A word of warning: if loud riffs and detuned bass aren’t your thing, Heartland may not be, either. The store, which will celebrate its 20th birthday next year, is home to arguably Melbourne’s best range of metal, punk, hardcore and industrial. There’s a selection of CDs, but vinyl is the main focus. Shoppers can pick up anything from a reissued Nirvana LP to the back catalogue of Alice Cooper, Anthrax or Iron Maiden; but dig hard enough and you’ll find some indie rock and classic titles by artists like Arcade Fire, Weezer and Arctic Monkeys.
Imported records haven’t been as exciting as they used to be since we all got access to eBay, but Heartland has a big selection of vinyl you won’t find at mainstream record stores. There’s also a comprehensive range of new and used 7” singles, including tubs of $5 specials on the floor worth getting your knees dirty for. Plus, the location opposite Queen Victoria Market means you can celebrate your purchases with the city’s best jam donuts.