts to purchase. If you have T-shirts you would like to sell, check out our new dedicated page here for more information.

Standout Items

Here are some of the standout items from this score.

Slayer – South Of Heaven T-Shirt 

Slayer - South Of Heaven Vintage XL 1988 2-Sided Tour T-Shirt

Slayer – South Of Heaven Vintage XL 1988 2-Sided Tour T-Shirt – From the 1987 South of Heaven tour, I never thought I would see one of these again. I used to have this shirt back when I was a kid.

Value = $200

Slayer – North American Intourvention T-Shirt

Slayer - North American Intourvention T-Shirt

Slayer – North American Intourvention Tour Vintage XL T-Shirt – From Slayer’s first sans-Lombardo effort, Divine Intervention tour.

Value = $150

Agnostic – New York Hardcore T-Shirt

Agnostic - New York Hardcore T-Shirt

Agnostic – New York Hardcore Vintage 80s Two-Sided T-Shirt [XL] – the slightly faded, the wear & tear on this T-shirt adds character.

Value = $100

Bal Sagoth – Imperious Rex T-Shirt

Bal Sagoth - Imperious Rex T-Shirt

Bal Sagoth – Imperious Rex Vintage XL 2-Sided Longsleeve T-Shirt – Talk about a rare shirt! Try finding one of these again!

Value = $100

Slayer – Haunting The Chapel Longsleeve T-Shirt

Slayer - Haunting The Chapel Vintage Longsleeve XL 2-Sided T-Shirt

Slayer – Haunting The Chapel Vintage Longsleeve XL 2-Sided T-Shirt – I’m not sure what year that was from but it must have been a good one because it didn’t stay in inventory long.

Value = $100

Have A Collection Like This To Sell?

Whether it is records, CDS, cassettes, or heavy-metal T-shirts we buy them all, and we pay more than anyone. More information below:

Want To Sell Your Metal Records Or CDs? I Pay More Than Anyone!

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Black/Death Metal Collection I Bought From A Guy Whose Brother Passed Away

The video below features a collection of approximately 1,200 CDs and over 400 vinyl albums that I recently purchased from a man in Pomona, whose brother had recently passed away.

The standout thing about this collection was its exceptional condition. Many of the records and CDs were brand new and still factory sealed. The records opened were NM/NM and placed in collector’s sleeves. The seller’s brother kept everything, from the download cards to the original hype stickers. He was clearly a man who was a serious collector and believed in keeping all his items in impeccable condition. Condition is essential to the value of records and CDs.

Additionally, another notable feature of this collection is that it contained almost no mainstream metal artists, such as Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, or Van Halen. It consisted almost exclusively of underground death and black metal. Most of the records were from 2016 and later. Some of the albums were duplicate copies of the same title, but with every color variant, which is pretty cool. The CDs began around 2005, with a few exceptions from the late 1990s, and continued up to releases from this year.

I met the seller in his garage in Pomona, where he had the records and CDs out in boxes. I spent about 45 minutes reviewing them and offered the man $ 7,000 for the collection. He gladly accepted. He was shocked at the amount of money I proposed. I could have provided less, but that was what it was worth. I’m not trying to take advantage of this delicate situation.

Heavy Metal Is Not A Passing Phase!

Unfortunately, I often find collections for sale from grieving family members and friends who have just inherited them. Because underground extreme metal is frequently misunderstood, trying to figure out what to do with a massive collection can be a complex and challenging process with a steep learning curve.

Many people’s parents may have told them when they were teenagers, “Heavy metal was just a passing phase”. Now that the music has been around for over 50 years, hardcore fans hold on to their collections for life and often take them to their graves.

If you would like more information about my process for purchasing a collection you may have inherited, I have created a special page that will answer all your questions here.

Standouts From This Collection

Here is a quick list of some of the best stuff from this haul.

Weakling – Dead As Dreams CD

Weakling - Dead As Dreams CD 2000 tUMULt – tm 17

Weakling – Dead As Dreams CD 1999 tUMULt – tm 17 – This CD is a rare “holy grail” for black metal collectors. “Dead As Dreams” was the only release from San Fransico’s Weakling before they disbanded in 2000.

Value = $250

Insomnium – Above the Weeping World LP

Insomnium - Above the Weeping World LP 2018 Candlelight - CANDLE753571 [Orange]

Insomnium – Above the Weeping World LP 2018 Candlelight – CANDLE753571 [Orange] – This is a limited run reissue of 2006’s “Above The Weeping World” is sold out and out-of-print. It’s already worth a bunch. What makes this more special, is it’s factory sealed!

