Jump to content

Aussie Merchandise Options?


AlSymerz

Recommended Posts

There is nearly enough Aussies on here for a takeover, so with that in mind lets do it...oops that's not what I meant!

What I meant was, where are you all buying t-shirts, hoodies etc from these days?

I used to buy stuff from Heavy Metal Merchant in Perth. The guy that runs it originally got metal kudos for being the bass player in Perth band Allegiance back in the 90's but since the pandemic his stock levels have gone to crap. He rarely has larger sizes (over XL) and it almost seems like if it's not Metallica or Slayer it's there is no new stock.

Utopia used to be okay but they've never been cheap and they also seem to have little variety in sizes.

Artists First have some metal bands but not many.

There is a multitude of places that either come up as "australian" but are just drop shippers or there are a number that are unauthorised shirts with little more than a copy of a popular album cover on them.

Many overseas options, including labels, are limited due to massive postage rates since covid. Although I do note that some more respectable labels and places are once again offering postage options that don't cost more than the shirt itself. (The highest postage I have seen for one long sleeve shirt is $128 USD).

It's almost got to the stage that using one of those design your own shirt companies and lying about who owns the copyright, or changing the image enough to not be a copyright issue, is the most affordable and practical option in this country. I ordered a shirt from a mob in QLD last year (not a band shirt and one I did have full copyright over) with a front and back print, sleeve print and it arrived to me in less than 2 weeks in a compost-able bag for less than $40.

So where are other Aussies getting their merch? Or have we just given up?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Not an Aussie...but how much merch do you need? Merch/shirt acquisition is not a regular thing for me. I get my shirts at shows mostly, like this coming weekend at MDF I'll grab a couple I'm sure. But in between not so much. I did buy a bunch of shirts from Hells Headbangers last year, I think I grabbed 12 or 14 all in one shot, and with the ones I already have that'll last me many years til I need any more. I've never felt obligated to wear one every single day, although I probably do find myself wearing them more often now since my wife died and I rarely if ever have to go out anywhere where I have to pretend to be respectable anymore. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'm a Fat Bastard Utopia never seem to have sizes over XL in stock and I don't know if they order in anymore. I know they used to back in the 90's but also back in the 90's they used to have a shit load of stock. Doesn't appear Tommy Gun have much of an online presence.

I don't need any merch, but shirts wear out so I want merch, or at least the option to buy merch. In the last few years I've had to throw out shirts that are more than 30 years old because they've fallen apart beyond what is respectably safe to wear. But I'm always on the look out for a shirt, a hoodie, not so much patches these days but if something takes my fancy I'll buy it. I don't go to shows, well not international shows, because it's too much hassle getting to and from the city and I don't believe any band is worth the $150 ticket price many ask. I do occasionally get friends to buy concert shirts for me if they go but in general my t-shirt shopping is restricted to online when I'm bored.

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I buy 2-3 a year mainly as replacements.

 

Current stash:

AC/DC (wife got it, pretty fucking crap design too)

Bathory

Carcass

Morbid Angel

Motorhead

Iron Maiden  (singlet)

 

A Metallica one shrunk 20% and became a pyjama top for wife - clearly not pre-shrunk cotton!

1 minute ago, KillaKukumba said:

Doesn't appear Tommy Gun have much of an online presence.

 

Tommy Gun don't do online period.  Hence I get stuff when I go down to Hobart every so often.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I had to stop my wife buying my shirts because she'd be looking at those $15 Kmart ones that just have a band logo on them. Although in saying that my last two birthdays she's managed to find a Lemmy shirt and a Pink Floyd shirt which are worth wearing in public :)

In the last 12 months I've had to throw out a range of tour shirts, Rest In Peace, Fear Of The Dark, Justice For All, Morbid Angel, Slayer, Suicidal and AIC, Meatloaf. It's weird to think that some of those shirts have lasted longer than most of my friendships and relationships!

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

They've obviously had a good run.  My wife forces me to throw out old clothes.  i also have a massive fucking head and a lot of mine get stretched out as a result.

I've asked her to stop buying me t-shirts.  She nearly got me a Pink Floyd shirt except my 9 year old daughter said "dad doesn't own any Pink Floyd."

I literally asked my wife how after 16 years of being together she didn't know I don't like Pink Floyd despite us talking music for most of those and despite me never ever playing Pink Floyd ever!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Most of mine have had a good life. Looking back maybe I should have preserved some, but then it's not like there was any real benefit to preserving them. I suppose if they were signed, or one of a kind or something maybe preserving them would have been worthwhile but they weren't so I just wore them. I did at one point, maybe about 10 years ago, have three drawers full of band shirts because I refused to throw any of them out. No real idea why I refused to throw out a holey shirt I didn't wear but over the last 10 years or so I've gotten better and throw them out before the second drawer fills up.

My wife wouldn't dare even suggest I throw out clothes, she's got three tallboys, and 80% of the walk in robe taken up with her clothes. I have one tallboy and about 10 hangable items!

