B U Y I N G . M E T A L

Note: Rating are the opinion of the staff writers and are from 1-10 with ten being the pinnacle of greatness and one being pure shit. If you have some beef with your rating, please contact us and we will discuss.


10 RATINGS


Sentinel Steel
Cheers - Dennis runs Sentinel Steel with a passion for hard rock and heavy metal. This store is the premier online marketplace for power metal, with one of the largets catalogues I have seen yet. This is a perfect place for obscure power and classic metal, as well as a great place for new releases. If you are in the market for an out of print cd, or possibly a good used one, Sentinel Steel has it! Just check out their "deep" used bins and clearance sales. Along with the online store, Sentinel Steel also has their own label, releasing great albums from bands like Gothic Knights, Axehammer, and Attacker. Don't forget that Sentinel Steel welcomes trades too! Payment methods: Paypal *and* money orders. Credit cards are also accepted, but through Paypal. A customer is recommended to confirm stock by email before purchasing to
Jeers - None. They even have plans to double the office and warehouse size, give the website a new look, and a start a shopping cart/online ordering system

Sonic Age Shop
Cheers - This is actually a part of Sonic Age Records, and holds thousands of rare and obscure heavy metal. With a focus on the 80s traditional acts, you can find all kinds of underground metal here. I recently placed an order with these fine folks and bought some really rare titles like Glory Bells, Heretic, Spitfire, and Hexx. If you are looking for those hard to find gems, or simply the new reissues that are coming out, this is the place to turn to. The band's site is well run with plenty of easy to use navigation. It has a shopping cart and also allows you to see the prices in US and Euros, a tool that comes in handy for American shoppers. I had my order within two weeks and they ship from Greece. Great people!
Jeers - I wish they would relocate to the U.S. so the long shipping period wouldn't be so bad.

The End Records
Cheers - Absolutely the best place online for NEW metal releases. They carry almost every new release from labels like Massacre, Century Media, Nuclear Blast, Relapse, and Metal Blade. The store also does a great job in getting most of the re-issues and rare digipaks that are being put out more frequently. The End also has their own label, carrying a lot of "extreme" metal bands. The store carries all genres of heavy metal cds, vinyl, and DVDs. They also do a really good job showing what is in stock and what isn't.
Jeers - The only problem I have with this store is the poor search engine on the site, which makes it slighty difficult to search for specific bands.

NEH Records
Cheers - This is a spectacular metal shop that specializes in hard rock. You can find discs from all sorts of bands here, ranging from obscure record labels like Point Music to those hard to find indy releases that so many bands are doing now. I believe this store is ran out of a couple's house in Colorado. Great people to deal with! They will even call you to let you know when they receive something you may be interested in. Very thoughtful!
Jeers - Only problem is the shipping can be a bit high when ordering from the US. Not a bad thing though considering the service and the great amount of metal!


9 RATINGS


CD Japan
Cheers - Probably the only way to purchase import albums here in the US. The selection is fantastic, audio samples are available along with track listings and album covers.
Jeers - Takes about a week and a half to reach the US by airborne mail. Still takes less time than Steve at Impulse Music shipping from Illinois to Virginia.

CD Universe
Cheers - Wow! At one point CD Universe was my pick for worst store online. They have really rebounded last year with some great customer service and an incredible selection of metal. CD Universe is the place to go for more "mainstream" metal bands like Overkill, Queensryche, Saxon, Judas Priest, Savatage, and even material released on Century Media, Metal Blade, Nuclear Blast, Massacre, etc. Lets face it, there isn't anyone out there that offers whole discographys for metal bands like Motley Crue and Thin Lizzy. You can hop on their site and pick up oldie stuff for $9 a pop. Thats a super deal! This store is also really good about track listings, artwork, and sound samples. You can pick up those Japanese imports here too. The store also does a great job explaining what is in stock and what is on backorder. The store has also recently opened up Adult Universe as well. (www.adultuniverse.com). Yippy! Porn!
Jeers - Obviously with a big store like this, you have to deal with a customer service team. If you are a "one on one" kinda shopper, CD Universe isn't for you. If you can deal with order status lookups and those endless "processing your order" emails, then check this place out!


8 RATINGS


Power Play Records
Cheers - This is a store that works as a record label as well. On the label side of things Power Play's roster consists of new and up and coming bands as well as classics from the past. Power Play has reissued gems from the likes of Damien and 220 Volt, as well as hot new releases from powerful bands like Cradle To Grave, Kigh, and Further Lo. Working as a store Power Play offers a lot of different stuff. You won't find tons of new releases but you could track down some obscure stuff here. Along with offering new titles they also have plenty of used CDs to browse through. Great service, great store, great label, and a super nice guy!
Jeers - Nothing really to complain about here other than just the lack of new releases. The End pretty much has that covered anyway so this is a great place to pick up obscure stuff and of course the Power Play label items.

CD Baby
Cheers - This is the only store I have found online where they will call you for an order. CD Baby is a "one on one" kinda store, small and friendly, but not alot of stuff to offer. The good thing about this store is that they support indy metal. Most of the metal bands they offer are completely label free and independent. Also the site has a good selection of audio clips, and good recommendations. I highly recommend ordering from them at least once. Also, they report all of their transactions to the bands themselves. I have received promos and emails from bands after purchasing cds from CD Baby. Pretty cool!
Jeers - Not alot of metal to choose from here. Some real gems, but not overwhelming.

Blast Beats
Cheers - This is your one stop source for christian heavy metal. They carry all genres of christian metal, ranging from black to power and death to thrash. This is a good place for older christian metal gems, as most of them have been re-issued with bonus cuts. The really good thing about the store's site is it will give you accurate, up to the minute stock status. Very handy when trying to decide on those spur of the moment purchases. Very fast service and great order checkout.
Jeers - They only carry christian metal. I wish they would expand.