Value = $200

Celtic Frost – Monotheist LP

Celtic Frost - Monotheist LP 2016 Century Media [1st Press LTD 500 2x WHITE] -

Celtic Frost – Monotheist LP 2016 Century Media [1st Press LTD 500 2x WHITE] – “Montheist” is perhaps the greatest heavy-metal comeback of all time. Pictured is a limited first, pressing on white vinyl, nearly impossible to find.

Value = $200

Panopticon – Autumn Eternal LP

Panopticon - Autumn Eternal LP 2016 Nordvis Produktion – NVP034LP

Panopticon – Autumn Eternal LP 2016 Nordvis Produktion – NVP034LP – An unlikely fusion of bluegrass and black metal combined with a limited run color scheme makes this album a rare and expensive find.

Value = $150

Machine Head – The Blackening LP

Machine Head - The Blackening LP 2024 Nuclear Blast [2x Ghostly Black] [New]

Machine Head – The Blackening LP 2024 Nuclear Blast [2x Ghostly Black] [New] – Originals of this album are so expensive, you may need to pawn vital organ to get one. What is worse, is the re-issues aren’t that much cheaper either.

Value = $150

Do You Have A Collection Like This To Sell?

Whether you are the original owner or have inherited one like the one you see here, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with me. I pay more than anyone for quality metal collections.

Want To Sell Your Metal Records Or CDs? I Pay More Than Anyone!

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CDs, Records & Tapes Are Exempt From New Tariff Regulations

Vinyl records, CDs, cassettes, and other recorded media should be exempt from any tariffs under the US presidential executive order.

The executive order, going into effect on August 29, 2025, removes a long-standing “de minimis” tariff exemption for most goods valued under USD $800. However, this change does not apply to “informational materials” like music media, which are still exempt from tariffs under US law 50 USC 1702(b)(3).

On August 28, US Customs and Border Protection confirmed this exemption in its E-Commerce Frequently Asked Questions, stating that the “duty-free de minimis treatment shall remain available for [sic] goods covered under 50 U.S.C. § 1702(b) – such as certain donations and informational materials.”

Simply put, music and informational media have always been exempt from tariffs and continue to be so at this time. This means neither sellers nor collectors on Discogs should be charged additional customs fees.

READ FULL POST ON DISCOGS HERE

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Why Trump’s Tariff Policies Will Make Metal Records & CD Unaffordable

Update 9/2/2025: Records, cassttes, and CDs are exepmt from new tariffs.
Read full post here.

Donald Trump was elected primarily on a platform to lower the cost of living, which increased during the Biden years. Instead of doing this, he turned to a bizarre trade war against the entire world. In contrast, some tariffs make sense in sectors where America’s getting the short end of the stick, such as in the auto industry. Blanket tariffs are a criminally stupid level of protectionism.

Not everything needs to be made in the United States, nor should it be. The point of global trade is that some countries do things better/cheaper than others, and in those cases, it makes sense to outsource the manufacturing. There will always be a trade deficit when America is the largest consumer.

How Tariffs Kill Underground Metal

Now, with physical music: Records, cassettes, and CDs. Anyone with even a basic understanding of the music business knows that record sales are no longer what they once were. thanks to streaming platforms like iTunes and Spotify. In the 60s, 70s, and 80s, when albums routinely went platinum, major labels often had regional pressing plants to distribute the records globally. Those days are long gone.

These days, a major label may only press 100,000 copies for even the biggest artist. However, when you delve into underground metal, the runs are much smaller. Many vinyl/CD pressings are initially limited to 1,000-2,500 copies. Some companies, such as Nuclear Blast and Candlelight, have both US pressings and EU pressings because their runs are larger. Every other label, such as Osmose Productions, Listenable Records, and Hammerheart, does not need to manufacture products anywhere except where they are closest.

The End Of The De Minimus Exemption

I buy from both American labels and European labels. For a period, you were able to circumvent the tariffs by ordering goods worth less than $800. Starting August 29th, 2025, the De Minimus exception is going away, and the justifications are ridiculous, see below:

“For decades, bad actors have taken advantage of America’s de minimis process by smuggling in deadly narcotics, harmful products, and other contraband in hidden products,” said Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. “This loophole led to the death of thousands of Americans, fueled the opioid crisis, and harmed U.S. consumers. This decision to end de minimis will save American lives, increase revenue, and protect the American consumer and entrepreneur.”

