Vinyl Words: Profane Existence's Vinyl Retention Series

Recently I got my first shipment as a member of the Profane Existence Vinyl Retention series, and I have to say it’s a pretty sweet club to be a member of.

Profane Existence, record label/anarchist collective/purveyors of some of the best crust punk around (e.g. the label behind Appalachian Terror Unit), have set up this little record club fro people who are really into their sound and into vinyl.

It’s a club with an extremely limited membership roster (only 200 slots are available), and as such will feature records that will be extremely rare. Here are the criteria for a VR release, from the PW site:

• Ltd. version of new PE vinyl release with additional / alternative packaging such as cloth cover, and/or additional posters, patches, stickers, t-shirt, condoms, chewing gum, trading cards, etc. inside (each release will be different)
• Ltd. vinyl version of otherwise CD-only PE release. Yes, that means the ONLY way to get vinyl version is to join. Ltd. exclusive vinyl release - not available on ANY other format outside the VR series. Period.
• Ltd. re-issue of out of print classic PE release. Yes, that's right something you thought was gone for good just may come back, but only for those who sign up!
• We plan to release mainly LP's, but we are not ruling out a 7" release, so long as it is appropriately packaged for a good value.

The first two records in the series are Northern Scum from Extinction of Mankind and Mouth Sewn Shut’s Doomed Future Today. Both albums are seriously great, with the Mouth Sewn Shut release being in contention for the best hardcore record I’ve heard this year. The packaging and vinyl coloring is also pretty slick.

At any rate, the reason I bring the club up is not to rub in the fact that I am a member of an elite record club (although I am), but to let you know that there are still a few slots left in the club. If you want to be in a club that includes both cool kids and record collector geeks, this is the way to go. I’ll even let you decide which type of club member you are.

Check it out on the Profane Existence site, and while you’re there scope out everything else the label has to offer. This is a seriously great DIY label with great music and the noble ideal of creating a more politically active punk rock movement. Spend money on their records and you’ll be getting good music for funding a great cause.

Photo courtesy of Profane Existence