If you're looking for metal or hard rock, this is a great place for you. Lots of new and used CDs and vinyl at decent prices. You can also find used classic rock and blues vinyl, more recent mainstream used CDs - just a lot to choose from. The shop is tucked away upstairs, and it's small. But if you like digging for gold, you might just find it here. Be sure to ask whoever is working if there's something specific you are looking for. read more

Vienna Music Exchange - New CDs - Music & DVDs Near Me - Vienna, Virginia

This place is the epitome of 'crate digging'! Pretty small and cramped 2nd floor shop, and you have to be ready for a real dig, but true record enthusiasts thrive on this sort of shop. Made my first visit to VME recently on a visit to the area, and found a few great pieces at reasonable prices. I asked for a couple of pieces to be put on hold for me until I returned back home from my vacation and could check if I needed one or both of them, which they kindly did. In the end I did need one of the two, and Doug and Mike happily shipped the record to me. If you are into Rock and Metal, that is the primary focus of VNE, but all other genres were present also. Great store and I'll definitely visit it again the next time I'm in VA. read more

Such an awesome store. So much selection of niche music - 80s heavy metal, death thrash and black metal, classic country, 77 punk, some 80s hardcore (though I would've loved to see more). When I got there it was a little confusing. It's located on the second floor of what looks like a house. Just go up the stairs and open the door. It's easily the coolest record store in NOVA/DC. If you're false don't entry. read more

I have only been here once but boy was I in for a surprise! This place is a diamond in the rough. Mainly heavy metal focused shop but that allows room for other genre gems. The Manager is very friendly and helpful. While I was digging thru crates the manager went out of his way to hand me records he thought I would be into. If I wanted to listen to a potential purchase he would play it in the store. Besides the small room capacity (upper level of a old vienna town house) this place feels like a genuine record store. No offense with Record and Tape Exchange in Fairfax, but I feel I am just digging thru scraps the store manager left behind. One last thing, the records are on the cheap side at Vienna Music Exchange. I took one star off due to the store space. You are cramped in a shop with boxes/crates of vinyl in a tiny ass house room. "Instead of playing sports I rather dig" - Madlib read more

Vienna Music Exchange - Music & DVDs Near Me - Vienna, Virginia

Small place upstairs in a house in downtown Vienna. They do specialize in heavy metal .... but had lots of stuff that was not heavy rock in the $2 bin. Not organized ... but that is part of the fun ! Will definitely return .... Lucian Reed Appomattox read more

How could I have not known about this place the instant it opened?! Per square inch, this store is a neutron star of metal. What's a neutron star? It's a tiny, incredibly heavy ball of stellar matter that's been compressed into a incredibly compact space. You must see the comparison by now. There's barely enough room to walk around, but this ensures you'll be carefully flipping through his stock. Old, new, reissues and picture discs, all can be found here. Not just metal, either-- he has a respectable jazz section and even a hearty number of funk records too. Mike is incredibly personable and most importantly, he knows his shit in a way that only someone who is truly passionate about music can be. If he doesn't have it in stock, he WILL find it. If you have even but a passing interest in metal, you absolutely must *MUST* visit this place. read more

Pretty much the only place in town for metalheads, but man, what a gem VME is. Piles upon piles of stuff to sort through, with every possible sub-genre represented, this is the rare kind of store you think about going to for days before you actually visit. It can be a little cramped if you hit it at the wrong time (Record Store Day is rough) but it's all part of the charm. And it's almost impossible to not go over your limit, i.e. your strict rule of "no more than two items" often sees you heading out the door with five or six. Unless you've got incredibly obscure tastes, or just mistakenly think this place is a general pop music store there's always going to be something to catch your eye, whether you like the harshest of black metal, the floweriest power metal, or even some good ol' 70's art-house prog rock. Vinyl, CD, cassette, you name it. I've even scored some cheapo horror blu-rays here (Lucio Fulci, stuff like that). Come to browse, stay to chat, empty your savings and go home a very happy listener - there's a reason VME is an institution in the area, the kind of store where those of us into this sort of thing either shop here regularly, or haven't yet been introduced to the place. read more

The Vienna Music Exchange is located in a 2-story house on Church St. in Vienna, VA. Inside, several businesses have set up shop, literally in the bedrooms of the house. The VME will be found upstairs in a cramped sized bedroom probably no bigger than your own growing up. If you re passion is uncovering hidden gems, rare and/or unreleased, boxes of used material, music DVDs, etc., then you found it. The size of the shop will be quickly dismissed when you skim through the vinyl and CD collection to be found here. The shop owner was humble and very helpful in my random search for whatever I was looking for; never turning down a conversation. There is absolutely nothing mainstream about this place and probably the last of a dying breed with the new-age of digital media; so please, check this place out and support an indie business keeping metal and it's products very much alive. read more