The attempt to claim these tariffs will stop the flow of fentanyl is assinine. Fact is, it’s government greed, nothing less, nothing more. When you see right-wingers post about how Trump is sticking it to [insert country] with these tariffs. This is another place where people get it all wrong. Some faceless company does not pay these excessive tariffs in a foreign land. American business owners (who are the importers) pay them. I don’t care at all how much money the government has. They are just going to waste it pointlessly.

The UPS “Customs Brokers” Scam

Now, let’s examine the next piece of the puzzle. The tariffs are advertised as 15%, but as I am about to show you, they are actually much higher. Firstly, the tariffs are stuffed with a myriad of administrative fees that have nothing to do with the actual 15% you pay.

Next, and possibly more insulting, is the profiteering going on by companies like UPS. Here is an example of a tariff paid on a package valued at slightly over $800. The shipping companies have assumed the role of “customs broker” and charge insane arbitrary additional fees, which brings the actual tariff rate above 25%.

UPS CUSTOMS BROKER CHARGE
Screenshot

You see Republicans bragging that the tariffs will not contribute to inflation; this is utter nonsense. It’s the same thing as when liberal states like California raised the minimum wage for fast food employees to $20. It drove the price of fast food in California to skyrocket.

There’s no way I can afford to have 25% added to my wholesale cost and not pass it along to the customer, especially with margins that are already razor-thin. The problem with this is that I cannot increase my price is 25% or people will stop buying physical media altogther

Hopefully, Donald Trump will wake up to the vast financial catastrophe he’s causing and return to free trade. If he does not, the Republicans will, and deserve to lose the midterms.

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I Bought London May’s CD Collection [Drums Samhain] – This Is What’s In It!

LONDON MAY DRUMS

This week, we have a celebrity update of sorts. The metal CD collection featured in this video was purchased from London May, who is the drummer for Samhain. He played on the last three Samhain albums, including the live album, as well as the Danzig demos, and for Tiger Army. In the video below, you can see a walk-through of the Collection, the first time I went through it.

I drove to Silver Lake to pick this up. I paid $2,000 for this collection, which I thought was a little high at the time, but after going through it, there was plenty of good stuff to justify the price tag. London was a super nice guy and we chatted about several topics, including some of the idiosyncrasies of Glenn Danzig. Glenn hates Erie von so much that he would rather lose millions to bootleggers than re-issue the albums he played on, which sounds pretty backward, but it is what it is.

The collection was a mix of death metal, a lot of hipster stuff from labels like Hydra Head, punk, some rap, and alternative. There were also some box sets in a bunch of 7” singles.

Top CD Title Rundown

Below are some of the standouts from the collection.

A.C. / Anal Cunt – It Just Gets Worse CD

A.C. / Anal Cunt – It Just Gets Worse CD


A.C. / Anal Cunt – It Just Gets Worse CD 1999 Earache – MOSH 195CD – The album that finally got the band dropped from the incredibly permissive Earache Records. With song titles like “Don’t Blame Me I Voted for Hitler” you can see why.

Value = $80

Leviathan – Verräter CD

Leviathan – Verräter CD

Leviathan – Verräter CD 2002 tUMULt – tm88 [2 Discs] – Repressed in 2006, the 2002 double disc version is quite a score.

Value = $70

Cattle Decapitation – Homovore CD

Cattle Decapitation - Homovore CD

Cattle Decapitation – Homovore CD 2000 Three One G – THREE ONE G #14 [Original] – The original indie Three One G release is pure death metal grindcore that predates the band’s long tenure on Metal’s Blade’s roster.

Value = $70

A.C./Anal Cunt – Defenders of the Hate CD

A.C./Anal Cunt - Defenders of the Hate CD

A.C./Anal Cunt – Defenders of the Hate CD 2007 Menace To Sobriety Records MTS017 – This album picks on the band’s world famous offensive lyrics where “I Just Gets Worse” left off. Check out “Even Though Your Culture Oppresses Women You Still Suck You Towelhead” if you don’t believe me.

Value = $70

Do You Have A Metal Collection Like This To Sell?

Contact me here or at the info below, and let’s make a deal.

Want To Sell Your Metal Records Or CDs? I Pay More Than Anyone!
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Killer Rare Thrash Metal CD/LP Collection I Scored In LA For $600

This month’s update will be short and sweet. In the video below is a walk-through of a collection of rare thrash metal I bought locally in Los Angeles.

It consisted of six LPs and around 230 CDs ranging from the golden age 1980s metal up to more recent third wave thrash bands like Toxic Holocaust. The seller, who is an awesome guy I’d seen at metal shows over the years, brought the crate of CDS by my store in Hollywood. I asked him what he wanted, and he said $600 which I happily paid.

They sat in the receiving area for over a month before I finally went through them. If it had been last month, a rogue employee would have stolen over a quarter of them.

A Breakdown Of This Haul:

Although this collection was far from huge, there were a large number of albums that were worth well over $50.

Nuclear Assault – Handle With Care LP

Nuclear Assault – Handle With Care LP 1989 In-Effect [SEALED] [1ST PRESS ] – The seller told me this LP was a reissue, but it’s first press and in great shape.

Value = $125

Ulysses Siren – Above The Ashes CD

Ulysses Siren – Above The Ashes CD 2003 Relentless Records – RR0003000 – Released in 2003, this CD is a compilation of the band’s ’85 and 87 demos and is rare as hell.

Value = $100

Paradox – Heresy CD

Paradox – Heresy CD 2007 Metal Mind Productions – MASS 1047 [Gold Disc Digipak] – This reissue from the now defunct Metal Mind Records (Poland) is worth even more than a 1st press. Looks for all prices on the Metal Mind catalog to spike in the coming years.

Value = $60

Thanatos – Emerging from the Netherworlds CD

Thanatos – Emerging from the Netherworlds CD 1990 Shark Records – 015 [Germany] – Killer death/trash that showed up on the scene just a hare too late. Great record!

Value = $60

Anvil Bitch – Rise To Offend CD

Anvil Bitch – Rise To Offend CD 2003 New Renaissance – NRCD-126 [NUMBERED] – Though this album came out of vinyl in the 80s it never saw a first press of CD till 2003.

Value = $60

Have A Collection Like This To Sell?

I am always in the market. Hit me up at the contract info below.

Want To Sell Your Metal Records Or CDs? I Pay More Than Anyone!
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40K Collection of Rare Black Death Metal Stolen By An Employee & Returned

The video below features a massive $40,000 collection of rare black, death, and heavy metal CDs, tapes, and albums that were stolen from our store by a 3-year employee and subsequently returned.

While it is beneficial to recover some of the stolen merchandise, I need to determine how to obtain compensation for the additional $30,000 worth of merchandise that he sold on OfferUp and other platforms, which can’t be replaced. Over the past year, he has been taking about 1/3 of my inventory, intentionally targeting the most valuable and collectible items for resale.

This is the total amount we’ve added back to inventory so far. The value does not include over 120 items that have already been sold.

He did this by one of two methods: Either stealing the items as soon as they arrived before they were added to inventory, or he would delete the listings from my eBay store and then take them. He did this a little at a time, except for one occasion when I was out of town. I paid him to come over and feed my cats. It was during that time that he removed significant quantities of the albums.

When I asked him where all the other money went, noting that he had sold at least 600 albums worth roughly $50 each since December, he told me that he didn’t have any money left. I also asked if he could replace them with items from his own collection. All of a sudden, he didn’t own any albums except for the ones stolen from me.

How I Discovered The Theft

The theft occurred gradually over the last year and a half. I discovered this while editing this video. 

Usually, when I film videos for my YouTube channel, I do them in a single take. Most of the time, I don’t even review the footage. While filming this video, an issue arose with my camera, forcing me to complete the YouTube update in two sections and then edit them together. While I was looking for the edit point, I noticed that many of the most valuable CDs in the video weren’t in my eBay store inventory. 

I checked to ensure none of these items were on the shelves. Then, I began reviewing other videos, noticing the same pattern: featured items in videos that never made it to inventory.

When my employee arrived for work the next day, I confronted him with a list of the missing items and asked where they might be. He immediately became fidgety and nervous and began to look on the shelves, quickly leaving the store.

The next day, I called him, and he admitted that he had been stealing from me for a long time and that he would “make it right. The next day, at noon, boxes started to arrive outside my door, and he would text me to let me know that he had left items for me. The deliveries went on for over three weeks, and during that time, he returned almost 300 albums and 500 CDs, many very rare and valuable.”

