Vucko

Just in case i wrote in my testament that this record will go to my brother....

My order arrived today. It was well packed in a sturdy mailer, and the record itself was protected in bubble wrap. I hope you get yours soon as well!

You're the shit. Got a clear Miasma and the red circle split Nocturnal thanks to you. 

They had great shipping rates to Canada. Thank you!

Thanks! Was able to grab a splatter. 

all Miasma and Nocturnal variants are still available on napalmrecords. They ship international for a more or less reasonable price.
 
https://shop.napalmrecords.com/catalogsearch/result/index/?cat=0&edition=389&q=THE+BLACK+DAHLIA+MURDER
 
Giit 'em! There going fast.

all Miasma and Nocturnal variants are still available on napalmrecords. They ship international for a more or less reasonable price.
 
https://shop.napalmrecords.com/catalogsearch/result/index/?cat=0&edition=389&q=THE+BLACK+DAHLIA+MURDER
 
Giit 'em! There going fast.

Thanks for your input, however your generalizations on motive are incorrect. As a band we decided to make limited covers ALONG w/ different vinyl colors of a release. It was really that simple of a concept. Typically we release anywhere from 3-5 different colors of a record just to do it (always have), with the same cover usually. This was just an alternative way to approach that idea. Ironically, doing so was very expensive (commissioning art from folks and doing small runs of 500 of each double LP with this limited packaging). It actually cost us MUCH more to do this than a traditional record to manufacture.  All of us (including myself) collect records and cherish variants for the same reason bands make music, for the love of it. If maximum profit was the goal, then we are in the wrong game entirely. Thanks again.
 
-J.

I'm only laying out a development in the concept of releasing records. I don't say a word about responsibilities. That is your interpretation.
 

Ok Derek, I will try to answer some of your questions and elaborate on my critic. I will once again try to make it a bit more detached and empirical and less emotional. 
1. 
No, Converge have always released variants of their physical releases, i.e. colored vinyl. And they always designed them to be desirable collectors items. I call this the classical release model of color variants. This is actually a distinct attribute of releasing records among so called independent record labels.
I can only think of one first press release that came with different artwork, that is the Brutal Truth split 7". But the different artwork was only limited to the one variant; it was thus more of a special gimmick. The Brutal Truth split, I would say, still adheres to the conventions of the classic release model.
The result: you'll get the already mentioned completist, who needs to buy all variants to be happy. You'll have the aesthetic, who goes with the color variant that, in his opinion, reflects the artwork of the album best. You'll have the casual buyer who just wants a physical release and gets what he can get. And lastly you'll have the vain collector who only wants the most limited release. 
 
2. 
First, I really cannot argue against your feelings Derek, and I won't. If you say you don't feel like this is anything new, I can't do much about that. But perhaps if you could open your eyes for me, just for a moment, you could at least see what I'm indicating.
If you look back at the way they released their previous records, with regard to creating collectible variants, they never before released a first press that constitutes five limited color variants all housed in different covers, of which 4 are one press only covers in equal numbers. In this respect they definitely took the variant concept a step further and thus, in my opinion, escalated the collection urge.
The precise result you get is a catering to the completist frenzy; and it is out in the open for everybody to see:
This particular new marketing strategy, I would argue, potentially turns the vain collector into a completist as well and probably also confuses the aesthetic who now has to consider the different covers, which constitute yet another buying argument to take into account, and before he can think straight the aesthetic bought a second record or even a third.
 
My second and final reason for being disappointed with this release is the arbitrary and inconsistent concept. Jane Doe is undisputedly Converge's hallmark record. Perhaps precisely because of that, everyone here somewhat romanticizes the whole Jane Live concept to be altruistic and Fan service. I second that. 
First, the whole artist collaboration comes off unnatural and forced. Why? Because it was not the concept of the live performance to begin with. Think about it, if they were to release the Blood Moon live set in the exact same manner it would make for a much more consistent overall concept. The whole Blood Moon concept was about collaborating with artists to create something new and unique. Thus the artist collaboration on the physical release of a Blood Moon live set would be much more consistent and feel more organic. Instead, for the Jane live concept, they chose to play an exclusive gig in Europe based on a special 2 exclusive gigs contract with Roadburn. The altruistic alternative could've been to play their hallmark record for a more affordable option, and without the festival hassle, in their hometown, record it there and afterwards release it for all the fans who would've loved to have attended this special moment. 
So, there is that. I know I'm probably the jerk now for pointing that out. But I'm also ready for all negative responses I'll probably receive for that. Just please bear in mind, it is just one guy with his opinion. 
Maybe you're right Derek and this not the place for me to find people to discuss these issues.

@Derektm
I'm serious about my criticism about the way they choose to release this record. I'm judging it only from the business perspective. I  didn't criticize  the artist collaboration or judged the aesthetics. Calling me a "blatant troll" just because you don't agree with my opinion is, I guess, called jumping to conclusions.
Anyway, I only claim that this way of releasing may also be interpreted as a way of producing more extra reasons for buying more than one record instead of just one copy. Which of course serves Converge's self-interest, business-wise. If you just buy one copy and you are a real fan of Converge for a long time you perhaps feel incomplete, so you wanna buy more.  Previous posts support this claim. This fact got me disappointed. Well, and the fact that I'm being instantly vilified as "blatant troll" just for some criticism. 
 
@StressOnTheSky
I understand your point of view and partly share it. With regard to your altruistic interpretation, please bear in mind that Converge are also businessmen who need to pay bills. They are aware about their crazy "must collect all variants" fans. Perhaps, too aware. Jane Live sort of screens this awareness more than ever.