If you like metal, all kinds of metal, and pretty much nothin but metal, this is the place for you. As mentioned before this spot is tiny, but is chock full of new/used cds and vinyl from NWOBHM to grindcore to death metal and some punk/indie stuff. Prices are very reasonable, usually around $11.99 to $13.99 for new cds, and a lot less for used ones. Oh and fyi the hours are pretty limited- they're open thursday-sunday 12pm-5pm. Check it out! read more

Let me start of by simply saying as a heavy metal head this is the greatest music store in the area. HANDS DOWN!!! A couple months back while doing a search of local record stores I came across the website for Vienna music exchange and I was instantly presented with a list of a couple hundred metal albums for sale. At first I thought this was a online only business but scrolling down I saw a address with business hours. Instantly my jaw hit the floor as I had been looking for a place like this for years now. I called my best friend George who's also a metal head and planned a trip the next free weekend we had. Fast forward a couple weeks and George and I are now driving a hour to Vienna music exchange. We pull into the parking lot of what looks like a old house that was turned into offices. We have to call inside because we weren't sure where they were located. Which is be second floor by the way. Once inside the store we were in heaven. There are metal CDs and vinyl record from the floor to waist level. We could of easily spent hours inside the small room browsing. I'll reiterate that if you're a metal fan of any genre you need to make this a regular stop. The owner is a very nice, passionate metal fan who I've had the pleasure of speaking to a couple times when I've called looking for a hard to find album. read more

I finally made it out to the Vienna Music Exchange recently. The record store is open Thursday through Sunday afternoons in a small room of a building it shares with other businesses. While it's a small shop, the Vienna Music Exchange is stuffed with vinyl records and CDs. If you're a fan of heavy metal (I have some albums in that genre, but it's not my favorite), then definitely check out this store, which specializes in that area. But the shop has more, too, including R&B and classic rock albums going back several decades. I scored some vintage 1960s Motown vinyl albums during my visit. I believe there were some jazz LPs available, too. The stock of used CDs was pretty interesting as well. There were some of those Elvis Costello two-CD Rhino reissues for sale; if I didn't already have them, I would have scooped them up. I had a nice chat with the store's owner/operator, Mike, about collecting records and different stores we had each visited. I got the impression from him that he's continually bringing in new stock to keep things interesting. If you're into heavy metal or consider yourself a vinyl or CD collector, I suggest that you check out the Vienna Music Exchange. read more

Metal heads take note: Vienna Music Exchange is one heck of a treasure trove. While it's pretty obvious that the owner has an affinity for punk, metal, hardcore, and rock. You can get your obscure, underground hardcore 45 (I found an Evergreen Terrace record when I visited) or favorite local metal band's CD here. All in all, it's a well-curated collection within that genre. But, don't dismiss the selection as being made for headbangers just yet: I found a selection four boxes of soul, funk, 80s, disco, soft rock, and boogie worthy 45s. There are hefty $2 bins of LPs as well as impeccably priced used CDs. Another thing to note is that the place is small (one room!) so don't expect miles and miles of racks to dig through. If you're looking for something in particular, strike up a conversation with the owner- he knows his stock inside and out and may be able to point you in the right direction. While you will definitely crate dig, space is limited but you're sure to come away with some great finds. read more

I love digging around in this shop. Lots of unexpected finds in this store. If you're looking for Jazz they always seem to have at least one good record sitting in a box under the metal. I guess metal heads like to trade in their dead grandpa's jazz ;) Lots of good punk and dad rock too. The staff is really nice and loves to chat about music regardless of genre. My only regret is that I wish I knew more about metal so I could give them more of my money ;) read more

This is a terrific record/CD/Tape store! A rare find, for sure. I found some obscure albums, and some new music that was excellent as well. And yes, they actually have LPs as well. The owner is very helpful, knows his business, and he goes well beyond the pathetic level of service that we are now accustom to, at the Big Box stores. This store rocks, literally If you are in Vienna, and into Rock, Metal in particular, this is a must-see destination. The store is small, but charming; it's got character, as it is in an upstairs room of an old house! read more

I'm fine with this being a very small space and I think it could really be nice if done properly. However it is almost impossible to find anything in there as there is very little in the way of organisation. Spent 15 minutes in the store trying to figure out how the items were categorized but was never able to make heads or tails of anything. There was one staff member working and she seemed more interested in talking to her friends / regulars even bother to ask if I needed help or was looking for anything in particular. Sad to say that without better organization I do not see myself returning to the store which is sad because there really is a lack of good record stores in the area. I believe they can get much greater sales with just a little bit of work on how they shelf and display their product , and some customer service wouldn't hurt either. read more

The store is tiny (it's basically a room inside a converted house) but it's wall to wall with great metal CDs and LPs. They have a surprisingly good selection of new and used titles, and most are competitively priced. The only downsides are their limited hours and the size of the store, which makes it hard to really see everything that's available. If you're a metal fan in the DC metro area, this little store should be a regular stop. read more