Stolen Item Highlights 

Well, he did return a great deal of inventory, but I am still missing:

  • Over 600 of the most valuable albums from this collection I bought in Vegas. Several of the missing items were box sets worth over $200. When I purchased this collection, I hand-counted the records with the original owner, and the total number of items came to 1,985. By the time my employee finished with his theft, only 1,200 items made it to inventory. The discrepancy was so apparent that I called the original seller and asked if I had left some of the items in Vegas. I even suspected that he might have been the one who altered the deal.
  • I am also missing over 500 CDs from this collection, and I had noted in the original blog post that the amounts didn’t match up, although I didn’t know my employee was stealing at the time.
  • So many CDs were missing from the collection I bought locally that I lost money on the deal.
  • Over 100 CDs and LPs were missing from the collection I purchased in Greece.
  • Over 100 albums were stolen from this collection I purchased in Syracuse.
  • Countless cassettes were stolen from various collections over the years.
  • In many cases, the employees stole multiple copies of valuable items. Meaning he wasn’t keeping them for his collection. He was targeting them for resale, which he sold on OfferUp and to Amoeba Records.

If anyone has information or wants to help, please get in touch with me at 310-666-6996 or email jqmediala@gmail.com

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How I Scored a Vintage Metal CD Collection for $500

The video below shows a walk-through of a collection I bought locally from this old couple for $500.

There isn’t a huge backstory. I was at my store sometime last week when I got a call from an older woman who lived in the San Fernando Valley. She said she had some metal CDs to sell, precisely the kind of stuff I was looking for.

They told me they had found me on YouTube from one of the many videos I posted showing off collections I acquired.

They said they would come down the next day and show me what they had. What they had was pretty impressive. It contained many 90s first pressings of bands, such as Cannibal Corpse, Suffocation, Death, Benediction, Acid Bath, and more.

They were charming people. They didn’t think CDs were worth anything anymore and would’ve gladly taken $100. I paid them $500 cash, and they were on their way back to the valley in 20 minutes, pleased as a peach. They even left me a good review on Google.

The video embedded above went up on YouTube and has caused quite a bit of controversy. Many people in the comments think I was taking advantage of the elderly. Sure, it was a great deal for me, but I paid them five times what they sought.

Obviously, the CDs’ resale value is upwards of $6,000 or $7,000, so this was a great payday. However, deals like this don’t come around often, so enjoy them while you can.

Collection Highlights

Here are some of the germs from the epic collection.

Carnage – Dark Recollections CD

Carnage—Dark Recollections CD 1992 Relativity—88561-1105-2

Carnage—Dark Recollections CD 1992 Relativity—88561-1105-2 — The original band from Swedish guitarist Michael Amott (Carcass, Candlemass, Arch Enemy) is the one to have and was included in this collection. The original US pressing is the one to have and was included in this collection. Prices currently range from $144 to $200 on Discogs.

Value = $200

Massacre – From Beyond CD

Massacre – From Beyond CD, 1991, Relativity – 88561-2038-2

Massacre – From Beyond CD 1991 Relativity – 88561-2038-2 [Original] – Consisting of the late 80s Death “Leprosy” lineup minus Chuck Schuldiner, Massacre delivered one classic record, and this is it.

Value = $70

A.C./Anal Cunt – Everyone Should Be Killed CD

A.C./Anal Cunt - "Everyone Should Be Killed" CD (

A.C./Anal Cunt – Everyone Should Be Killed CD 1994 Earache – MOSH101CD – Song title on the album aren’t nearly as exteme as some that would later come out on albums like “It Just Get Worse”, but this album still couldn’t come out today.

Value = $70

Cancer – To The Gory End CD

Cancer - To The Gory End CD 1992 Restless Records – 7 72597-2

Cancer – To The Gory End CD 1992 Restless Records – 7 72597-2 – While this is technically the second pressing of this CD (the first was on Silent Screaming Records), this 1992 pressing was the first wider release and is worth a pretty penny.

Value = $70

Gorefest – False CD

Gorefest – False CD, 1992, Nuclear Blast America – NBA RED 6056-2

Gorefest—False CD 1992 Nuclear Blast America—NBA RED 6056-2 – I have never understood the obsession with Gorefest (aka Snorefst), but as you can see from the prices on these originals, some people like it.

Value = $60

Suffocation – Human Waste CD

Gorefest – False CD, 1992, Nuclear Blast America – NBA RED 6056-2

Suffocation—Human Waste CD 1991 Relapse Records—RR 6015-2—Suffocation’s debut 1991 is technically a reissue of their 1990 demo cassette of the same name, but hey, who’s counting?

Value = $60

Do You Have A CD Collection Like This To Sell?

If you do, I will pay more than $500 for it. I pay more than anyone in the business for collections like this.

Check out the info below.

Want To Sell Your Metal Records Or CDs? I Pay More Than Anyone!