“Keeping the Metal Flame Alive: David Savage on Metal Life, Vinyl & the Legendary Black City Records”
- Lee (Review Zoo)
- 45 minutes ago
- 16 min read
1. What first got you into Metal, and what was the scene like back then?
Heavy Metal was always in my consciousness growing up. Bands like AC/DC, Judas
Priest and Iron Maiden were all household names when I was younger. It was my older
brother bringing home a copy of Marillion’s ‘Real To Reel’ that was my absolute ground
zero though. That’s what introduced me to guitar based rock music, to long hair, to
Marshall amps and what a live band was all about. It was a real game changer for me
and that got the worm in my ear for heavy music.
2. Which song or album would you say got you into Metal?
I’d say the album that got me ‘into’ metal - though not the first I bought was Anthrax’s
‘State Of Euphoria’. I bought it when it came out after reading about the band in Kerrang!
(when it was good) and loved the way the band looked and the younger skater vibe they
were conveying. The first song I heard from it was ‘Make Me Laugh’. I think at that point I
knew something was changing with me.
3. Do you remember the first Metal record you ever bought — and where you bought it?
I do. It was ‘Piece Of Mind’ by Iron Maiden and I bought it on cassette from WH Smith
believe it or not in Hemel Hempstead on 7th May 1988. I remember that date because I
remember it being the Saturday before Vinnie Jones (who grew up just down the road
from me) played for Wimbledon in the FA Cup Final for Wimbledon. Strange the things
that stick with you…
4. What was your first Metal show or festival experience like?
My first show was seeing Iron Maiden at Wembley Arena on the Seventh Son tour in
December 1988. It was mental. My older brother took me and we were about 12 or 13
rows from the front as it was all seated. People balk at all seated shows now, but that’s
kinda how many UK arena shows just were back then. I just remember being
overwhelmed by the amount of people and the sheer size of the gathering of like minded
souls. Even then I could sense the familial vibe that has kept me in the scene all this
time.
5. If you could go back in time and attend one legendary gig, which would you choose?
Such a difficult question. Metallica with Cliff in San Francisco? Hendrix at Woodstock?
Zeppelin at Knebworth? I’m lucky enough to have seen many legendary bands over the
years in their prime - Kyuss, Death Cavalera era Sepultura etc. I suppose if it had to be
one though, it would have to be Exodus with Paul Baloff back in SanFrancisco in the
early to mid 80s. Absolute carnage!
6. What does Metal mean to you personally?
To me metal has always been about a way of life. It’s a culture and a lifestyle which is
pretty all consuming. The central tenet of it though has always been about having fun,
drinking some beer and rocking out. I’m pretty sure there wasn’t much more behind it all
when it first started, so why change it?
7. Favourite band of all time?
My favourite band has always been, and will always be Slayer. Since the first time I
heard them I just fell in love with everything about them. Their music struck the ultimate
chord with me. It was fast, intense, scary and just got the blood pumping. I’ve seen them
many. Many times over the years - the first time being on the Clash Of The Titans tour
with Megadeth, Testament and Suicidal Tendencies. They’ve never, ever disappointed
me.
8. Favourite album of all time?
Unsurprisingly, given my previous answer, ‘Reign In Blood’. I remember the first time I
heard it over 35 years ago and the chills it sent up my spine. I’d heard nothing like it and
to this day I still get the same feeling when I listen to it now as I did then. The exact
same feeling. I cannot imagine that album not being in my life. Fun fact: to date I have
19 different versions of it physically. Obsessive, but necessary for a record collector
haha.
9. What inspired you to open a record shop dedicated purely to Metal?
I grew up in a time of physical media - both music and print. Kerrang! was the weekly
bible we all read to find out ‘everything’ pre-internet. There was always adverts for a
shop in Soho in London called Shades in there. Living in Watford, just outside the
capital, me and my friends would then make the pilgrimage to Shades on a regular
basis. It was a metal only record store and to this day there has been nothing like it.
Even back then I had the dream that one day I’d like to own something similar. It’s been
a dream I’ve laid awake and plotted for since then. Fortunately I got the chance to do it.
10. How has the Metal scene — and the record-buying culture — changed since you
started?
Well, I’ve obviously seen it come and go. Record buying and collectors have always been
lurking about in the background, even when vinyl was ‘dead’. To see it be embraced by a new
generation is truly heartwarming and kinda proves that we don’t all want to live our lives
completely in the digital realm. A recent study actually showed that most Gen Z that listen to
physical music do it to get away from the digital world. That’s so encouraging from so many
angles.
11. Do you think Metal is making a return, or has it never really gone away?
I think the metal scene is in a pretty good place at the moment. There’s a glut of new
bands in all different genres and doing new things but staying true to the original ideals
that the scene has always had at its core. It’s definitely back. There was a time when it
all pretty much went away, before the turn of the millennium but it seems like it’s back
and strong.
