Circling Buzzards, Manngard - CD

Manngard - Iver Sandoy & Olav Iversen

Mint Sealed

Thrash, Black Metal & Death Metal

Manngard – Circling Buzzards

Artist: Manngard (Norway)

Title: Circling Buzzards

Format: CD (Standard / Promo)

Original Release: 2005 (Norway) / 2006 (Global)

Label: Nocturnal Art Productions / Candlelight Records

Genre: Technical Thrash / Extreme Metal

The "Deep Dive" Details:

• The Enslaved Guest Appearance: The major rarity/selling point for this album is the guest vocal appearance by Grutle Kjellson (from the legendary band Enslaved) on the track "Gravgang." Collectors of the Norwegian extreme metal scene often buy this CD specifically for this collaboration.

• The "Putrefaction" First Pressing: While most copies are on the well-known Candlelight Records label, the true first pressing was released in Norway in 2005 on the obscure Putrefaction Records (Catalog: PR 001). If your copy has the PR 001 code, it is significantly rarer and more valuable than the 2006 Candlelight reissue.

• The Enhanced Promo Variant: There is a specific promo version issued by Candlelight Records that is an Enhanced CD-R. It comes in a plastic slimline case without the full cover art but includes a promo sheet (PDF) and exclusive high-res photographs (JPG) on the data portion of the disc.

• Production Credits: The album was recorded and mixed at Earshot Studio in Bergen, Norway, by Herbrand Larsen (also of Enslaved). Because Earshot is a "temple" for the Bergen metal sound, the audio fidelity on the physical CD is far superior to early 128kbps digital leaks common in the mid-2000s.

• Matrix / Runout Info: * UK/European Press: Look for deluxe CANDLE135CD 01 in the matrix.

  • US Press: Look for CDL0269CD (Candlelight USA).

  • Glass Mastered At: Deluxe, Blackburn (for the UK version), which is a hallmark of high-quality mid-2000s metal manufacturing.

• The "Wait" Factor: Though released in 2005/2006, the material was actually recorded in winter/spring 2004. The "2005" copyright on the back of many 2006-released CDs is the easiest way to identify an early production run.

Keywords: Manngard, Circling Buzzards, 2006, Candlelight Records, Nocturnal Art Productions, Grutle Kjellson, Enslaved, Norwegian Thrash Metal, Earshot Studio.

Tags: Norwegian Extreme Metal, Technical Thrash Rarities, Earshot Studio Bergen, 2000s Metal CDs.

MINT - sealed

NM - likely never played - almost perfect

VG+ - light scuffs, light scratches wont effect play

VG -  signs of wear, light scratches you can feel

GOOD -  surface noise, visible groove wear

POOR / FAIR- some damage, causing issues like skipping & distorted audio

OIS - original inner sleeve