So you’re prepared to stand in line this April for a copy of Bluey or the Dead Or Alive seven-inch single you never owned, or maybe some obscure soundtrack or Elvis compilation, it’s a broad church. Maybe RSD has lost its gloss and you won’t touch it with a barge pole. Me, I’m torn because there’s always something I’m after, but a lot of the 2024 list made it onto the mailorder lists and with a few exceptions, most were available at decent prices. This year is more of the same with a few eyebrow-raising listed costs thrown in just to upset us all. Heres a few in the mixed bag that I’ve come across and some I’ve been lucky enough to have got hold of to review. Sure there are hundreds more released this April 12th and you might not agree with my selections but good luck in whichever way you choose to spend your money and I can only apologise on some of the prices this year they are truly crazy and maybe the independent retailer has managed to begin canabalising itself and who knows where the cost of a new record in 2025 is heading but until the dust settles these are a few solid choices with the previously reviewed “utter Filth” choice of The Dwarves who won this years RSD 2025 release of the day challenge hands down.

The Adicts – Rockers Into Orbit (Jungle/Fallout Records) ‘Viva Le Revolution’ sounding like it’s old school bootleg meets brand new shiny tech for a close your eyes and let the music wash over you moment. Like it or loath it, RSD does throw up some curious releases, and this year is no exception with this one on clear vinyl, it’s The Adicts live and in the raw, where they’ve always worked best. Slamming from one into the next, it’s a great showcase for just how bloody good The Adicts are live. Sure, the theatrics from frontman and Ipswich Town fan Monkey the Adicts have some proper bangers in their repertoire from the opener and one of their most well-known song through the rapid ‘Lets Go’ to ‘Joker In The Pack’ ‘Chinese Takeaway’ and ‘Bad Boy’ they’re all here to be fair and a whole lot more besides. If you’re looking for VFM this RSD then this is a good bet with a whopping thirteen bonus tracks and a much improved jacket to house this splendid double album in. Pick one up, it’s excellent and has not been pressed for thirty-five years! My God, how time flies.

UK Subs – Japan Today (Jungle/ Fallout Records) The Subs in the 80s was a curious thing, and post Gibbs, Roberts, Harper and Garrett line up it was always going to be tough. The last few RSD have seen plenty of Subs action with comps n stuff and they are constantly havign a boost of the back catalogue with coloured pressings or different formats to keep the fans interested and maybe outside of the general consensus of “classic” subs albums I do like to revisit them from time to time so I have no problem with reissues on RSD because we do need to champion bands as good as the UK Subs. In fact the last reissue was the really good ‘Flood Of Lies’, so I’m not shocked that ‘Japan Today’ is next, although I do vaguely remember there being a gatefold version I purchased a few years ago of this album. The LP starts off with the excellent ‘Another Cuba’. I’ve always been a fan of Darrell Bath’s guitar work. The guy was so underrated. ‘Punk Rap’ always made me giggle and as the kids would say, WTF. Anyway, moving on, ‘Streets On Fire’ is Subs by numbers and something Charlie could write in his sleep and the likes of ‘Captain Scarlet’ might not be remembered as fondly as a ‘Warhead’ or ‘Limo Life’, but hey, it is what it is. Side two might be a little duller, but it does have ‘Hey Santa’ and that’s always welcome for an April released album, there’s always ‘Surf Bastard’ and the excellent ‘Street Legal’, something of a tip of the hat to Johnny Thunders, I always thought with its very Dolls like groove. It is remastered, so to be fair, it’s never sounded as good as this, and being RSD it’s pressed on Orange vinyl, so get in line Subs fans, this one’s for you.

Fields Of The Nephilim – Fallen (Jungle Records) Ah The Fields Of The Nephilim and their 2002 album ‘Fallen’ the bait on this particular hook is simple, its not been available for ages (over a decade to be exact) this gatefold double album contains an essay from Mick Mercer its on yellow vinyl (should have been smokey colour – missed a trick there) and the bonus disc is ‘Live In Roskilde’ from 2000. Always an album that took an eternity to get going with the intro and then the epic ‘From The Fire’, it’s an album that took a while to create an impact with me as well. It wasn’t until ‘Subsanity’ hit the speakers did I take notice, and it never had the impact of the very early days of the band, but this version is well worth picking u,p considering the bonus disc is so bloody good. The final two tracks being ‘Dawnrazor’ and the mighty ‘Psychonaut’ turning this maybe purchase into a must own.

With a few years between this albums release and the live show to now – this record and it’s dark offerings has been fermenting and a few things stood out such as the sonic scapes on this remastered version or maybe my equipment is just better now as I’m older but the depth of ‘Hollow Doll’ and the title track in particular sounded much better than I anticipated whoever did the job did it very well. As mentioned, the real gold here has to be the inclusion of the live material live at Roskilde. It’s sadly not the full ten track set but highlights of six of the best: ‘Preacher Man’, ‘Moonchild’, ‘For Her Light’, ‘Love Under Will’, ‘Dawnrazor’ and ‘Psychonaut’, which will justify about £30 of any self-respecting Goth’s money.

Neurotic Outsiders – ‘Self Titled’ (Rhino Records) Double LP that originally came out on Madonna’s label featured a superstar lineup of Duran Duran’s Andy Taylor, Steve Jones, Duff McKagan, Matt Sorum. An album of its time in the 90s that should have been huge and a base point for all budding rockers to check in on and learn how to hone their craft. Jones’ guitar tone and croon is the album’s high point – ‘Nasty Ho’ is what a rock album should open with. It sets the tone and lays down a marker for others to follow, and what a meaty riff it is too.

It never got the love it deserved and sort of crept out of the RSD 25 list rather than with a fanfare announcing its arrival. This is, for me, exactly what RSD is about. A record having its due respect paid and put on vinyl (finally) with the second disc being the Japanese-only bonus disc. Beautiful, now get the band back together and let’s get some proper touring done. It’s a great blend of covers and original songs penned by the individuals and interpreted by what is and was a real super group no doubt about it. Possibly my pick of the RSD class of 25.

The Dictators – D.F.F.D. (Mainman Records) Another of this year’s gems. Dictators Forever Forever Dictators was the last Studio album the band recorded with Handsome Dick Manitoba and what a fantastic set of songs it is. From the anthemic ‘Who Will Save Rock N Roll’ to the intimidating ‘Avenue A’ possibly the best two songs the band ever wrote.

‘I Am Right’ is a swift punch to the nose and ‘Pussy And Money’ is pure NYC. If you can find a copy out in the wild, then don’t hesitate. They might be in the throes of an irreparable feud of words between the band, but they can be proud of this awesome album – Buy It!