thePULSEBy R. Peltier
And what says Slayer better than The Vinyl Conflict, the limited edition, uber-high-quality box set that features the band’s entire Def/American Recordings catalogue, from 1986’s “Reign in Blood” to 2009’s “World Painted Blood.”
Thrash/metal is rarely associated with the audiophile world; that special quality is usually reserved for artists such as Miles Davis or Bob Dylan or classical releases. However, when Rick Rubin is your producer, the highest-possible sonic excellence and meticulous quality control is what’s called for.
The audiophile magazine ToneAudio put it this way:
“‘The Vinyl Conflict’ takes its unique place as the hands-down best-sounding metal package ever produced. For those that seriously want to rock and experience what’s possible across the dynamic spectrum via decibel-pounding, surface-quiet, amazingly produced LPs that bring to life several of the greatest metal records ever made in a way that places Slayer on a stage feet away from where you sit ~ a thrill as exhilarating as any in audio – The Vinyl Conflict is a godsend.”
All ten albums (11 discs) in The Vinyl Conflict were re-mastered from the original analog flat master tapes and were pressed on the highest quality 180-gram audiophile vinyl at RTI, the most respected pressing plant in the U.S. and among the best in the world. Lacquers were cut and re-cut several times to ensure the highest sound quality. The individual discs are in a standard, clear inner sleeve to preserve the vinyl, then housed in high-quality, litho wrapped jackets, and then boxed in a hardcover slipcase. Additionally, reproductions of the original LP inner sleeve artwork were converted to 12X12 inserts.