Purchasing a bathory shirt with my mother has never been on my to-do list, but at 14-15 at the time I was ecstatic just to find it here. After this (want to say '07-08) began to morph me onto somewhat of a "regular." I can proudly proclaim I have been now frequenting the little shop even in my mid 20's. Although my music taste has evolved since I first embarked on my journey here, I can almost always find a record that suits my current mood/new music discovery. Although I've always been timid (don't think I've ever said more than two sentences to the owner) I think he is phenomenal, and kind, I feel no traces of any elitist attitude which seems to go hand in hand at shops such as these. There's another young man (jet black hair) I've been talking to recently and the quality of our conversations is impeccable. We've discussed goth rock, he gave me recommendations for funeral doom (now an Evoken fan) and taught me how to correctly pronounce Clan of Xymox :p. I love this place so much and I hope to say that I'll be visiting it even in my 40's. Check this place out! Oh and here are some records I've found from here over the years that will always have a place in my heart. (Signed pg 99, amazing no?) read more

Vienna Music Exchange - Music & DVDs Near Me - Vienna, Virginia

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Just wanted to update that Vienna Music Exchange has a bigger space now! Same building, just across the hall. You wouldn't think a 'little' more room would make that much of a difference but in this case you would be wrong. Same great stock, same great people working there, now just more room to breathe and more room to take your time as you look for great music. My two to three times a month visits just got a lot better. read more

The store is unusual to say the least. It is in an older house with rooms for seperate businesses. I was very dissapointed since there aren't too many record stores in the area. The selection is mostly heavy metal. The store is very small about the size of a kids room. The one staff member wasn't friendly. I didn't feel comfortable since the store was so small and the guy didn't even try to find out if I was looking for anything in particuliar. read more

MY FAVORITE PLACE TO BE!!! Wow how could I not know about this place sooner?! Goodbye small metal section at FYE, hello VME! I can easily walk out with a stack of cds. Classics, new stuff, doom metal, sludge metal, death metal, trash metal! ALL METAL!!! The place is VERY organized, easy to find what you want! Owner is super friendly, great suggestions on music. Can not say enough how great this place is!! read more

Maniacal Mike's shop is where your denim 'n' leather dreams are made reality! Stuffed into a cramped room are bins of metal goodness, ranging from vintage obscurities to modern face-melters. You just don't see some of these records in other stores, with the likes of NWOBHM, Swedish power metal, classic thrash and so forth, all priced to move. There's a nice amount of straightforward rock stuff too, but yeah, metal is king here. As a bonus, there's CD's and videos, and he even carries Popoff books! Just don't forget about the limited hours (Thu-Sat 12-5) and make some time to dig, admire the metal memorabilia, and talk shop. read more

I love this store! They always have what I need, and even stuff I didn't think I needed but suddenly do. Great prices and great exchanges to be made, here. read more

We're enormously lucky to have VMX in Northern Virginia - its easily one of my favorite record stores ever, with an excellent selection of metal, hard rock and classic rock on vinyl, always reasonably priced. Mike and Flo are both awesome, incredibly knowledgeable, and always fun to talk to while you're digging for vinyl (or CD) treasures. I've picked up tons of excellent albums here and have never left disappointed! Definitely worth checking out. read more

A gem of a shop tucked away in Vienna. One of the smallest stores I've ever been to but this place flat out rules. If you like metal and hard rock this is the place for you. I wish it was closer because I'd visit more often, but my wallet thanks me for infrequent trips which always turn into a buying spree. read more

I'm glad to see that others agree - we're unanimous: VME is the place to be! I'm a metalhead, but I also love Zappa, for example. I can go to VME and find the latest in everything! New editions of Zappa, old editions of Zappa, new editions of Bathory, old editions of metal, etc. I could write an entire essay about the merits of this wonderful place, but I'll spare you that. If you love music then I order you to visit this terrific store. Also, as another reviewer pointed out, VME is in the same building but has a much better room with more space. Plus, one of the awesome employees has started a cool thing: using old vinyls to separate bands, instead of the old, bland, white plastic sheets. You'll see what I mean! It's great. Like every other review you've read about this Mecca of Metal (and much more), I heartily endorse this place of business. I can tell that the owner/operator of this store keeps it going as a labor of love. If you don't believe me, read the other reviews. If you don't believe any of us, just go there and see! I'm a vinyl freak, but they also have a ton of CDs and cassettes. If you even half-care about music, then this is the place for you. read more

Unlike other record stores I don't have to root through a bunch of nonsense to find the good stuff.... METAL. I visited this little shop for the first time this past week and bought like $120 worth of records. I wish I could buy everything here. If you like rock, hard rock, and metal this is the store you want to buy from. The owner was really nice and he sets very fair prices on his albums. read more

