This place rules! I was visiting my uncle in California and was looking for some cool heavy metal adventures while I was there. I discovered this small record shop and it was absolutely incredible. The owner is this away guy named Rick and he knows EVERYTHING!! I stayed and chatted with him for almost an hour he is so knowledgeable about the products and the music. I came out with many different products, I bought T-shirts, cd's, pins, patches and tapes. This was one of the most awesome stores I've ever been to. You have to go if you are ever in the area read more

Dark Realm Records - Signed records by the members of Black Sabbath - Music & DVDs Near Me - Downey, California

This place is one of a kind. I've never seen another record store like it. They only sell heavy metal, and they have an awesome selection.

I was surprised to find a store here that had black metal. It's rare to see any places like these nowadays. The owner was really welcoming, and we conversed a bit. Awesome store and atmosphere! Really well organized as well. read more

I can spend hours in this place... lol! I feel like I'm back in the 90s whenever I visit. I love rock tees... I love metal, vinyl records, and patches... and this place has them all. The brothers are extremely friendly and knowledgeable. read more

The service here is impeccable. Rick is such an amazing person. The amount of detail that went into this shop is astounding. The quality of each item is incredible. I keep going back every time I get paid. read more

At now 42 yrs old ive been coming to Darm Realm since i was a teenager... Now i bring my teenage kids... Love this place and the people here are so awesome!!! read more

Fantastic selection of metal records and a great owner that obviously loves what he does. Made me feel like a teen again perusing vinyl in my local record shop. read more

Discovered dark realm a couple of years ago and I've been back several times to grab import merch among other things. They have a pretty good assortment of patches, pins, shirts and hoodies. They also have a CD section and a growing vinyl and DVD section for us old school collectors. Rick is very friendly and helpful, we always end up chatting about bands and records which makes me feel at home. Overall Great shop, make sure you stop by. read more

The guy behind the counter was super friendly and willing to give reccommendations for what Records I might wanna pick up. They got tons of metal CDs and Records as well as stickers patches and shirts if that's your thing. Strong recommend for any headbangers out there. read more

Best place for metal merch and the owners are super cool and very professional Highly recommend this place. read more

About as kvlt as it gets. Highly recommend for the old-school heads out there. Merch, CDs, vinyl, gear you won't find anywhere else in town, and of course Sadistic fuckin' Intent. \m/ read more

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Would have never known this place was here if not for Yelp, and I drive by Downey/Alameda all the time. Super nice guys work here who are passionate about the music, always happy to help, give recs, and share stories. Also, the only music merch store I know with a points system ($10 = 1 point) that you can redeem for shirts, maybe more in the shop? It's not the largest place but if you're into metal, you'll be able to spend quite a while in here. Just wish their vinyl selection was as big as their CD selection! read more

I went into Dark Realm to look for some shirts for my husband. I ended up talking to the owner Bay for over an hour. He's very knowledgeable and great to talk to. Has good stories. I recommend going. read more

WHO Dark Realm Records WHAT a Downey, CA, record store primarily that sells new and used cds and shirts but also some newer vinyl (33s), cassette tapes, DVDs, pins, badges, & posters, etc. surrounding the black metal and underground death metal scene WHEN open Monday-Saturday from 12PM-7PM & Sunday from 12PM-6PM WHERE right next door to a dry cleaning place on Downey Ave near Alameda St. The signage isn't great. There is one parking spot dedicated to the store out front. Otherwise, there is some free street parking or a tiny lot around the back. Small place. WHY Music has always been an outlet for me, but back in 2010 metal music sort of crept up on me when I needed it most. It was that year that I thought my husband was going to die as the result of a freak accident. I had fists of rage, a heavy heart, and a weak mind. Sirius XM radio had a channel that is now called "Liquid Metal." Hoping to shut my brain up I tuned it to this channel. It was temporary relief from a living nightmare. Dark Realm sells heavy $#*! - the darkest most underground metal music out there. Friendly and helpful employee from our 3.29.18 visit. If you're a metalhead in the L.A. area, you gotta check this place out. I think Ronnie James Dio would be proud. TIP - ask about their reward program '18 Challenge #39 read more

Killer ass store! Always has the sickest stuff available from cds to records. Big assortment of shirts and patches and other cool miscellaneous items. Guy at the front has the best stories from his band Sadistic Intent. A bunch of cool signed posters from their different shows hung around the walls. Definitely coming back! read more

Dark Realm Records - Shirts and cds - Music & DVDs Near Me - Downey, California

Probably the last remaining underground metal record shop in all of Southern California and one of the best in the entire state and possibly country. Rick and Bay of legendary death metal band Sadistic Intent run the shop and it is an absolute gem. Stylized after Helvete shop in Norway during the birth of Black Metal, the shop is adorned with signed posters and LPs from metal royalty including Dio, Slayer, Darkthrone, Exodus, etc. Rick is always behind the counter willing to offer choice suggestions based off anything you tell him you are currently in to. They are always playing brutal shit on the sound system which is great to ask about and check out. If you walk in, PLEASE support the shop and walk out with at least a pin, patch, or poster. This shop is of a dying breed and needs to be kept around to help support the scene. I live far away but trips to Dark Realm are always more than worth it. read more

