Music / Heavy Metal
South West’s only heavy metal record shop to open in Bristol
Tucked behind the Bristol Beacon, in what was formally the Bristol Porridge Project, is the South West’s only dedicated heavy metal record shop.
Opening on Saturday, April 17, Black City Records is owned by David Savage and will stock a range of metal merchandise.
David, who has been a lifelong record collector and grew up on the London metal scene in the late 1980s and early 1990s, started Black City Records after growing frustrated with the lack of dedicated heavy metal music stores in Bristol.
is needed now More than ever
“Bristol is a thriving city for music and music subcultures, and its love of vinyl and the physical format is obvious with so many fantastic record shops in the city,” says David.
“However, though there are independent shops that cater for specific genres such as dance and punk music, I realised that the metal community needed its own store stocking solely releases under the broad heavy metal banner.”
The store, named after a song on the debut album from Canadian thrash metal band Voïvod, is also located just a stone’s throw from the Gryphon, the city’s heavy metal pub.
Black City Records will sell vinyl, CDs, cassettes, t-shirts, merchandise, fanzines, magazines and books from major labels through to independent bands. They hope to showcase the local metal scene, giving artists to get their music and merchandise on store shelves.
Black City Records will open on Saturday, April 17. Photo: Black City Records
“We want to be the shop where you can come if you are just discovering the scene and looking to dig into the discographies of the likes of Iron Maiden and Metallica, but also the place to come if you are a seasoned underground metalhead looking to come across something new,” says David.
“With an independent store, in particular a specialist store, you find that the people who run them are passionate everyday fans like yourself. They share the same passion for the music you do and therefore exchange that knowledge and love with their customers that major retailers don’t tend to.
“It’s a personal service – we aim to make that happen for the Bristol metal scene.”
Main photo: Black City Records
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