A lot of times good things seem to come in small packages... VMX (as it is known to its friends) is small in physical size, but vast when it comes to content! If you've ever seen the English show Doctor Who and seen what happens when they walk in the Tardis then you will get what I mean. However I digress... Mike Pritchard, owner, will often be found tending store and is an absolute walking encyclopedia when it comes to music, and particularly heavy metal which is where VMX specializes (but not exclusively by any means). If Mike isn't there, then you will find Flo in his place and equally knows her stuff. Both are absolute goldmines of information on all sorts of obscure bands and music in general. The right sort of people to have in store like this. VMX sells new and used CDs, LPs, singles, cassettes(!), books and DVDs - and if you're looking for something unusual or hard to find, be sure to talk to Mike or Flo and they will let you know whether they have it, or whether they think it can be tracked down. I find it impossible to walk out of the store without finding some treasure I've been hoping to find for years or something new or unexpected. Often times you will meet other interesting people in the store (even though 3 or 4 people turn the place into a veritable party... don't be put off by that, it just adds to the fun!). Mike is also great at keeping lists of new arrivals up on the VMX website and the Vienna Music Exchange website is also updated pretty much daily, so no excuses! You can also reserve items through the FB page - just message Mike and tell him when you will be in and he'll put it aside for you. Great service! Love visiting this place - takes me back to my youth, digging through bins of LPs and CDs. Lost count so many times over of just how many great records and CDs I've found here. Highly recommended, particularly for fans of rock and metal!! read more

If you are into metal, classic metal/rock, books, and other type things and want a place to actually look at stuff... in Virginia this is the place to go! The owner Mike and people who work there actually know metal/rock/music and have been in the scene their whole lives. Small vibey place and worth digging around, which is half the fun! read more

This is one of my favorite go to spots for music, very good and HEAVY selections each time I've gone. Kind of stuff I go in looking for. The owner and team are dear friends, folks who have been friendly with me since day 1 and who show kindness to everyone who comes into the shop. Good people. Wish the location was closer to me but definitely worth the drive out to Vienna! read more

Great shop,,,, hole in the wall... but we need more places like this! Owner is a great guy. Specializes in Metal and obscure stuff. Prices very reasonable, to the knowledgeable buyer. I will pay more for a CD/vinyl to Vienna Music Exchange item instead of going to Best Buy or buying online. I will also give them first shot at purchasing my CD's/Vinyl to remake $$ on them. As a Fan and Collector we need more places "LIKE THIS" to just have personal interaction and a place to find new things. I have talked to the owner and i know he (and customers) feel like the place is small and he should get a "bigger shop" but in some ways the quaintness of it all is half-the-deal!! Adjust your schedule, stop by you will be amazed at the wide birth of heavy music they have! read more

Went here on Sunday after eating a sub across the street. It's upstairs in a house that seems to rent rooms out to small businesses so it's a small little place but backs a big punch. First time here and I found some albums I really liked. Very nice lady was working and greeted me as soon as I walked in. Asked me if I was looking for anything in particular that she could help me find and then explained how stuff was laid out making it easier for me to search since there was so much packed into this little space. Def had some quality albums in the place. Prices were fair and I found plenty I was interested in. Mostly used but def plenty of new. Saw some new albums I didn't even know were released on vinyl. She offered to play any record that I wanted to hear and I had her play one for me and she played it the whole time I was there. Ended up buying 3 albums and will be back for more in the future. read more

This store RULES. Granted, if you're looking for a store with pretty "broad" selection, this isn't it. This store specializes in metal and the kin of metal. This place is pretty tiny, but really densely packed. All the awesome records are on tables, so you won't have to hunch over too much. But trust me, you will find things you thought you'd never find in an actual record store. Apart from records, they also have tapes 'n' CDs, so really no matter your setup you'll find something! read more

This is a must-visit if you love metal on vinyl! They take good care to make sure their records are in terrific condition and the prices are fair, and even though the shop is small, they have a strong selection and are constantly adding new stuff. It's easy to miss--it is on the second story of the building with the antique store, and they aren't open every day (but they are open on both Saturday and Sunday, and the antique shop is cool to poke around in too). read more

New room more space, tons of records and CDs all in the genre of metal, rock, jazz. I wrote a review in the past praising the place, the people who work there. Etc.... It's a community based record store where once you go in, you are family! The store owner is very knowledgeable and more than happy to assist and talk about hard rock and music in general. The new room is nice and bright, very inviting... Highly recommend anyone who is a music fan to take a look. I guarantee you will find something there for you read more

This place is definitely for anyone who's into rock/metal. Most record shops only carry 1 or 2 metallica records if you're lucky, but with this place you don't have to look very far for some good stuff. I picked up some classic albums from Mayhem, Darkthrone, Bathory, Death and more! read more