Built for the Scene
Until now, Irish bands and labels wanting to put their albums on wax had to ship masters to Germany, the Czech Republic or even farther afield. That meant long waits, import duty paperwork headaches, and eye‑watering freight bills.
Anthem Vinyl ends that run‑around. The facility sits practically on the UK’s doorstep and within one‑day trucking to mainland Europe, while sea freight hits US east‑coast docks in under ten days.
For emerging metal acts, the ones still hustling van shows and limited merch drops, that’s a game‑changer. Minimum runs start at 300 copies, with colour, splatter and heavyweight options on the table. Lead times land around eight weeks once the audio and artwork are signed off, so you can actually sync your release to the tour you’re planning, not the one you played eight months ago.
Tech and Tradition in Tandem
Anthem isn’t just slamming out discs on ancient presses. Each modern machine drops a record roughly every 30 seconds, while the engineering team obsess over groove depth and label alignment like it’s a dark art. “We wanted the warmth of classic vinyl but the reliability of a 2025 production line,” says founder Brian Kenny. “Metal fans are some of the pickiest audiophiles out there, if it doesn’t sound massive, it’s not leaving the building.”
On top of the familiar black wax (and the obligatory blood‑red for that limited death‑metal EP), Anthem is offering “Smart Vinyl”. Think NFC chips or QR codes hidden in the sleeve that unlock studio footage, lyric sheets or ticket pre‑sales, perfect for bands who live online, but still believe in a physical artefact.
Sustainability Without the Greenwash
Pressing PVC will never be a zero‑impact exercise, but Anthem is making genuine strides. All off‑cuts are re‑ground and reused, power is pulled from renewables, and print partner Anglo Printers is fully FSC, PEFC and carbon‑balanced. Biodegradable inner sleeves are already an option, with research into eco shrink‑wrap underway. So you can blast your favourite sludge LP at neighbour‑shaking volume with a slightly clearer conscience.
Beyond the Black Stuff – Fulfilment and Fan Service
Anthem isn’t stopping at pressing. The plant doubles as a fulfilment hub: they’ll store your stock, ship it direct to fans, and register every sale with the Official Charts Company, handy if you fancy denting the Irish album charts on release week. They’ll even open the doors for content days, letting bands film socials, sign sleeves or spin the first test press in a dedicated listening room.
What It Means for the Metal Underground
For Irish outfits, having a home‑soil plant finally removes the cost and customs barrier that’s held back so many DIY vinyl releases. UK bands can now press just across the water and truck stock home overnight. European labels get a new option that’s neither overstretched nor eye‑wateringly expensive, and North American acts land their EU/UK tour variants without paying to fly pallets over the ocean.
Put simply: more records, fewer delays, happier fans.
Spin It
Whether you’re a one‑man black‑metal project pressing 300 swamp‑green LPs or a touring hardcore label needing 2,000 discs yesterday, Anthem Vinyl is open for business, and heavy music is high on their agenda.
Hit up www.anthemvinyl.com or slide into @anthemvinyl on Instagram for specs, prices and pressing slots. The plant’s motto says it best: Pressed with purpose. Played with pride.
Time to make those riffs permanent.
Oran O’Beirne
www.overdrive.ie 2025