Incubus: Beyond the Unknown (Russian Fake?)

bad_american1992Sat, 01/01/2022 - 21:30

I got this from an ebay user in Russia, so I believe it's the Russian 2012 bootleg. Still looks and plays just like the official release though. The inconsistencies I can spot are: the printed tree branches on the CD are visible on the clear center ring (this detail is only on the NB German release with blue printing on the CD) and the runner notes on the spine are running in the wrong direction on the left side of the spine. Compare the CD matrix and codes to this release:

https://www.discogs.com/release/6665400-Incubus-Beyond-The-Unknown

Tape / Vinyl / CD / Recording etc

Not for sale or trade

Year: 2012

Bands:

INCUBUS

Mark LaVenia on Wed, 16/03/2022 - 22:07

it looks legit to me ???

bad_american1992 on Thu, 17/03/2022 - 01:24

I've been trying to figure this out for years. It came from an eBay seller in the Russian Federation back in 2014, which is when KIVI was selling tons of bootleg CDs online without specifying that they were counterfeits. That alone makes me suspect this is a bootleg of the West German Nuclear Blast release. If you can get me a close up picture of the CD matrix on the Upper Right CD in your latest upload, I could compare it to the markings here and see if there's a difference!

Mark LaVenia on Tue, 03/05/2022 - 17:39

Hey man! Just now seeing your reply. I'll DM you on this.

DCLXVI on Wed, 25/10/2023 - 15:15

How did it turn out? Is it a Russian bootleg? Or some official reissue?

Mark LaVenia on Wed, 25/10/2023 - 15:27

Still not 100% certain, but Mike's conclusion was: "I have ample reason to believe that mine is a clever boot that takes aspects of the West German (a) and (b) variants. The only version on Discogs that I can find that has the tree branches visible on the center ring, in red ink, is this Russian boot from 2012: https://www.discogs.com/release/6665400-Incubus-Beyond-The-Unknown

Also I looked up the eBay account that bought the CD from and it has been suspended for suspicious activity! Hahaha."

Mark LaVenia on Wed, 25/10/2023 - 15:32

Referencing the variants I have posted: https://tshirtslayer.com/tape-vinyl-cd-recording-etc/incubus-beyond-unkn...

My assessment was, I can't be certain mine aren't bootlegs, but their details are as follows for others who know more about sleuthing this sort of thing:

upper-right: Nuclear Blast Records, manufactured in West-Germany (print variant (a))
- tree print _not_ visible on clear center
- left and right spine, top to bottom
- matrix / runout (printed on topside): MASTERED BY DADC AUSTRIA NB-039-CD 11
- I don't know how to scan the barcode, but sleeve says 4 001617 298626

lower-right: Nuclear Blast Records USA Relapse, manufactured in the U.S.A.
- tree print _not_ visible on clear center
- Left and right spine, top to bottom
- runout (printed on topside): DISC MFG, INC. (H) W.O. 17263-1 NBA60102
- no barcode on CD (as far as I can tell), but sleeve says 27361 60102

lower-left: Nuclear Blast Records, manufactured in Czechoslovakia
- no tree printed at all on disc
- left and right spine, top to bottom
- runout (printed on dataside): NB 039 DC/PX 0038
- no barcode on CD (as far as I can tell), but sleeve says 27361 60102

upper-left: Nuclear Blast Records, manufactured in West-Germany (print variant (b))
- tree print _is_ visible on clear center, blue ink
- left spine, top to bottom; right spine, bottom to top
- matrix / runout (printed on topside): MASTERED BY DADC AUSTRIA NB-039-CD 11
- I don't know how to scan the barcode, but sleeve says 4 001617 298626