Metal Pre-orders

Metal Vinyl Pre-orders: Color Variants and Limited Editions on the Way

Why pre-order metal on vinyl?

Metal vinyl pre-orders have become the norm for much of the genre. Labels announce an album months ahead, open pre-orders on announcement day and split the release into several variants: black, colored, marbled, splatter, sometimes a picture disc or a box set. The limited versions often sell out before release day. Ordering early lets you pick the variant you want and compare offers from partner stores.

The current pre-order lineup shows how wide metal runs today: melodic death metal from Amon Amarth and Insomnium, thrash from Coroner, Forbidden and Exumer, Machine Head's groove metal, metalcore from Hatebreed and Imminence, and the newer Swedish wave with Orbit Culture. New albums and reissues of older titles share the page.

Metal labels and variants: know what you are ordering

Nuclear Blast, Century Media, Metal Blade, Relapse, Season of Mist and Napalm Records release most of their albums in several editions. Each color variant has its own listing, and some are limited to a single store, the band's webstore or the label's own shop. Before you order, check exactly which version the store is offering.

• The exact color, and the run size if one is stated
• Single or double LP, gatefold or not
• Extras: poster, patch, bonus tracks
• Store exclusive or widely available edition
• Picture discs look great but tend to have more surface noise

Metal reissues: classics back up for pre-order

Metal pre-orders are not just new releases. Labels regularly reissue albums that have been hard to find on vinyl for years, often remastered and with fresh liner notes. Machine Head's "Burn My Eyes," released in 1994, is a good example of a '90s classic whose reissues collectors watch for closely. For a reissue, check whether it is a remaster, a straight repress or a remix, since the sound can differ from the original.

For '80s thrash bands like Coroner, Forbidden and Exumer, period pressings often sell for steep prices on the used market, and their condition is hard to judge from a listing. When a reissue is announced, it is the easiest way to hear these albums on vinyl without overpaying. Those records tend to go quickly, so it pays to order as soon as pre-orders open.

Comparing metal pre-order prices

Prices for the same album can vary a lot between stores, especially between the standard edition and a limited variant. On Vinyles.com, each product page lists pre-order offers from partner stores, so you can compare the exact edition before ordering from the store you choose. Release dates are estimates: delays of a few weeks are common in vinyl and do not mean the release is canceled.