My first BT shirt - the by now classic Warmaster (v1: the one with the gory head backprint, original Earache merch, size XL (now slightly shrunk), bought at a music store in Hannover in 1992

used to be black of course, but developed these funky stripes... at one show in 2010, I (tongue-in-cheekily) asked the merch guy for a refund for my 15+ year old shirt. Made his day.

Old school as fuck. This long sleeve hails from the fourth crusade era and is still in pretty good condition, apart from the sleeve print which has mysteriously vanished. Oh well. Even though I don't really listen to the first album, I've always liked this archaic design.

My second BT shirt - a rather simple cenotaph design, purchased at my first BT show (not counting the infamous Hannover stint in 1992 - but more of that later, see the DIY section). No back print, but worn at many of my own shows and slightly torn under right arm pit.

One of my favourite shirts, because it's so damn classy and doesn't need the gore / skull thing. The design perfectly captures what's so cool about that outstanding album, FOR VICTORY. Almost all the albums are outstanding, but this one is perfection.

...and because I like it so much, I own 2 of them.

The ...For Victory cover longsleeve, tour shirt of the 1995 tour featuring Martin Van Drunen on vocals. Not bad, that guy, especially considering that his own (totally unique) vocal style differs greatly from what was required of him trying to match Karl Willetts' footsteps. Tons better than who was to replace van Drunen once his hair started to fall out...

Certainly not one of the best designs, and although it's a nice alternative to all the childish fantasy covers, not a very good cover, either. The only one that qualifies as a decent cover (in my eyes) is that of Those Once Loyal...

I love this shirt. It would even be better without the sleeve print, but unlike the fourth crusade longsleeve this one just won't shed it. From the 1999 Into the Killing Zone tour.

A nice little design from the 2001 mini tour with Fleshcrawl.

Honour-Valour-Pride... oh well. Only the second-worst album the band ever made. Or, to be fair, it could probably be even slightly better than Realm Of Chaos, if it weren't for the rather disappointing vocal delivery.  Barney Greenway (not the world's most polite commentator) has some things to say about Dave Ingram's style (google for yourself...) that I partly agree with. The massive riffing of BT lays bare the slightly unconvincing style. Just compare K-Machine with Karl on vocals... that album could have turned out completely differently without the pathetically boring "Honour" and with a better vocalist.

From the same album, but a damn nice shirt (although on the picture it looks a bit distorted).

Never much cared for the design. Apparently it's some role playing / warhammer thing. Bought cheaply on e-bay, for semi-completeness' sake. No back print.

Come on guys... who wears a POLO shirt? Well, if I ever wake up as a dentist, I'll wear this one to work. Until then, I'll keep it in my wardrobe as a reminder that even BT may err once in a while.

Leg one of the Those Once Loyal tour, together with Necrophagist and Malevolent Creation. Hamburg Markthalle was packed solid.

the better version, imho. All it takes for a great shirt is that splendid logo on front and a halfway decent backprint. The one from leg two (see below) is absolutely killer.

This one is from leg two of that tour, with God Dethroned and Kataklysm. The show in that tiny and greatly oversold Bremen venue was THE ULTIMATE BT SHOW. Never before nor after have they impressed me more. Needless to say, this shirt ranks highly among my favourites...

UPDATE:The words about the 2006 Bremen show being the best BT show ever need to be eaten, swallowed and regurgitated. It is now officially the second greatest gig of all times. (See 2014 shirts)