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This photo was taken during my last visit at Dark Realm Records. The underground metal store is run by two brothers who have a passion for this music and are also in a band themselves. They're really humble gents that love to give a hand to their customers and really know how to treat them well. They have some cools stuff that you won't find anywhere else in LA. read more

Dark Realm Records - Music & DVDs Near Me - Downey, California

Always a stop when I'm around the Downey area. Plenty of big selection of bands and merchandise to go through. Super friendly staff and the reward program is very nice! read more

Killer shop! If you like metal and you find yourself in the greater LA area, you must come here. Every time I stop by I find another great shirt. I bought a Negura Bunget shirt here. Where else can you do that! Love the owners and the vibe. It's like the North American version of Helvete owned by dudes with just as much metal cred. Support the underground and shop for your albums and merch here read more

Small record shop but has everything you could possibly want in the black metal genre. Nice selection of T-shirts as well.

This place is awesome if you're looking to dig and discover something cool! Rick is a great help and always has great recommendations for new music and apparel read more

Awesome shop, great conversation with the owner about metal origins. Can't recommend them enough!

Awesome new location, better shirt selection, better LP selection! Lots and lots of cool posters on the walls along with accessories. This location is lightyears better then their old location. I'm so happy dark realm is finally open again. read more

Unique record shop, worth visiting if you love metal.

Great shop, very laid back vibe. Been there a few times, owners are very cool. Not many stores like this in So. Cal. Highly recommend!

Awesome store, awesome dudes running it, always will love this place forever. come here all the time and never have been disappointed

Awesome place, love the vibe in there and Rick is a cool guy! Used to go to a place in Whittier to get my shirts and thankfully my friend told me about this place so now I got a closer store! Prices aren't bad at all too. read more

If you consider yourself a fan of Metal music check it out you won't be disappointed. They have a great selection of apparel and music, so you won't be disappointed. \m/ read more

Really awesome place. I stopped by here after the gym for some new heavy jams. This place is more of a death/black/thrash metal haven. Not too much punk music although they do have a really impressive selection on CD's and shirts. They have some really hard to find metal albums as well. Love the vibes here. The dude who was working here named Bay was a super chill guy and also knowledgeable with his music. Will definitely keep coming back here. read more

I've been shopping at this record store since I was 14 years old. They have a good selection of CDs, Vinyls, T-Shirts, and DVDs. Rick and Bay are dope and are always up for a chat. I constantly bug about ordering newly released CDs and Vinyls and they always come through. I will definitely continue to come to this record store. read more

The dude Rick will talk your fuckin ear off. He kept us waiting around for over 2 hours talking about HIMSELF and passively talking shit. He was being completely inconsiderate of our time and energy while my girlfriend was waiting outside and I clearly told him multiple times we gotta wrap it up we gotta go. Pretty rude actually just talks shit on people. Cool shop though. PS FUCKKKIINNNN SSLLLAAYYYEERR read more

Totally sick store. Not a lot of albums/cd's nut the stuff that they have is totally premier quality selection. Go here, make it happen.

I've known Rick and Bay since 1989 and let me tell y'all something about Sadistic Intent, HEAVY DEATH METAL!!!! It's an honor and a privilege to know and be in the presence of them. Santiago "Shag" Gonzalez. read more

I love dark realm records underground at its best ! Rick and bay are great guys from a great band they have everything you can think off in the underground metal scene read more

Found one of my shirts! Will be back here! From the outside it looks like if they're closed.. But feel free to walk in there lol great shirt variety too! I loved it and it was my first time there! ^_^ read more

I haven't been here in years and decide to take a walk-in and I must say staff is bad ass, great info provided by them that took me back in days remembering the good old days. Got me me a few vinyls and won't be the last from this spot!! read more

Not to many record stores left in the area so its very convenient to have a record store like Dark Realm who can cater to the underground death and black metal scenes. Carrying exactly what you would expect to find in an average record store these guys stock a unique variety ranging from records, cd's, t shirts, patches, & live dvd's. The guys from Sadistic Intent are usually the ones behind the counter and are always willing to help you find find whatever your looking for as well as give recommendations. It's definitely a throw back for the older generation who could appreciate what it was to hit up there local record stores to support the bands they loved through buying actual merch. With everything turning digital and the majority of people turning to Amazon and eBay to purchase music record stores have been on the decline for years. Los Angeles is lucky to have a handful of these places left that being said I believe it's extremely important to support the small businesses such as Dark Realm who obviously do there best in supporting the underground scenes in the great Los Angeles area. read more

This place is pretty dope. I like that they have a variety of black metal shirts. Just sucks they don't normally have long sleeves. The patches they sell there are okay, but they can sell better ones. read more

Love the new location!!! So much more space and the way everything is set up is badass!!! The old location made you get a work out just lookin at the shirts! The new spot has the shirts up on the wall in display cases with a pretty good variety of shirts as well!! They also have some pretty cool posters made of like some kinda matte material so they won't rip!! Can't wait till they stock up for the holidays with tons of new merch!! Over all the new locations is way better than the last!! \m/ read more

I've been going to this shop since the very very first location. Now in its 3rd location and even bigger and better. Rick and Bay are always super cool and helpful. They know their shit and its super underground. read more