Samhain – Initium

Vinyl pressing info:

Test pressing:
3 black vinyl copies with "6/84" matrix etchings on both sides. Copies went to Glenn Danzig, Eerie Von (owned by Kate of NJ), and Steve Zing. Test presses include the original mix of "Archangel" with chimes. Due to a mixing error, this version was not included on the actual release. Glenn scratched out "Archangel" on Steve Zing's (now Mike Holland's) copy with a knife.

There are actually at least 3 to 4 different pressings that get lumped together as "first presses."
Here is what we know:
According to this interview with drummer Steve Zing, from 36:44
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CitkYuFdBcU
The band needed records to sell for their tour. They called Europadisk, but no answer. So they drove up to Long Island and arrived after the pressing plant had closed, but saw the owner's car, banged on the door and Glenn said, "You promised us albums. We are not leaving until we get records. Today." There were no staff present, so Glenn, Steve, the owner, and a friend of the band "turned all the machines on" and pressed records. It is also possible that the 4 pressings described below were pressed at different dates.

1. First press: large ring in center, sometimes insert, very clear labels. Vinyl is slightly translucent, but only with an LED behind it. See fiendcollectors.com/samhain.php for reference.

2. Second press:
Made for Season of the Dead tour by Glenn, Steve and a friend after they strong-armed their way into the pressing plant after hours. The pressing is mostly black, but then white pellets were added toward the end resulting in streaked, marbled, grey and white copies. The numbers on Misfits Central are incorrect; more copies exist. The black vinyl is 100% opaque.

Small ring, no S7/S10 etchings in matrix, glossy jacket. Mail order copies may have included insert.

3. S-press.
These are likely not first presses. Similar to 1 with small ring, but S10 is etched on the A-side and S7 is etched into the B-side. Issued with a plastic inner sleeve. There might be more number such as S11, etc. as there are with Earth A.D., Die Die My Darling, and Legacy of Brutality.

4. Large ring, 160 gram heavy vinyl, labels are not very clear. Some copies include insert.

For more info and a visual map, visit fiendcollectors.com/samhain.php

This was written and edited by On Earth As It Is In Hell
fiendcollectors.com/onearthasitisinhell