12. Do you buy and sell second-hand albums, or mostly new releases?
Primarily we want to give people what they want so the majority of the stock is new. But
we also have a healthy used selection, some of which is incredibly rare. The thing with
metal record collectors is they don’t tend to move their records on as much as someone
into another genre for instance, so gathering quality used stock - in particular vinyl - is a
rarity. Most of our CD stock is used though, which is great. It tends to come from people
who are moving onto vinyl and it also gives us the opportunity to supply people just
dipping their toes into the scene with classic albums from across the metal spectrum for
literally a couple of quid.
13. For a first-timer in Black City Records, where should they start looking in the shop? Can
you give us a walk-through of what you stock?
So, we pride ourselves on being a record shop. Not a plant shop that sells records, or a
coffee shop that sells records, or a t-shirt shop that sells records. Just a record shop.
You’ll get the odd bit of merch knocking about but on first entering you’ll know the vibe is
just about physical music. We’re a record shop in the purest sense of the word. We
stock vinyl, CD, cassette, old DVD and occasionally VHS. We sell new and used stock
and cover the metal spectrum from AC/DC to Antichrist Demoncore and everything in
between. The thing to look for when you come in is the memorabilia on the walls; old 90s
Death Metal billboard posters, signed drumheads and sticks and what not. The ones that
always get people the most are a signed Chuck Schuldiner poster, an original Mayhem
flier hand made by Euronymous and a complete signed Black Sabbath album and ticket
stub. There’s always something to see.
14. Do you sell Black City Records-branded merch or exclusive items?
We do indeed. We have always had a rotating supply of different design shirts - our last
design done by Rok from Sadistik Execution who most famously made the logo for the
legendary Black Metal fanzine, Slayer. We also sell our own patches, pins and turntable
slipmats. We also change our carrier bags up regularly and people actually collect them
too.
15. Can fans buy from you online too?
For sure. We have our online shop at shop.blackcityrecords.co.uk and that’s where you’ll
find our new stock and preorders and merch etc. For our used stock we use Discogs, as
its the most reliable and transparent way of pricing used and rare stock. We’re at
16. Do you get people traveling from far away, since there aren’t many all-Metal record
shops around?
We have had people visit us from all over the UK and the world. The furthest someone came
that built a holiday around their visit was from the Falkland Islands. We’ve had visitors from
Australia, Canada, the USA, everywhere really. As far as the UK goes we get people from all
corners.
17. Describe your typical customer — and your least typical one.
The typical customer is the typical metalhead, but they’re all unique in their own way.
From 12 year olds to folk in their 70s. That’s the beauty of this scene, that it by its very
nature is massively cross generational.
Our least typical customer turned out to be our best weirdly. On opening day a guy came
in wearing mustard cords, a nice jumper with a shirt underneath and perfectly sculpted
side parted hair. We genuinely thought he’d wandered in out of curiosity until he came to
the counter with the biggest stack of Black Metal albums. He’s since turned out to
become a close friend and business partner on a few other projects we’re cooking up.
18. Why do you think Metal fans are such passionate collectors?
We just always have been really. We just like ‘stuff’! Whether it’s merch or patches,
we’re a different breed to most sub-cultures as in we really live and breathe it every day
and like people to know it.
19. How does it feel to bring back the nostalgia of flipping through records, helping both old
and new fans rediscover that joy?
For me it's never really been a nostalgia thing as I’ve kept hunting vinyl and it’s been part
of my life forever really, but seeing younger folk and those just discovering it, or re-
discovering the joy of it, is great. I think once people get their hands on the tactile nature
of it, the artwork, the inserts and the closer connection it gives you with a band it’s
infectious.
20. Do you still share that same excitement with your customers when a new album drops
— like that old feeling of finally holding it in your hands?
New releases are always an exciting time - especially when it’s something you have
been looking forward to yourself. The big ones since the shop has been open have been
72 Seasons by Metallica. We opened extra early for that one to ensure we were the first
shop in the city where you could pick it up. We had giveaways and beers for every
purchase and we just had a great day. More recently the reissues of Death’s Symbolic
has been a key release for us. It hadn’t had a repress in well over 10 years and it was
the missing piece to a lot of collections and was one of our most asked about albums. To
get that stock in was incredible. A lot of happy people,
21. How much do you think physical packaging and artwork play into the experience of
buying music?
Hugely. It’s the reason I first picked music up. You’d see an amazing piece of artwork
and would think ‘that’s got to be good’. Having a 12” square piece of artwork is great. I
mean who wants a 1 inch square bitmap compared to a gatefold sleeve with printed
inners and liner notes?
