Here are the top 10 heavy metal items sold on eBay last week, June 30 – July 6 (listed in order of highest price in both categories “music” and “entertainment memorabilia”):
1. $730.00 – Satyricon “The Shadowthrone” vinyl gatefold LP w/ poster
This 1994 release went through 27 bids (and the starting bid was a dollar) before the price settled on $730.00. $700+ for a black metal album, you say? Hell yeah! This one was advertised at auction as having vinyl that was VG+ and a sleeve/poster as mint. The problem is, if it’s unsealed it’s unlikely the sleeve/poster would be mint but no one seemed to care.
The seller was from Germany. And even though it wasn’t mentioned by the seller, it was understood that this Norwegian import was a limited edition when released. And the album was only released in the U.S. on cd format via Moonfog in 2006.
2. $550.53 – Black Sabbath “Black Sabbath” (1970) vinyl LP
Vertigo VO6 847 903 VTY, First Pressing, UK Issue. A first pressing gatefold of debut Sabbath, on the Vertigo swirl label. Sweet swirl (see above, in lead photo). It’s hard to get cooler than that for heavy metal vinyl. No wonder it took 28 bids to snag it.
The vinyl media, sleeve and cover were listed as near mint (NM) “Kept in a plastic sleeve from new. One of the best to be seen.”
This seller then gets VERY descriptive with the Caps Lock button: “VO6 847 903 VTY, with VO6 1Y1*420 12 8/VO6 1Y2*420 12 3 MATRIX. EARLIEST POSSIBLE. A PHILIPS RECORD PRODUCT, LARGE SWIRL ABOVE SPINDLE HOLE. NO DUNBAR CREDIT FOR “WARNING” ON TRACK LISTING ON INSIDE SLEEVE. 1ST PRESS UNLAMINATED.NR PERFECT SPINE.PERFECTLY READABLE.NO SPLITS,NO EDGE WEAR.VERY LIGHT CORNER WEAR.INSIDE GATEFOLD IS EX WITH JUST SOME MINOR RUBBING. INNER SLEEVE IS ORIGINAL SWIRL … AMAZING.VERY LITTLE AGEING AND NR PERFECT WHITE. THERE IS JUST A SMALL TEAR TO THE CENTER “SEE PIC” AND VO6 WRITTEN IN THE BOTTOM CORNER.THERE ARE NO SEEM SPLITS. VINYL VISUAL: IN NORMAL LIGHT THERE IS STILL A HIGH GLASS FINNISH WITH NO SCRATCHES OF ANY KIND. VINYL ON PLAYBACK: I AM GRADING AS EXCELLENT TO BE ON THE SAFE SIDE.COULD EASILY BE NR MINT AS THIS RECORD HAS NOT HAD THAT MUCH PLAY AT JUDGING BY THE SPINDLE HOLE.THERE IS SOME VERY LIGHT CRACKLE IN QUIET PASSAGES BUT NO JUMPS OR SKIPS.PLAYS WITH DEFINE GREATNESS. LABELS: 1ST EVER PRESS WITH “A PHILIPS RECORD PRODUCT” TO THE BOTTOM EDGE AND LARGE SWIRL ABOVE THE SPINDLE HOLE. THIS WAS ONLY ON THE 1ST ISSUES.DON’T BE FOOLED BY OTHERS SAYING THEY ARE 1ST ISSUES IF THESE CREDENTIALS ARE NOT THERE. WHEN HELD TO THE LIGHT THERE ARE APPROX 4 OR 5 SPIDER TRAILS ON EACH SIDE AGAIN PROBABLY NOT HAD THAT MUCH PLAY AT ALL”
Looks like this seller has a lot of time on his hands (he/she also took about two-dozen photos) but, as a buyer, you have to admit, it’s nice to see eBay descriptions like this.
After all, t’s very cool to think that this was among the first media to introduce Sabbath to the world.
3. $499.99 – Cenotaph “The Gloomy Reflection of Our Hidden Sorrows” CD
This is described as a first pressing of a rare 1992 Mexican death metal album on a label called Horus. Matrix code is: SONOPRESS G-6095 / CDLC101 B. Excellent condition.
