It’s almostRecord Store Day, andmetalfans have plenty of reasons to roll out of bed early on April 12 and head down to their local music shop. The event, designed in 2007 to celebrate independently-owned record stores in the U.S., offers fans and collectors a chance to pick up exclusive vinyl editions of their favorite albums. Surprisingly,Record Store Day has always had love for metal.
From having Jesse Hughes (Eagles of Death Metal), Joshua Homme (Queens of the Stone Age), Ozzy Osbourne, Iggy Pop, Jack Black, Dave Grohl (Nirvana/Foo Fighters),Metallica, and Paramore as the official Record Store Day Ambassadors, to stocking their exclusives with classic albums, Record Store Day made sure metal got some of the spotlight.2025 is no different:there are some outstanding metal records among the list of special releases (Record Store Day) for fans to hunt down this Record Store Day.
12The Eternal Idol
Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath fans are in for an emotional 2025. The band - Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward - will headline BACK TO THE BEGINNING on July 5th, marking both the band’s and Ozzy’s final performance. The show will be the first time the four lads have played together in 20 years; the group famously fired Ozzy in ’79, with a handful ofreplacement vocalistsstepping in before Ozzy and the lads patched things up.
One such vocalist was Tony Martin, who fronted Black Sabbath for nearly a decade (1987-91, ’93-97).The Eternal Idol, the first Black Sabbath album to feature Martin’s vocals, will be released on 140-gram red translucent vinyl for Record Store Day.
11Junk
Blue Cheer
Blue Cheer is one of the early bands thathelped pave the way for heavy metal. The San Francisco trio of bassist/vocalist Dickie Peterson, guitarist Leigh Stephens, and drummer Paul Whaley found success with their debut album, 1968’sVincebus Eruptum, and their cover of Eddie Cochran’s “Summertime Blues.”
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For RSD 2025, Flatiron Records will releaseJunkon blue and silver splatter vinyl. The LP will feature a collection of studio cover songs (including a version of Jimi Hendrix’s “Foxy Lady” and the Rolling Stones’ “Sympathy for the Devil”) and Peterson’s final live performance of “Summertime Blues” from 2008.
10Necroticism - Descanting The Insalubrious
Carcass
Carcass has been synonymous with death metalsince the Liverpool band formed in 1985. The group reformed in 2007 after a decade-long hiatus, and continues to tour to this day. For Record Store Day, Earache Records will release Carcass’s third album,Necroticism – Descanting The Insalubrious, on translucent green vinyl.
The band has endured some lineup changes before and after its reforming. Guitarist Bill Steer and bassist Jeff Walker are the only remaining members. Originally released in 1991,Necroticism – Descanting The Insalubrious,which features the songs “Corporal Jigsore Quandary,” “Symposium Of Sickness,” and “Carneous Cacoffiny,” is the first with guitarist Michael Amott and is considered one of Carcass’s best.
9Once Upon The Cross (30th Anniversary Edition)
Deicide
Besides perhaps Cannibal Corpse,there’s one band closely associated with Florida death metal (yes, it is a genre), and that’s Deicide. Formed in the late 80s, Deicide - fronted by lead singer Glen Benton, known for branding an inverted cross on his forehead - released three albums considered landmarks of the genre:Deicide, LegionandOnce Upon the Cross, the latter of which will get the RSD treatment.
Once Upon the Crosswas once considered a divisive album. For religious Christians, it’s considered blasphemous for its lyrical content. For Deicide fans, it’s considered blasphemous because the band plays slower than the other two releases. Despite not being well-received upon release, in the decades since, fans consider this album a beloved classic. For RSD, Real Gone Music will release a blue, red, and gray “autobots” pressing for the album’s 30th anniversary.
8Beast From The East (Live)
Dokken
Dokken’sBeast from the Eastlive album gets the Record Store Day treatment this year. First recorded in 1988 during the band’s tour of Japan,Beast from the Eastcontains live performances of some of the band’s best-known hits, like “Into the Fire,” “Just Got Lucky,” and “Dream Warriors” - the song Dokken recorded forA Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors.
