Archive frequency 09-B

The Music is Reversible!

Recovered audio index / ongoing restoration

Tape Vault

Search the resurrected collection by artist or song. Every recovered case has a stable link that the Documentary Field Guide can use as evidence.

Need the history behind the noise? Open the Documentary Field Guide →

Archive ready.

Showing 61–75 of 144 recovered cases.

Piece of Mind cover
Released: 05-16-1983
Archive notes: A deliberate joke recorded by drummer Nicko McBrain in response to accusations surrounding the band; the message precedes Still Life on Piece of Mind.
Case 034 Permanent link
Intentional message Artist acknowledged Field Guide Reel 07

Iron Maiden

Album: Piece of Mind Song: Still Life

Research / recording source →

Forward:
Undecipherable

Message transcription:
You shouldn't meddle with things you do not understand..

Legacy clip unavailable Replace the dead RealAudio link with the complete backward spoken introduction before Still Life.
Blows Against the Empire cover
Released: 10-31-1970
Archive notes: Gary Greenwald demonstrates this song in his Eagle’s Nest backmasking sermon, proposing “Son of Satan” and then repeating a slowed reversal. Part 1 introduces the record around 3:46; the demonstration starts around 5:45. These approximate video cues document his allegation, not the musicians’ intent. The shorter Backward Masking 2 upload preserves the same example.
Case 035 Permanent link
Alleged phrase Historical report Field Guide Reel 04

Jefferson Starship

Album: Blows Against the Empire Song: A Child Is Coming

Research / recording source →

Forward:
The passage about a child coming and things getting better, demonstrated in Greenwald’s sermon.

Alleged backward phrase:
“Son of Satan” — Gary Greenwald’s proposed reading; the older archive card shortened it to “Satan.”

Audio sample needed Sample the original album, not the slowed TV clip. Greenwald part 1: introduction ~3:46, reverse demo ~5:45, slowed repeat ~6:14. Identify album edition and musical timecodes; retain the sermon as a separate historical reference.
Aqualung cover
Released: 03-19-1971
Archive notes: The band’s official Aqualung history places Locomotive Breath within an album concerned with society, religion, and personal struggle. Those forward themes should not be mistaken for confirmation of the archive’s reversed Satan phrase. The dead RealAudio excerpt still needs replacement.
Case 036 Permanent link
Alleged phrase Listener allegation

Jethro Tull

Album: Aqualung Song: Locomotive Breath

Research / recording source →

Forward:
On his hands and knees

Alleged backward phrase:
Satan isn't nice at all

Legacy clip unavailable
DOOM II: Hell on Earth cover
Released: 09-30-1994
Archive notes: John Romero has directly explained recording the line and reversing it as an in-game Easter egg. Sound designer Robert Prince processed and placed the voice for the final boss encounter.
Case 135 Permanent link
Intentional message Artist acknowledged Field Guide Reel 08

John Romero / Robert Prince

Album: DOOM II: Hell on Earth Song: Icon of Sin entrance

Research / recording source →

Forward:
The MAP30 final boss emits a phased, reversed voice when the player enters the encounter.

Message transcription:
To win the game, you must kill me, John Romero.

Stained Class cover
Released: 02-10-1978
Archive notes: The central recording in the 1990 Judas Priest civil trial. Rob Halford denied planting a directive, and contemporary verdict reporting says the court attributed the alleged words to a chance combination of breath and guitar sound.
Case 038 Permanent link
Subliminal allegation Artist disputed Field Guide Reel 04

Judas Priest

Album: Stained Class Song: Better by You, Better Than Me

Research / recording source →

Forward:
A brief breath-and-guitar transition in normal playback was alleged to contain a below-awareness directive.

Alleged subliminal phrase:
“Do it.” (alleged subliminal phrase in normal playback; not a backmasked message)

Audio sample needed Capture the normal-direction master passage containing the breath/guitar transition alleged to say “do it,” with enough context for independent analysis. Keep reverse playback as a separate control.
Stained Class cover
Released: 02-10-1978
Archive notes: This occurs at the end of the song. Thanks to Rickard from Sweden for submitting this information!
Case 084 Permanent link

Judas Priest

Album: Stained Class Song: Beyond the Realms of Death

Forward:
Beyond the realms of deeeeeaaath!