22. Has the vinyl comeback affected how you source and sell records?
The ‘vinyl revival’ has been in full swing for a good 15 years now. Most people think it’s a
thing from just the last few years, but that’s more to do with the public consciousness
over artists such as Adele and Taylor Swift shifting enormous amounts of vinyl. I first
noticed metal and punk artists start to get repressed on vinyl in earnest about 2010 or
so. The process has always been the same though really, working with distributors
across the country and Europe primarily.
23. Vinyl, tape, or CD — which do you personally prefer, and why?
Vinyl. Always. There’s no substitute.
24. What’s the rarest or most prized record that’s ever passed through your shop?
The rarest item we’ve had come through was a copy of Iron Maiden’s demo ‘The
Soundhouse Tapes’. The thing that made this one even more special was it was signed
by the whole band at the time - two of whom who have now sadly passed away. That
one came home and now resides in my personal collection.
25. What’s your personal “never-sell” record?
Probably as mentioned, The Soundhouse Tapes. I’ve also got a fully signed first press of
Earth AD by The Misfits which I’d never part with either. But then there’s stuff that’s more
precious from a sentimental viewpoint.
26. Ever had a Metal legend unexpectedly walk through your door? Who, and what did they
buy?
We’ve had a few come through. Randy Blythe from Lamb Of God came in to take shelter
from the rain and ended up just having a cup of tea and a chat for an hour. That was nice.
27. What’s the most surprising or unusual request you’ve had from a customer?
The new Taylor Swift album for a customer's wife. As we can access all distribution
channels we got it for them too.
28. If the shop had a theme song that played when you opened the doors every morning,
what would it be?
Black City by Voivod of course. That’s what we named the place after.
29. Please tell us about the Bristol Metal Quarter — how did it come about?
So, 100 metres away is the Bristol metal bar, The Gryphon. When we opened we
decided we’d like to be as close to the pub as possible and subsequently we’re now
business next door neighbours. We were chatting on opening day and my partner just
rolled off, ‘it’s almost like Bristol’s metal quarter. That was that.
The idea behind it is to create a sense of community around the area for metalheads.
We are slap bang in the middle of The Gryphon, the Hatchet Inn (another rock bar), the
O2 Academy and the Bristol Beacon gig venues.
30. Do you have many touring artists who are playing nearby venues drop in to visit?
Yeah, as mentioned we are lucky to be right in the middle and in eyeline of three venues
and we have touring vehicle parking right outside our front door and we get all sorts of
people come through. Sepultura, The Cult, Lamb Of God, Slaughter To Prevail, Biffy Clyro, Kreator and loads more have been through. And we always host Municipal Waste
when they come through town too.
31. Best place in Bristol for a beer and Alternative or Metal music?
Definitely either The Gryphon or The Hatchet. Just head to the shop and you can see
both places by looking left or right.
32. Do you ever organise events, listening parties, or live performances at the shop?
We’ve done a few. We’ve done signings with Orange Goblin, Municipal Waste, Evile,
Svalbard, Winterfylleth and a few more. In fact Winterfylleth played an acoustic show in
the shop for the release of their last album. Wytch Hazel and Jo Quail have also played
here.
33. Do you have any upcoming events or releases you can tell us about?
In December we are hosting Flickers From The Fen who are signed to our good friends
and fellow metal shop Crypt Of The Wizard’s label. We’re also beginning to host a metal
artwork session called The Dark Arts every quarter. The idea is metal artists and
designers hold workshops teaching people about drawing and layout and also give some
background on their own work as well as visual arts stalls.
We’ve also developed a great relationship with the Battle Jackets London crew and
they’re now regulars here and we have another meet-up lined up for 22nd November.
34. Any up-and-coming Bristol Metal bands you’d recommend checking out?
If you like your doomy death metal then there’s a new band called Oskaria who are
making waves locally who are really good. Plague Pit are my current hopefuls for a band
to make it big - those guys make some intense sounds and seriously need checking out
if all things extreme are your bag.
35. How did people discover new bands before the internet and streaming?
Though it is a shadow of its former self in every way, shape and form, the impact and
importance of Kerrang! back in the day cannot be underestimated. It was the primary
news source for metal in the 80s and 90s. As you got into gigging there was always
fanzines which people would be selling outside venues as well. They really are a great
medium that are starting to come back. Printed media focusses you to pay attention as
opposed to a blog or review site that just gets lost in the noise of the internet.
36. Do you think streaming has killed the authenticity of the listening and buying experience
— or just changed it?
It is what it is with streaming. The thing that I find irritating is the absolute volume of it.
It’s becoming harder to focus on and concentrate on an album because it’s then onto the
next one and the next one and the next one. So I think it has changed music to a pretty
large degree. I always wonder if the next Paranoid or Master Of Puppets or Altars Of
Madness is out there somewhere but it’s just lost and buried amongst a ton of rubbish
you have to wade through and doesn’t get discovered.