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Beast from the Eastearned Dokkena Grammy nomination for Best Metal Performance(losing to Metallica’s “One”). Fans will be able to hunt down a 2 LP pressing of the album on green and orange vinyl.
7Hex (20th Anniversary Edition)
Earth
Black Sabbath was first called Earth before adopting the name known today. In 1989, guitarist Dylan Carlson, with Slim Moon and Greg Babior, formed a band called Earth in honor of the heavy metal pioneers. This version of Earth is consideredthe vanguard of drone, doom and psychedelic rock.With albums likePentastar: In the Style of DemonsandThe Bees Made Honey in the Lion’s Skull, this avant-garde instrumental group takes you on a trip with each listen.
This avant-garde instrumental group takes you on a trip with each listen.
Hex; Or Printing in the Infernal Methodsaw Earth cut back on distortion and embrace acoustic instruments and elements of classic country and twang. The special RSD edition celebrates the album’s 20th anniversary with a pressing from Southern Lord on color vinyl.
6High
Flotsam & Jetsam
Phoenix’s Flotsam & Jetsam is a thrash band that devout fans might know asthe group Jason Newsted played with before joining Metallica. Formed in the early ‘80s and going through a few name changes and lineup shifts, the band settled on the Flotsam & Jetsam moniker right in time for the second round of ‘80s thrash. While they didn’t reach the same level of success as their peers (their RSD listing says their rock journey “has been sprinkled with nails”), the group has endured to this day.
For RSD, NoLifeTilMetal and Metal Blade Records will release Flotsam & Jetsam’s 1997 album,High, on vinyl for the first time in North America. If you want some thrash that’s off the beaten path, this is the record for you.
5Black Knight: Sword Of Rage
Scott Ian
How hardcore of a metal fan are you?Are you hardcore enough to own a soundtrack to a pinball game? Such is the case withBlack Knight Sword of Rage, a metal soundtrack by Scott Ian of Anthrax and Brendon Small, the musician/artist behind Adult Swim’sMetalocalypse. For Record Store Day, Jackpot Records will release an LP of twelve instrumentals recorded for theBlack Knight: Sword of Ragepinball game from Stern.
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If you’ve spent hours playingBlack Knight: Sword of Rageand have had some of the game’s riffs stuck in your head long after your final multiball, good news! If you hunt down a copy of this LP for RSD, you can finally take the pinball thrash madness home (that, or you can spend $6,999.00 on aBlack Knight: Sword of Ragemachine for your home.)
4Live In Atlanta ‘82
Judas Priest
1982 was a good year for Judas Priest.They were on a run of now-classic albums, releasingHell Bent for Leather, British SteelandPoint of Entrythe years prior. In ’82, the band unleashedScreaming for Vengeance,with its now-iconic cover and undeniable hit, “You Got Another Thing Comin’.” For RSD 2025, Judas Priest celebrates that time in their career by releasingLive In Atlanta ’82.
The album was previously only available as part of50 Heavy Metal Years of Music,a 42(1)-disc box set released in 2021. Currently, versions are selling for over $1,000 on Discogs. Fans who would rather hear the Atlanta stop on the World of Vengeance tour can track down this double LP (on solid red vinyl!) for Record Store Day.
3The Lost Tapes, Vol 6
Motörhead
It’s been almost a decade since the world lost Lemmy Kilmister, the gravely voiced metal god who fronted Motörhead. The metal world has missed him, soany new or new-ish Motörhead is a good thing. For RSD, BMG will releaseThe Löst Tapes, Vol. 6on purple vinyl.
The 2 LP set contains a previously unreleased live set from December 1992 at the Eissporthalle in Berlin, Germany. It’s a collection of some of the band’s biggest hits, from “I’m So Bad (Baby I Don’t Care),” “Overkill,” and “Killed By Death.” It also features solos from drummer Mikkey Dee and guitarists Phil Campbell and the late Michael “Wurzel” Burston.