AOR Heaven
Cheers - This is a one of a kind German online store. When I say one of a kind, I mean it. This store is located in Germany, but unlike most German stores, everything on this site is in English! It is owned by an American couple and they really do a fantastic job with hard rock and melodic power metal releases. They carry mostly just newer titles, but their back catalogue isn't barren by any means. AOR Heaven is the perfect place to get newer European and Japanese releases, with great online ordering and service. I swear, I receive my cds in less than a week, shipped from Germany to America. This guy has a rare sense of urgency, and I really like that!
Jeers - This fits the same mold as Blast Beats. AOR Heaven only carries hard rock and melodic power, so don't go looking for a wide selction of genres here.

Black Metal
Cheers - Great selection of Black metal.
Jeers - None to mention. They sell only black metal with no other real selection.

Dark Symphonies
Cheers - Great prices, great selection, and they specialize in avant-garde metal. Site has a makeover.
Jeers - None to mention.


7 RATINGS


CD Europe
Cheers - Specalizes in imports.
Jeers - Not the best prices but then again they are imports.

fye
Cheers - Owns Wherehouse Music as well as Second Spin now. Large retailer that is buying up a lot of metal stores. Free shipping if you spend over $25, a lot better bargain than going into the physical store. If your preference is used CDs then check out www.wherehouse.com.
Jeers - Prices could be better and customer service blows.

Second Spin
Cheers - Good place to find out of print stuff. All Items are used, prices are good and orders are shipped in 2 weeks. You can sell to them and a good amount of credit is given or you can get a check sent to you. This store has been purchased by FYE Entertainment. You can also use some in store FYE computers to order from this site and pay no shipping charges.
Jeers - Hard to browse catalogue. Best if you know what you are looking for.

Metal Disc
Cheers - Huge selection middle ground pricing and good for locating hard to find items.
Jeers - None to mention.


6 RATINGS


Metal Merchant
Cheers - Sells all types of rock and metal.
Jeers - Based in germany so dont expect fast shipping if you live in US unless you pay extra. Prices could be better.

Amazon
Cheers - Amazon could make their metal selection slighty better. I really like all of the "previous customer" feedback that Amazon leaves on their site. This is a store that is in the same vein as CD Universe, and in some cases can be cheaper than the Universe. But poor selection of titles, and subpar customer service leave me ordering from Amazon once a year tops.
Jeers - Poor selection, Poor customer service.

Nightmare Records
Cheers - Specializes in power and progressive metal but sells other styles also.
Jeers - Not the greatest selection or prices. Doesn't look updated often. Contact page does not work.


4 RATINGS


Nuclear Hell
Cheers - Not a great selection of metal. Back catalogue is a bit weak. Lots of new releases and pricing is some of the best in the retail market.
Jeers - One customer says the site takes "a Goddamn month" to receive CDs. Not the fastest outlet for your products.


2 RATINGS


Century Media
Cheers - This label offers an online store for fans as well. The good thing about this is the extensive catalogue they offer, ranging from all major metal labels to indy stuff worldwide. Century Media is a great place to window shop. Don't ever order from them!
Jeers - This is one of the few places online that can take up to 90 days to process and ship your order. From past experiences, I have found that they ship discs to customers once a month. If they don't have it in stock, they backorder (which they do once a month). After the backorder comes in, you then have to wait for them to ship the order to you (again, they do it once a month). Who has that kinda time? Good label. Horrible store.

CD Inzane
Cheers - Not much to cheer about here. Sure they have tons and tons of power metal and hard rock, but the stuff they have listed on their site as in stock may or may not be in stock. I made my first order with them two months ago and it was absolute nightmare. I called my order in and after a week I had still not received my merchandise. After calling them they hadn't even bothered to charge me or ship anything to me. Terrible service and it will be a long time before I give them another chance.
Jeers - All of the above!


0 RATINGS


Impulse Music
Cheers - Not a damn one.
Jeers - Easily the worst piece of shit music retailer in the universe. Steve runs this store and it is easily the worst customer service ever. Steve will tell you he has no idea of availability of product, when items will be shipped, what your payment method is, what your total is, or generally anything concerning your order. Buyer beware! Selection looks impressive but he has no idea what he actually has in stock. To order from Impulse Music would be the equivalent of ramming your ____ across a barbed wire bat.

Metal Mayhem
Cheers - Hell No. Nothing positive to even mention about this asshole.
Jeers - Stay away from this prick. Don't ever order from him. Without a shadow of a doubt the worst online shopping experience you will ever have. I ordered a cd from him over the phone with my credit card. A week later, no cd. I called him and he said it was sitting on a table waiting to be taken to the post office. Another week. No cd. I call him again, he says I'm being pushy. Two more days, I email him a nasty message. He calls my house and bans me from ordering from him and says he sent the cd out to me and I should have gotten it. A week later the disc arrives. Metal Mayhem is exactly what the store title suggests. Many people can tell you the same thing. He has a great looking catalogue, and has some good releases on his label. Its a shame he does business this way.


NO RATINGS


Ebay
Cheers - Good for finding out of print and rare CDs. Being auctioned based can lead to some great deals.
Jeers - Best to know what you are looking for. Being auctioned based can lead to people winning at the last minute and it can result in some bad deals.

GEMM
Cheers - Auction based. Great to use to find specific things you are looking for. Global search engine with a thousand stores. New and used items. All types of music.
Jeers - Auction based problems.

Half
Cheers - Auction based. Great to use to find specific things you are looking for. New and used items. All types of music.
Jeers - Auction based problems.

--EC and 1Evil1

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