Boris (3) – Altar

Glad to report that my copy has minimal surface noise.

The overall packaging ist beautifully done, I think the photosshopping of the poster and the booklet is pretty bad but that is a child of its 2000´s time. You can tell that they´ve put a lot of time and effort into this re-release.

However, and as other s have already mentioned, the 2nd disc has an audible crackling and noise surface in the beginnings and especially on side D. I don´t understand how this got through the quality control. Its not a deal-breaker but needs to be adressed.

Another general thing about newer releases is: why on earth isn´t a included anymore?! Yeah, I understand that everyone is streaming right now but I want a quality flac on my DAC to enjoy my music when I´m out and about or in my car. I´ve payed an extra on a special edition vinyl record and I want the whole package!

Its still worthwhile to own and I´ll listen to this quite often since the LP is one of the best albums in both bands discographies respectively.

On my copy, Record 1 (Etna) was flawless. Record 2, (especially on Blood Swamp) was a crackly mess!

The poster came damaged, as usual the quality control is below 0 and whoever put the vinyl inside the folder did not bother. It's incredible that few labels understand the importance of shipping the vinyls outside the folders.

I know this had a shrink, but still there should be a way to pack everything to prevent further damage on booklets, inserts and posters. Besides that, great pressing!

I'm sorry to report my side D, "Blood Swamp," has a lot of noise and it's not dust. The first minute is terribly crackly and there are plenty more flaws after that, but they slowly fade as you get to the end of the side. Ultrasonic cleaning did not help. Still don't regret my purchase, though.

Can we please just get all three sinking belle versions on vinyl? Put them on a 7” or something!

Both LP's are somewhat warped here. Nothing a clamp can't fix. Great sound thoughout the album. Liner notes speak of this one being the 3LP but so what happend there Southern Lord? Nevertheless a very nice release.

I think this pressing, overall, is brilliant. Southern Lord definitely did right by this one, it exudes class all the way through. The music is incredible, and honestly is quite toned down from what I expected. The bonus track 'Her Lips Were Wet With Venom', which would have constituted a third disc that I am sure we all wanted, is much more in line with that insane wall of guitar sound I expected on this album. For it to be paired down to its finer points, with no excess, was quite fun to discover! I ended up buying the digital on Bandcamp today as well, as it added two of the three bonus tracks available for this release, the other being the 'Black Sheep' version of 'The Sinking Bell'.

This was a great RSD release!

Good package and booklet, but I would have traded the booklet for the third disc. Maybe they were considering price point? You can get the entire release on though. The vinyl color is more a Tuscan brick red. Sound is good, nice range and clarity of tones for such a dense recording, but I think it needs a wash to remove some dust. Great music! I hear more of Boris than Sun ((0))), which is fine by me. Southern Lord do it right!

why is there no third lp… do they just want to drive up demand for 3lp pressings?