Germany
May 20, 1996- Label and catalog number
- Century Media 77131-1
- Format
- LP, Album · Gatefold
- Runout / matrix
MZE 4365/ASide A, stamped
MZE 4366/ASide B, stamped
Vinyl pressings
The Dark Saga
by Iced Earth · 1996
17 pressings5 countriesHeavy MetalRock
The Dark Saga was first pressed on vinyl in 1996. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
How to spot a first pressing of The Dark Saga
2 pressings came out in 1996, the album's first year. Compare the label and catalog number on your copy, then the codes etched or stamped in the runout groove (the dead wax around the label): they are the surest sign of an early pressing.
Germany
1996- Label and catalog number
- Century Media 77136-1
- Format
- LP, Album, Picture Disc
- Runout / matrix
MZE 4365 / A 6Side A runout stamped
MZE 4366 / A 6Side B runout stamped
Not sure how to read the runout? See matrix numbers, runout and dead wax and how to tell a first pressing.
All 17 vinyl pressings
By decade, oldest first. Open a pressing for its full label, barcode and runout details.
1990s2 pressings
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Germany | Century Media 77136-1First yearLP, Album, Picture Disc · Picture disc | LP, Album, Picture Disc · Picture disc |
| 1996 | Germany | Century Media 77131-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
2010s8 pressings
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Germany | Century Media 9977551LP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl |
| 2010 | Germany | Century Media 9977551LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2010 | Germany | Century Media 9977551LP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl |
| 2010 | US | Century Media 9977551LP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl |
| 2015 | Europe | Century Media 9985801LP, Album, Deluxe Edition, Reissue | LP, Album, Deluxe Edition, Reissue |
| 2015 | Europe | Century Media 9985801LP, Album, Deluxe Edition, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Deluxe Edition, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2015 | Germany | Century Media 9985801LP, Album, Deluxe Edition, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Deluxe Edition, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2015 | US | Century Media 9985801LP, Album, Deluxe Edition, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited | LP, Album, Deluxe Edition, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited |
2020s7 pressings
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Greece | Floga Records FL301LP, Album, Reissue, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Reissue, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 2022 | Greece | Floga Records FL301LP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl |
| 2022 | Worldwide | Floga Records FL301LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2023 | Greece | Floga Records FL301LP, Limited Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Limited Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2024 | Greece | Floga Records FL301LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2025 | Greece | Floga Records FL301LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2025 | Greece | Floga Records FL301LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Colored vinyl |
Tracklist
- A1Dark Saga
- A2I Died For You
- A3Violate
- A4The Hunter
- A5The Last Laugh
- A6Depths Of Hell
- B1Vengeance Is Mine
- B2The Suffering
- B3Scarred
- B4Slave To The Dark
- B5A Question Of Heaven
Questions
How many vinyl pressings of The Dark Saga are there?
17 vinyl pressings of The Dark Saga are listed here, from 5 countries, released between 1996 and 2025.
When was The Dark Saga first released on vinyl?
The earliest pressings are from 1996, in Germany. One of them is Century Media 77131-1, released May 20, 1996.
How do I tell if my copy of The Dark Saga is a first pressing?
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use 77131-1, 77136-1) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, MZE 4365/A and MZE 4366/A. Later reissues often keep the catalog number but change the label design or the runout codes.
How much is The Dark Saga on vinyl worth?
It depends on which pressing you have and on the condition of the record and its sleeve. Early pressings from the album's home country in near mint condition are usually worth the most; common later reissues are worth far less. Scan your copy with VinylLens to see its value for every grade.
