Record (04) · w/bandcamp LP/CD purchase

Artwork (1) · original 1996 Steadfast Records release
Artwork (2) · 1999 Steadfast Records re-issue or repress (unclear)
Artwork (5) · 2020 re-issue or repress (unclear) of 2018 Record (01) w/differnt artwork

Record (01) · limited edition 1024 copies (500 green-white smoke, 512 blue-white smoke)

Artwork (1) · original 1997 Tooth & Nail Records / Solid State Records release

Record (01) · limited edition 1024 copies (512 orange-white smoke, 512 blue-orange smoke)

More Info (01)

due to LP skipping, Zao sent all purchasers a super high quality download and discount codes (codes redacted)...

We want to thank everyone for sending videos of their skipping issue on the Where Blood and Fire Bring Rest reissue.

After the amount of time and care us, Solid State/Tooth & Nail and Unoriginal Vinyl put into releasing the best possible reissue this was a rather disheartening thing to discover after the pre-orders had been sent out. When it first started being brought up, we thought "okay, there are a couple problem records, we should send a new one to them". We quickly realized it was more complicated than that.

This issue never turned up on the test pressings to our knowledge and when I (Jeff) played the moment in question on March on the final "band copies" we had, it was discovered that it WAS there. On every copy I had. These copies were then sent to the individual band members (who have since reported no skips on those same copies). I can now play every copy in my possession (both variants). What I discovered on MY end, was a different needle (conical as opposed to spherical) and a slight reduction on the tone arm weight and a slight reduction on the "anti-skate" adjustment knob. Adding weight on my end does NOT fix it, in fact, seems to make it worse.

We have noted Audio Technica turntables doing it a lot, we have seen higher end turntables with Ortofon Blue cartridges doing it. We have seen lower end Crosley suitcase players NOT doing it. But also sometimes doing it. There doesn't seem to be rhyme or reason as to WHEN it happens. BUT… we have not seen a copy that is literally unplayable. It just might not be playable on the current table or setup the people with the issues have. this record could very well play completely through for you somewhere down the road if you ended up with a different player. It could also play totally fine for someone else.

All said, we are in a bind. The issue seems to be maybe affecting less than 8% of the entire pressing, and it's not consistent. We can't repress new copies off of the currently manufactured parts because it would probably do the same thing and a replacement copy sent to a buyer would most likely do the same thing. Even just "making new ones" is more complicated for various license/red-tape reasons.

That being said, we are doing the following from our end:

1. We are giving you a download of the new master. This is not publicly available to anyone but the people that have had this problem. Not only is it the new master but we have uploaded the absolute highest resolution to bandcamp so you can pick the format of your choice (FLAC, WAV, MP3 etc) even the original version of the album is not available at this quality level.
2. We are giving you a "one-time use" but non-expiring 20% off discount on your cart at our Bandcamp store. Use it when you want, put as much in your cart as possible and 20% will come off your total. This code will NOT however reduce Steadfast's All Else Failed Reissue and Preface: Early Recordings as those are handled by Steadfast directly and not us.

We are truly sorry for the inconvenience and disappointment. Vinyl is an extremely fickle medium in it's best moments but we have never seen something QUITE like this happen. We are hoping that this tiny moment doesn't ruin the rest of the experience for you. If you have any further questions feel free to send them here and we will do what we can.

Best,
Jeff, Dan, Russ, Scott and Marty
Zao

Record (01) · limited edition 2500 copies, (1250 blue galaxy, red galaxy)

Record (01) · limited edition 2000 copies (1000 clear-black-smoke, 1000 orange-oxblood-red spltr)

Artwork (2) · · die-cut CD cover

$$$ · buy LP

Record (01) · limited edition #4854 of 8000

Record (01) · limited edition 1000 copes, w/guitar pick

Record (04) · w/bandcamp LP purchase

Record (01) · limited edition 900 copies (450 grape, 450 peacock ore)
Record (02) · 2023 re-press, (black, 500 pink)

Record (01) · limited editon #433 of 600
Record (02) · also available as limited editon 200 copies glow-in-the-dark
Record (03) · limited editon #311 of 500, in a 5 1/4" floppy disc, hand assembled by Zao
Record (04) · standard digipak version
Record (05) · w/bandcamp LP/CD purchase

Record (01) · limited edition 675+ copies (350 natural ice, 325 transparent red, transparent blue)

Record (01) · black, also limited edition 1000 copies (400 tl-cobalt, 400 op-magenta, 200 tl c-m-spltr)
Record (03) · video included on record (02) DVD
Record (04) · w/bandcamp LP/CD purchase