The seller mentioned that this item was very sought after and it appears he/she was right.
4. $475.00 – Iron Maiden “Eddie’s Head” limited-edition box set
This Iron Maiden 12 CD set with “Eddie Head” case had its inner CDs listed as sealed.
Muze lists the product as: Remastered CD reissues, 12-CD, 144-song boxset. The limited edition set comes in a carrying case that resembles the head of the band’s mascot, “Eddie,” and includes the following albums: IRON MAIDEN, KILLERS, NUMBER OF THE BEAST, PIECE OF MIND, POWERSLAVE, LIVE AFTER DEATH, SOMEWHERE IN TIME, SEVENTH SON OF A SEVENTH SON, NO PRAYER FOR THE DYING, FEAR OF THE DARK, A REAL LIVE DEAD ONE, and LIVE AT DONINGTON. For those looking to buy the band’s entire catalog from 1980 through 1993.
The seller commented on this 12 CD Set as being from an estate in Tucson, AZ.. There’s a 13th CD included called In Profile (not sealed but “as new”). The head measures 13″ tall. The only shortcoming is that one of the blinking eye lights doesn’t work. That is quite a shortcoming. Surely, a proper blinking light would have fetched more money. It’s been listed online for 3x this winning auction price for near mint condition.
5. 403.35 – Sabbat “Bloody Countess” vinyl LP, picture disc
A limited edition pic disc (only 100 copies pressed), and it comes with its own little gruesome-looking t-shirt — among other extras. The seller doesn’t say what these extras are, however. Unplayed mint condition of this death/black metal release on Witchhammer.
6. 385.76 – HB “Battle of God” CD
It’s a mystery that this brand new CD is listed as selling for over $300 as BUY IT NOW. HB (which apparently stands for Holy Bible) is a christian symphonic metal band from Finland. The band recently had a U.S. release of this same album — which, according to Discogs, is the English version of HB’s first recorded album “Uskon Puolesta” in 2004. Perhaps this was an earlier bootleg?
7. $380.00 – Iron Maiden – “Paris Is Burning” vinyl EP, limited-edition picture disc
Now this is a bootleg (unofficial release). The record label is MF Records (MF280611PD) and the record is listed as being in excellent condition. The seller claims that this item is “LIMITED TO 20 NUMBERED COPIES ONLY. THIS IS NUMBER 19 / 20. THE FINAL FRONTIER EURO TOUR. RECORDED LIVE AT PALAIS OMNISPORT DE BERCY, PARIS, FRANCE. 28 JUNE 2011.”
This must be a special edition offshoot from the unofficial release box set, Paris Is Burning (see here).
8. $372.19 – Chris Motionless poster
This poster of the lead singer in Motionless in White (American metal core band) was taken from an issue of Kerrang! magazine! The poster is 1 page and is 21cm x 28.5cms in size. The seller was from England and warned “Please ensure you know the size of the poster before bidding, this is a poster taken from a magazine.” Let’s place a safe bet that someone overlooked that. That or someone REALLY likes Chis Motionless.
9. $352.03 – Black Sabbath “Paranoid” vinyl LP, First pressing
This 1970 UK issue is a first pressing on the Vertigo label (6360 011) with swirl pattern and a matrix # of 1Y1*420 12 3 and 1Y2*420 11 5. This is the same seller as #2 in our listing. It’s pretty much the same detailed description.
10. $350.00 – Mercyful Fate vinyl EP
This one was a real find. This 12″ mini album by the band Mercyful Fate from 1982 on Rave-On Records (RMLP 002) is a classic. It is an original first pressing. It also comes with the original promo photo and three promo press release sheets. Plus a handwritten letter from the band’s UK manager.
According to Discogs, the first pressing is white bordered (which is apparent from the above photo) and limited to 200 copies. The second and third pressings are black bordered.
Seller described condition as “VINYL is EX+/NM (played once, one sleeve scuff on side A), P/S is in VG+++ condition (minor bends, the band added a rude word in pen on the back), ALL PROMO INSERTS are in VG++++/EX++ condition.”