Alleged backward phrase:
I took my life

Stained Class cover
Released: 1978
Archive notes: The formerly unidentified peppermint card points to Exciter. In a 2020 NME interview, the question names that track and Rob Halford recalls his peppermint demonstration during the 1990 trial. This was a counterexample to hidden-message reasoning, not an admission of deliberately encoded speech. The inherited longer transcription is retained as a historical variant pending comparison.
Case 037 Permanent link
Alleged phrase Artist disputed Field Guide Reel 07

Judas Priest

Album: Stained Class Song: Exciter

Research / recording source →

Forward:
Exact forward passage to be located in the original Stained Class recording.

Alleged backward phrase:
I wanted a peppermint, I asked her to get me one

Audio sample needed Locate the peppermint passage in an identified Stained Class mix of Exciter. Record timecodes and preserve an original-speed master plus matched reverse. Compare the inherited longer transcription with Halford’s recollection.
Stained Class cover
Released: 02-10-1978
Archive notes: Thanks to THOF for submitting this information.
Case 117 Permanent link

Judas Priest

Album: Stained Class Song: The Ripper

Forward:
All hear my warning

Alleged backward phrase:
and you know I'm real

Stained Class cover
Released: 02-10-1978
Archive notes: Thanks to THOF for submitting this information.
Case 118 Permanent link

Judas Priest

Album: Stained Class Song: The Ripper

Forward:
a gas lamp

Alleged backward phrase:
I am Satan

Led Zeppelin IV cover
Released: 11-08-1971
Archive notes: Thanks to THOF for submitting this information.
Case 108 Permanent link

Led Zeppelin

Album: Led Zeppelin IV Song: Black Dog

Forward:
Started tellin' her friends she gonna be a star

Alleged backward phrase:
Oh Satan want ya near bless my soul

Led Zeppelin IV cover
Released: 11-08-1971
Archive notes: One interpretation in the historical Stairway to Heaven allegation cluster. Public controversy is documented in contemporary reporting; no evidence located for this guide establishes deliberate construction.
Case 039 Permanent link
Alleged phrase Listener allegation Field Guide Reel 06

Led Zeppelin

Album: Led Zeppelin IV Song: Stairway to Heaven

Research / recording source →

Forward:
Your stairway lies on the whispering wind

Alleged backward phrase:
Cause I live with Satan

Led Zeppelin IV cover
Released: 11-08-1971
Archive notes: One interpretation in the historical Stairway to Heaven allegation cluster. Public controversy is documented in contemporary reporting; no evidence located for this guide establishes deliberate construction.
Case 040 Permanent link
Alleged phrase Listener allegation Field Guide Reel 06

Led Zeppelin

Album: Led Zeppelin IV Song: Stairway to Heaven

Research / recording source →

Forward:
The piper's calling you

Alleged backward phrase:
The lord turns me off

Led Zeppelin IV cover
Released: 11-08-1971
Archive notes: One interpretation in the historical Stairway to Heaven allegation cluster. Public controversy is documented in contemporary reporting; no evidence located for this guide establishes deliberate construction.
Case 041 Permanent link
Alleged phrase Listener allegation Field Guide Reel 06

Led Zeppelin

Album: Led Zeppelin IV Song: Stairway to Heaven

Research / recording source →

Forward:
And it makes me wonder

Alleged backward phrase:
There's no escaping it

Led Zeppelin IV cover
Released: 11-08-1971
Archive notes: One interpretation in the historical Stairway to Heaven allegation cluster. Public controversy is documented in contemporary reporting; no evidence located for this guide establishes deliberate construction.
Case 042 Permanent link
Alleged phrase Historical report Field Guide Reel 06

Led Zeppelin

Album: Led Zeppelin IV Song: Stairway to Heaven

Research / recording source →

Forward:
There's still time to change the road you're on

Alleged backward phrase:
Here's to my sweet Satan

Led Zeppelin IV cover
Released: 11-08-1971
Archive notes: One interpretation in the historical Stairway to Heaven allegation cluster. Public controversy is documented in contemporary reporting; no evidence located for this guide establishes deliberate construction.
Case 043 Permanent link
Alleged phrase Listener allegation Field Guide Reel 06

Led Zeppelin

Album: Led Zeppelin IV Song: Stairway to Heaven

Research / recording source →

Forward:
Yes there are two paths

Alleged backward phrase:
There's power in Satan