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

13 minutes ago, KillaKukumba said:

My wife wouldn't dare even suggest I throw out clothes, she's got three tallboys, and 80% of the walk in robe taken up with her clothes. I have one tallboy and about 10 hangable items!

Ha, my situation is same.  I have maybe a fifth of the walk in robe and 7 out of 8 draws in a tallboy.  I have a single tiny chunk of shoe rack that fits my 3 pairs of shoes that I own!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Gumboots, stealies and a pair of sneakers covers pretty much everything I need and they all live on the patio :)

My battle jacket is still hanging in the cupboard but I haven't worn it since about 1992. Whereas I wear t-shirts every day so they do wear out. Hoodies not so much I only tend to wear them for about 2 month of the year but I haven't got any metal hoodies now. I have got a few long sleeves, including an Allegiance one which the guy from Heavy Metal Merchant gave me in 91, but I don't wear them that often. I'm really just a shorts and t-shirt kind of person.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

  • Join Metal Forum

    joinus-home.jpg

  • Our picks

    • Whichever tier of thrash metal you consigned Sacred Reich back in the 80's/90's they still had their moments.  "Ignorance" & "Surf Nicaragura" did a great job of establishing the band, whereas "The American Way" just got a little to comfortable and accessible (the title track grates nowadays) for my ears.  A couple more records better left forgotten about and then nothing for twenty three years.  2019 alone has now seen three releases from Phil Rind and co.  A live EP, a split EP with Iron Reagan and now a full length.

      Notable addition to the ranks for the current throng of releases is former Machine Head sticksman, Dave McClean.  Love or hate Machine Head, McClean is a more than capable drummer and his presence here is felt from the off with the opening and title track kicking things off with some real gusto.  'Divide & Conquer' and 'Salvation' muddle along nicely, never quite reaching any quality that would make my balls tingle but comfortable enough.  The looming build to 'Manifest Reality' delivers a real punch when the song starts proper.  Frenzied riffs and drums with shots of lead work to hold the interest.


      There's a problem already though (I know, I am such a fucking mood hoover).  I don't like Phil's vocals.  I never had if I am being honest.  The aggression to them seems a little forced even when they are at their best on tracks like 'Manifest Reality'.  When he tries to sing it just feels weak though ('Salvation') and tracks lose real punch.  Give him a riffy number such as 'Killing Machine' and he is fine with the Reich engine (probably a poor choice of phrase) up in sixth gear.  For every thrashy riff there's a fair share of rock edged, local bar act rhythm aplenty too.

      Let's not poo-poo proceedings though, because overall I actually enjoy "Awakening".  It is stacked full of catchy riffs that are sticky on the old ears.  Whilst not as raw as perhaps the - brilliant - artwork suggests with its black and white, tattoo flash sheet style design it is enjoyable enough.  Yes, 'Death Valley' & 'Something to Believe' have no place here, saved only by Arnett and Radziwill's lead work but 'Revolution' is a fucking 80's thrash heyday throwback to the extent that if you turn the TV on during it you might catch a new episode of Cheers!

      3/5
      • Reputation Points

      • 10 replies
    • I
      • Reputation Points

      • 2 replies
    • https://www.metalforum.com/blogs/entry/52-vltimas-something-wicked-marches-in/
      • Reputation Points

      • 3 replies

    • https://www.metalforum.com/blogs/entry/48-candlemass-the-door-to-doom/
      • Reputation Points

      • 2 replies
    • Full length number 19 from overkill certainly makes a splash in the energy stakes, I mean there's some modern thrash bands that are a good two decades younger than Overkill who can only hope to achieve the levels of spunk that New Jersey's finest produce here.  That in itself is an achievement, for a band of Overkill's stature and reputation to be able to still sound relevant four decades into their career is no mean feat.  Even in the albums weaker moments it never gets redundant and the energy levels remain high.  There's a real sense of a band in a state of some renewed vigour, helped in no small part by the addition of Jason Bittner on drums.  The former Flotsam & Jetsam skinsman is nothing short of superb throughout "The Wings of War" and seems to have squeezed a little extra out of the rest of his peers.

      The album kicks of with a great build to opening track "Last Man Standing" and for the first 4 tracks of the album the Overkill crew stomp, bash and groove their way to a solid level of consistency.  The lead work is of particular note and Blitz sounds as sneery and scathing as ever.  The album is well produced and mixed too with all parts of the thrash machine audible as the five piece hammer away at your skull with the usual blend of chugging riffs and infectious anthems.  


      There are weak moments as mentioned but they are more a victim of how good the strong tracks are.  In it's own right "Distortion" is a solid enough - if not slightly varied a journey from the last offering - but it just doesn't stand up well against a "Bat Shit Crazy" or a "Head of a Pin".  As the album draws to a close you get the increasing impression that the last few tracks are rescued really by some great solos and stomping skin work which is a shame because trimming of a couple of tracks may have made this less obvious. 

      4/5
      • Reputation Points

      • 4 replies
×
×
  • Create New...