37. Do you think technology is helping or hindering music today?
It’s a double edged sword because for bands it’s great that you can have a Bandcamp
page and create your own little piece of the internet where you can expose your music to
the entire world, sell your physicals and your merch. From a consumer point of view
though there’s just far too much.
38. How have attitudes toward physical formats changed — do people still get that same
thrill from a new LP?
I think the attitude is better now. People get a bigger buzz from physical formats
because it’s now not the norm. Back in the day your only choice was physical so it was
just normal, everyday ways of listening to music. But now the physical format is an
investment both financially and emotionally towards the music which creates a bigger
personal buzz and almost compels the listener to emotionally invest in it more too. It’s
great to see the appetite and desire for it.
39. How do you think Metal has changed over the years, and how does today’s scene differ
from, say, the ’90s?
I think the metal scene has always stuck to its credentials pretty well. There has always
been sub-sections of the scene and that still exists now. It’s always been a great thing to
be part of.
40. In your opinion, what was the best era for Metal?
Undoubtedly the 1980s. For a decade to not just develop but completely create and give
birth to Thrash Metal, Death Metal, Grindcore, Black Metal, Glam Metal and more from
the ground up is pretty remarkable. I don’t think we’ll encounter a period of such creation
in metal ever again.
41. Which subgenres or bands do your customers gravitate toward most right now — and
which ones have surprised you?
Bristol has always been about Death Metal. It’s our biggest selling genre and something
we excel in with knowledge I think. I was around for the heyday of the Death Metal
scene and Howie who works here is an encyclopedia on newer technical Death and the
like. Without blowing ourselves off too much genuinely see ourselves as the Death Metal
specialists in the UK right now.
42. Do you think the sense of discovery and rebellion that defined early Metal can ever truly
come back?
Absolutely. Every person has that right of discovery and rebellion. We’re still the
outcasts to a degree. Maybe not as much as it was in the 80s when you’d get chased by
skinheads every week but it’s still there for sure.
43. Is nostalgia a big part of what keeps the Metal flame burning today?
I think subconscious nostalgia will always be a part of the metal scene. We haven’t really
changed the way we present ourselves to the world in over 40 years haha. But then
there is a nostalgic scene around the NWOTHM (New Wave of True Heavy Metal)
building, especially on the continent but also in the UK. It’s a very 80s focussed scene
and is creating some great bands.
44. Do you ever see younger fans getting nostalgic for an era they never lived through?
Oh all the time. Like I say there is that NWOTHM scene which a load of younger fans
are into and that really harks back to a time before I was even into it so I don’t even
relate to it. It’s all very late 70s and early 80s focussed.
45. How do you feel when you see original fans bringing their kids into the shop?
It’s really nice seeing parents bring their kids in and picking up their first physical album.
Parents reminiscing with them as they pick up Ride The Lightning or something. It just
goes to show the cross generational appeal and power of the music.
46. What does “the good old days” of Metal mean to you personally?
Everyone has their ‘good old days’. For me personally its the time I look back on most
fondly to and that I was most involved with and that was the whole late 80s and early
90s Death Metal and Thrash scenes. All skateboards, jogging bottoms and high tops.
47. What’s your take on how Metal has been represented in mainstream media and pop
culture?
It’s always been the same. They just never quite get it. I think even the mainstream
metal press today as we know it is a bit naive to what’s going on and what should be
reported on now too sadly.
48. Are there any classic albums or bands that still move you the same way they did
decades ago?
For sure. Metallica have always given me a massive buzz. Only last week I saw Obituary
here in Bristol and they played the best show I’ve ever seen them do and that’s 34 years
on from first seeing them.
49. What’s the most underappreciated Metal album you think everyone should own?
Lightning To The Nations by Diamond Head. The influence that album had on Thrash is
undeniable. It created the overarching sub-genre that then spawned so much more. We
joke in the shop that I personally judge people’s record collections by whether it contains
a copy of Lightning To the Nations.
50. If someone new to Metal walked into your shop, what three records would you
recommend to start with?
Metallica - Master Of Puppets
Black Sabbath - Master Of Reality
Sepultura - Beneath The Remians
51. What do you do in your shop to keep that old-school Metal spirit alive?
We’ve got old memorabilia around the walls and we just try to keep that authentic old-school
vibe. It’s a bit easier having lived through it. It comes across as genuine and not some polished
Tik-Tok version of what metal is. It’s from the heart and earned over time. The one iconic piece
we have in the shop is an original t-shirt from Shades Records of Soho. It was the ultimate
metal record shop. The best there was and the best there ever will be. If we can be compared to
that place by as little as 10% I’ll know I’ve achieved what I set out to do.
For more on Black City Records, please visit the links below
Comments