Magister Paradise is one of a handful of Satanists who have been vocal in the online Satanic scene from the beginning and even earlier with the written word. This has garnered him a reputation for creating overtly Satanic and Satanic adjacent content which by all indications have been well received. Though I enjoyed some of his Terror Transmission episodes, I find his production can get in the way of his message. In the case of The Vinyl Reacquisition Project, this is less of an issue.
The free December 2018 episode, which is set up as a cornerstone of his Patreon lineup of podcasts, is a stripped down music review video podcast. The setup is that in the 80’s his family threw out his record collection, so he has spent the last 30+ years re-acquiring it. This free public episode feels a little too scripted, especially with the jokes that land less than naturally. The podcast is visually claustrophobic with the small space he records in and the camera’s fish eyed lens effect (perhaps because of). But despite this, I genuinely enjoyed listening to his take on the music.
His on screen audio and video quality is top notch as usual, however the commercials near the end of the show feel out of place and dated to early 2000 audio podcasting, and his interesting visual presence is chopped up with full screen static images of the albums and band photos which take away from the vivid 4k presentation—though are a necessary element that enriches the near 18 minute episode. Perhaps a picture in picture effect could resolve this issue.
I liked watching the record player playing the track, but I would like to explore the album sleeve a little more visually, as that is a large part of collecting vinyl. The camera composition is static and may be able to have a more dynamic angle or series of angles that would enrich the viewing experience. The music also sounds like its from a digital file and not the record player itself, so it too feels a bit too staged. There is a reason he collects this music on vinyl, I wish he would let the audience enjoy that listening experience with him.
Despite the production issues noted, there is something here that breaks through to me personally, both the music and his storytelling. I truly enjoy hearing his take on the bands, tracks and personal stories. If fleshed out, this could be an incredibly enjoyable palate cleanser from more traditional Satanic talk or personality shows out there. I was compelled to write about this simply because I did truly enjoy it. I highly recommend giving this episode a view and if you are a fan of The Accusation Network, consider becoming a patron.