New Thunderbolt Pagoda LP completed at last.
 

The new Thunderbolt Pagoda LP, "Second Ascension," is finally done.

It has been longer than expected in the making, but I am really happy with the way this one looks and sounds. Audiophile quality recording and RTI pressing in a die-cut cover with insert and OBI. Very hard to photograph this one, but I tried my best. Black and clear ink silkscreened on black stock. Heavy flash used in most of these, but I included some murky non-flash shots as well. Use your imagination; it looks gorgeous in the flesh.

Bytor and Glice asked to see, so here you go.
Heavy photo content. Whoa.

Front cover (flash)

 

Back cover with flap closed:

 

Back cover with flap open (LP comes out top side)

 

Front cover sans flash:

 

Continued...
Insert front:





Insert back:





Detail shots of OBI:

And one more no-flash shot to get a little closer to what it "actually" looks like:

I love how it's towering on cds, dominating.



Looks gorgeous, I think I "understood" how it's supposed to look, and it's pretty hard to photograph indeed.

is it as unlistenable as the the first one?

Looks fucking badass!

People who do not enjoy our music will not enjoy this LP, as is their prerogative.

I'm just curious, not that I'm bothered either way, but seeing as in real life you seemed quite civil, but are your posts as driven by spite as they come across, or are you trying to be funny?

It's called being an 'internet badass'.

Those look really well done, SC, good luck wih it.

Packaging looks sweet.

Any particular reason for the obi strip or is it more like a tribute/jest/etc?

Drooling. Is the Ascension of the title a reference to the band Ascension whose original bassist is a bit of a cunt?

Ah, so that really is who I think it is?

Looking good!
This thread reminded me that I still need to get the S/T. Damn.

Depends on who you think it is. If you're thinking of who it is, then he's definitely a bit of a cunt.

Yes, I'm absolutely sure I'm thinking of who it is. I'm absolutely not sure if he's a bit of a cunt though.

Thanks for the kind words.

The LP is named after one of the songs on the album; I don't usually like the idea of "title tracks" so much, but we had a song called "Second Ascension" and with this being our second album, the lure of the pompous and grandiose-sounding title was too strong to resist.

The OBI idea originally entered my mind as a way to keep that back flap closed, but we all decided that a full-on wraparound OBI that had to be carefully removed every time one wanted to listen to the LP would be kind of annoying in actual use, so we went with the CD-style side-folded OBI.
It is something I love in Japanese packaging and something I have always wanted to see on one of my own releases. The design in general is pretty plainly inspired by Fushitsusha et al. Those records look timeless and beautiful to me, and I have always loved that design sensibility.

As for the writing, I figured if we were going to do the OBI, it really should have the Katakana like a "true" Japanese import. I stopped short of including the printed price in Yen, but I could not resist putting the phrase "Super Heavy Rock Trip" on there. Originally that was only going to appear in the Japanese section of the text, but the designer we worked with put it in one of the layouts and we all thought it was hilarious.

We may be a dour bunch, but let it not be said that we are humorless.

(And I am a fan of Ascension, even if they occasionally seem to have made dubious bass choices. Excellent band.)

Having never had the pleasure of hearing you and your band SC could you possibly give me a pointer to a place where I can indulge? thanks

It's space rock, played loud. Real mellotron, even.

Non-audiophile quality Youtube live action from this past May, with two of the songs from this album can be had here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2t3k20q8j0

I like it very much. Interested in hearing more especially in a cleaner atmosphere.

the latter.