Earache is Using Kickstarter to Fund Obscure Vinyl Reissues (First Up: Nocturnus’ Thresholds)

Earache Records has begun utilizing Kickstarter campaigns as a litmus test to see if it’s worth it to reissue old, obscure albums that fans have supposedly been clamoring for on vinyl. The first campaign is for Thresholds, the 1992 album released by Floridian progressive /sci-fi death metallers Nocturnus (Sergeant D will be stoked!). Here’s a statement released exclusively to MetalSucks from U.S. label head Al Dawson:

We are doing this with some of our old titles that may or may not be a financial risk for us to repress. Obviously repressing big names like Bolt Thrower, Carcass, etc isn’t a problem, we know they are going to sell out. But pressing up some of the smaller cult bands may tie up cash flow that could be used for our newer up and coming bands so we are trying Kickstarter. If it works well we are looking to run more campaigns on other obscure titles. We are seeing this almost as an extension of our webstore.

Earache was the first metal label to embrace Spotify, one of the first on Bandcamp and has genuinely shown itself to be ahead of the pack technology-wise so this doesn’t surprise me at all. And while Kickstarter campaigns are coming to feel passe at this point, I think this is the perfect utilization of the platform; like Al says, the big releases are no-brainers, but with the smaller ones it’s hard to tell whether there is real demand for a vinyl reissue or whether it’s a very few superfans clamoring loudly. So why not find out in a way that doesn’t present a financial risk? If the Kickstarter campaign hits its goal, hunky dory, everyone wins, but if it falls short the whole thing just goes away and… still, everyone wins.

Curious to see how this Nocturnus release performs and which releases Earache will put up on the Kickstarter docket next. Pledge your support for the Nocturnus LP here. Stream the album in full below via Spotify: