I Signed…A Contract With The Devil..again!
A Very Brief And Incomplete History Of Hard Rock/Metal Record Labels: 1996-2020+
(Version 1 )
by JP
PREFACE
As we hit the 52nd anniversary of Heavy Metal a couple of years back (2020), as Managing Editor of Metal-Rules.com, one of my goals is to try to add more editorial content and technical information so people can use MR not only as a source of entertainment but reliable information as well. In our 30,000+ pages of content, we have written almost 14,000 CD reviews, 500+ book reviews, 400+ DVD reviews. Over 25 years we have conducted over 2000 interviews, and our international staff have reviewed over 1700 concerts and festivals world-wide.
We are also celebrating our 27th year as a website so to add even more value for our readers I written a series of articles about various facets of Heavy Metal. Every year, I am increasingly happy to discover more and more authors, books, on-line publications, scholars and academic studies scouring our massive archives, citing and sharing our work.
Therefore, my modest goal is to continue to make Metal-Rules a resource and repository on a variety of (hopefully!) interesting topics and not just a shallow dumping ground of regurgitated press-releases, click-bait, pop-up ads, political posturing, countless lists and rankings of albums, and endless industry gossip. There are plenty of good sites that already do that well and they are all enjoyable in their own way.
Each feature in this series is named after a Metal band, album, song title or lyric. Feel free to go back and read the other articles in this series.
Mar 2020- Read All About It (Canadian Metal magazines)
April 2020- Gathered In Their Masses (American Supergoups)
May 2020- A Tribute to The Past (Tribute albums)
June 2020- Reborn In Blasphemy (Re-recorded albums)
July 2020-Still The Orchestra Plays (Metal bands and orchestras)
August 2020-Japandamonium (Live in Japan albums)
September 2020- Grandfather! Tell Me A Story! (Concept albums)
October 2020-Gathered In Their Masses Part 2 (European Supergroups)
November 2020-Don’t Run For Cover (Covers albums)
December 2020-No Presents for Christmas (Christmas albums)
If you have any suggestions, comments or ideas for future articles, please let me know. You can reach me at joshuawood@shaw.ca. Thank you!
Part I: 1970-1995 was published in the summer of 2022.
If you want to skip the main article, you can just scroll down and look at the list of bands and album covers!
PREFACE:
The whole concept for this essay was really born out of my interest in useless Metal trivia. I had noted many years ago that the first release by the Underground Symphony label was a Various Artist compilation with a catalogue number of USCD 001. That stuck in my mind for some reason, probably because I own it and still listen to it. I also follow the industry a little bit as a fan. If I see something on a specialty Metal label, such as Limb Music for example, it is pretty much an automatic/blind buy. As our industry hit the 50+ year mark, we have started to see more historical documentation about the Metal industry. I’ve read books about various record labels such as Neat, Noise, Peaceville and Metal Blade and I fully expect more of these types of books to be published in the near future. Many of the big Metal labels are overdue for a book or documentary. Dedicated fans like myself seem to have an interest in the growth of this cottage industry.
Some history….
Over the first ten years or so of Heavy Metal (1970-1980) Hard Rock/Metal bands were signed to larger existing record labels who, for the most part, did not care about the style of music but saw this new form of music as a trend or fad, and one that could be profitable, even if it only lasted a while. For example, the first Black Sabbath album released on Friday the 13th, February 1970 was issued by Vertigo Records, (catalogue # VO 6, 847 903 VTY) a subsidiary of Philips/Phonogram a company that had been around since 1950. While Vertigo was an imprint specializing in heavier rock, it was still part of a much bigger, established record label. There was a similar situation with Led Zeppelin. The first Led Zeppelin album was issued in 1969 by Atlantic Records (first founded in 1947) with the rather uninspiring catalogue number of 588171. Zeppelin was just one of many, many bands on the label that had many different types of musical artists.
As Metal music grew in stature, status and sales, more and more big existing record labels, the gate-keepers with keys to kingdom; meaning cash, recording studios, in-house art departments and access to record producers, saw the financial potential of this new form of heavy music and the industry rapidly grew.
With innovation comes entrepreneurial spirit and it wasn’t before long that Hard Rock and Heavy Metal specialty labels started to appear. Some bigger labels started their metal-only sub-labels and imprints. For example, the aforementioned Phillips/Phonogram founded Vertigo to capitalize on the new music trends. Some record labels were founded by young fans with drive and a bit of money, the quintessential example being a young Brian Slagel borrowing money from family members to found Metal Blade Records. Some were founded with a profit motive and some were founded with a love of supporting bands, sometimes both but it is not my position to judge their motives. It is interesting to note that several labels started by licensing albums from other already established record companies before signing their own exclusive artists.
By the time Quiet Riot’s classic Metal Health hit #1 on the Billboard charts in 1983, the floodgates opened and more and more Metal specialty labels were founded. Between 1982 and 1989 at least twenty five Metal specialty labels were founded and the metallic cottage industry was spawned. This was in addition to all the major labels like Atlantic, Island, Capitol, Epic, Sony, Columbia, A&M, Polygram etc, all who had strong metal catalogues and deep rosters.
In the wake of grunge music, more of these niche labels sprung up in the early 90’s driven by entrepreneurs who wanted to keep the music alive when all the major labels had largely dumped their metal rosters and the genre had been driven back underground. As Metal music grew and divided and divided again, even more specialty labels were founded specializing in specific sub-genres. Labels focusing on just sub-genres like Glam, Doom, Death Metal, Power Metal or Black Metal proliferated across the planet. After 1990 the number of Metal labels started to explode at double and even triple the pace. Between 1990 and 1995 as many new labels were founded as in the prior 20 years! In 1992 alone at least eight new record labels were formed!
The business pattern is very clear. As soon as a new musical movement emerges, the industry springs up to support it. For example, in the early 90’s when Black Metal was a hot commodity, several Black Metal Specialty labels, such as Osmose, Malicious, Head Not Found, Moonfog, Hot, Misanthropy, etc, all were founded within a two or three year span. In a similar scenario, as glam and melodic Metal became less popular and bands were dropped from major labels, there was still demand for the style and several labels specializing in that style, such as Now & Then, Saraya, Frontiers, Long Island, Perris, MTM, Escape, Point, Megarock etc, all stepped into fill that void between 1992 and 1996.
For the purpose of this article I decided to make a cut-off date of 2020. (more or less) 25 years works well and today there are thousands of Metal record labels, some are one-man operations founded to promote their own band, up to giants like Century Media and Nuclear Blast with dozens of staff and offices around the world. Some of these labels became so large and so profitable that in a strange reversal of fortune, large, multi-national corporations are buying Heavy Metal specialty labels. For example, in 2008, Warner Music, the third-largest record company in the world, bought Roadrunner Records, originally a small Dutch Metal specialty label founded in 1980, for some big money! Whether the record label is big or small, old or new, they all contribute to the greater body of work of the music we love. It is interesting to note that as of bout 2010 the number of records labels dramatically decreased. This is because of physical media become less desirable as a commodity combined with the increase of digital consumption of music.
The false label explosion. There are literally over 42,000 record label’s that have released Hard Rock or Heavy Metal in one form or another. Most of them are short-lived, defunct and or independent with very little catalogue. Most of them are created for tax purposes and to have some sort of corporate status and industry regulation. Very few survive. As the physical music industry virtually collapsed now almost every band is their own record label. In the past decade (2010 and onward) have seen a massive increase in the number of ‘labels’ but very few actually put concrete investment (ie, real cash money) into other bands. These so-called labels are shells with usually no paid employees, maybe just the founder drawing some profit. The concept of a ‘record label’ has truly evolved.
Let’s go back to the roots of this article. Recently, I bought an album by the band Raging Storm. The bands self-titled debut was released in 2002 on Metal Fighter Records, a little label out of Greece and the catalogue # is MF 001. It reminded me of the aforementioned Underground Symphony release, US CD-001. It occurred to me it would be an interesting exercise to compile a list of all the very first releases of all the Metal record labels! All the ‘001’s’ , as it were. I made a list of about 125 or so Metal specialty labels and their first release for your reading pleasure and reference. This list is very specifically only Hard Rock/Heavy Metal labels, not other record labels that have released Metal albums, of which there are even more thousands! I can’t list them all, for example, little labels like Bluelight Records from Finland who signed Stratovarius and Tarot as their only Metal bands. You can check out Appendix C for a few honourable mentions.
Lastly, I’m not going to get bogged down with licensing deals, international sub-deals, reissues on different labels and so forth. For example, Under One Flag was a sub-label founded by Music For Nations to license US releases from Combat Records so I choose not include them in the main body of work because they were founded probably for taxation and organizational purposes and all their stuff was released elsewhere, earlier. The same goes for Fierce, Mayhem, Futurist, HNE, etc, all largely importers and licensing deals. (Look for them in Appendix C) I’m trying to keep it true, the roots of Hard Rock/Heavy Metal labels, and their earliest efforts.
Ultimately, this entire essay is a tribute to the hard-working men and women that took a chance to support the bands we all know and love. Please excuse my little ‘Deal With The Devil’ joke. Most of this information is available on-line but it nice to have it all in one place. Enjoy!
Note 1 (Status): This is difficult to determine. Labels get bought and sold constantly. Some are defunct, some are inactive and some have their catalogues owned by other companies now and have been re-pressed.
Note 2 (Photos/releases) I decided to try to include different types of releases. You might see the first release ever by a label, which might be licensed from another record label or even a ‘Various Artists’ compilation. It is not necessarily always a full band’s debut album. This info might provide a little insight into what the thought process was and who the label owner(s) might decided to invest in; a band vs. a compilation to test the waters.
Eg. Noise Records. Their first two releases were licensed from overseas, the next was a various artist compilation and the 4th release was a new band they actually signed. I’ve tried to capture as much of this as possible and at times it was difficult to pinpoint the very first exact product a label put out, regardless of type of release. My thought was to include as much of that information as possible for you trivia hounds.
Note 3 (Format etc ) In the event that record labels were formed in the same year (often!) they are listed alphabetically. I didn’t worry too much about logos, they change frequently. At times there are examples of organizations existing before evolving into record labels. For example both Fringe Records (Can) and Long Island Records (US) started as records stores long before becoming record labels. I listed them not under year of foundation of the store, but the year of the first release as a label.
Note 4: (Updates) If I wasn’t sure of a labels first release (meaning I could not confirm it from multiple sources) than I put ‘unconfirmed’. This is a living document. If you have any suggestions, comments, corrections, or noticed glaring omissions (I’m sure there are many!) please feel free to contact me! All additions, corrections are greatly appreciated and the source will be fully credited. Thank you!
ELEVATE RECORDS
Home: Rome, Italy
Founded: 1996
Founder:
Subsidiary Labels (if any):
Status: Active
Notes: The prog/power sub-label of 99th Floor Records. This long running label specializes in Italian Prog/Power type bands such as Secret Sphere, DGM and newer bands like Celtic Hills.
First release: Black Jester-The Divine Comedy (1997 / ER01001)
ESCAPE MUSIC
Home: England
Founded: 1996
Founder: Khalil Turk and Barrie Kirtley.
Subsidiary Labels (if any):
Status: Active
Notes: UK label specializing in melodic Hard Rock and AOR. Founded by Turk formerly of Long Island Records. (See part 1)
First release: Heartland-III (1995/ ESM 002) (unlikely the first release based on catalogue number.)
FRONTIERS RECORDS
Home: Naples, Italy
Founded: 1996
Founder: Stephano Perugino
Subsidiary Labels (if any):
Status: Active
Notes: One of the world’s largest and most prolific Metal labels singing titans like Dokken, Whitesnake, Stryper and countless new acts. Over 1000 releases in their catalogue now after merging with Now & Then Records back in 1996. They specialize in melodic and Power Metal.
First release: Ten-Never Say Goodbye (1997 FR CD 01)
MTM MUSIC
Home: Germany
Founded: 1996
Founder: Mario Lehmann
Subsidiary Labels (if any): Psychoactive
Status: Unknown
Notes: A bit of a confusing history intermingled with Now&Then, Long Island, Frontiers, Point etc. Specialized in melodic Metal and Hard Rock.
First release: Ten-s/t (1996 / 19961) (Unconfirmed)
SEASON OF MIST
Home: Mersaille, France
Founded: 1996
Founder: Michael Berberian
Subsidiary Labels (if any):
Status: Active
Notes: Well respected and prolific label focusing on Black, Death, Doom and gothic styles.
First Licensed release: (Unconfirmed) Oxiplegatz-Worlds And Worlds (1996 / TR CD 003) Licensed from Fairytale
First release: Bethzaida-Nine Worlds (1996/ SOM 002) (Unconfirmed)
(
SENTINEL STEEL
(insert logo)
Home: Peabody, USA
Founded: 1996
Founder: Denis Gulby
Subsidiary Labels (if any):
Status: Unknown
Notes: Spin off from the respected fanzine. Specialized in True Metal.
First release: Gothic Knights-s/t (1996, SSteel 001)
AOR HEAVEN
Home: Altheim, Germany
Founded: 1997
Founder:
Subsidiary Labels (if any): Metal Heaven
Status: Active
Notes: Respected and prolific label. Guess what kind of music they specialize in?
First release: (Unconfirmed) Balance Of Power-When The World Falls Down (1997 / -)
B.O. RECORDS
Home: Germany
Founded: 1997
Founder:
Subsidiary Labels (if any):
Status: Defunct
Notes: Short-lived but respected Power Metal label. Legend has it that B.O. stands for Bossy Ogress . They only lasted a few years but they churned out a couple dozen albums by bands like Stormwitch and Wizard.
First release: Brainstorm-Hungry (1997 / B.O. 001)
CD-MAXIMUM
Home: Moscow, Russia
Founded: 1997
Founder:
Subsidiary Labels (if any):
Status: Active
Notes: Started as a label involved in piracy, and bootlegs but has evolved into Russia’s largest, most legitimate Metal label. They license international authorized international releases and sign domestic acts as well.
First domestic release: (Unconfirmed) Melancholy-Fear Of Emptiness (2002 ,CDM 0103-1291) This is one of the labels earliest signings
REGAIN RECORDS
Home: Sweden
Founded: 1997
Founder: Per Gyllenback
Subsidiary Labels (if any):
Status: On hold
Notes: After the dissolution of Wrong Again Records, Gyllenback founded Regain.
First release: Deranged-High On Blood (1998 / 9803-001)
SENSORY
Home: New Jersey, USA
Founded: 1997
Founder:
Subsidiary Labels (if any):
Status: Active
Notes: Formed as the metal label of Laser’s Edge. Known for Prog/Power bands like Wuthering Heights and Zero Hour
First release: Wyzards-The Final Catastrophe (1997 / SR3 001)
SHADOWS RECORDS
Home:
Founded: 1997
Founder: Per Gyllenback
Subsidiary Labels (if any):
Status: Active
Notes: Black Metal sub-label of Regain records
First release: Unknown Second release. Marduk-Here’s No Peace (1997 / SR-002)
Z RECORDS
Home: England
Founded: 1997
Founder:
Subsidiary Labels (if any):
Status: Defunct
Notes: Short-lived label specializing in Hard rock and Melodic Metal. Noted for signing a reunited Tygers Of Pan-Tang in 2001.
First release: Jekyll & Hyde-Heavenly Creatures (1998 /ZR1997001)
BLACK LOTUS
Home: Athens, Greece
Founded: 1998
Founder: Andreas Stasinopoulos and George Zacharopoulos.
Subsidiary Labels (if any): Iron Palm
Status: Defunct
Notes: An early, prolific but ultimately short-lived Greek label. Generally focused on more extreme and avante-garde acts.
First release: Swan Christy-One With The Swan (1998 / BLR/CD 001)
NO REMORSE RECORDS
Home: Athens, Greece
Founded: 1998
Founder:
Subsidiary Labels (if any):
Status: Active
Notes: Not to be confused with the defunct German label of the same name that started in the 80’s. Greek true Metal label.
First release: Valhalla-Return Of The Mystic Warrior (2001 / no catalogue #)
OLYMPIC
Home: Illinois, USA
Founded: 1998
Founder: Martti Payne
Subsidiary Labels (if any):
Status: Defunct
Notes: Short-lived Death Metal label eventually bought by Century Media. Did distribution etc as early as 1993. Many classic old school Death Metal bands on their label which had good major label distribution via Mercury.
First release: Unknown
PROSTHETIC REORDS
Home: California, USA
Founded: 1998
Founder: Dan Fitzgerald, E.J. Johantgen
Subsidiary Labels (if any):
Status: Active
Notes:
First Licensed release: Blackstar-Barbed Wire Soul (1997 /PRCD 10001-2)
First Release: (Unconfirmed) Goatsnake-IV (Vinyl single) (1998 / PR-001)
SCARLET RECORDS
Home: Italy
Founded: 1998
Founder:
Subsidiary Labels (if any):
Status: Active
Notes: Started as more of an extreme Metal label they quickly expanded into Power Metal. They are one of the larger, more active labels today with still a strong emphasis on Italian bands.
First release: Obscurity-Damnation’s Pride (1998 / SC001-2)
SOUTHERN LORD
Home: California, US
Founded: 1998
Founder: Greg Anderson and Stephen O’Malley
Subsidiary Labels (if any):
Status: Active
Notes: One of the world’s foremost doom, sludge, experimental, drone labels. Known for Boris, Sunn 0))), Goatsnake etc
First release: Thorr’s Hammer- Dommedagsnatt (1998 / SUNN 1)
SPITFIRE RECORDS
Home: London, England
Founded: 1998
Founder:
Subsidiary Labels (if any):
Status: Defunct
Notes: Metal sub-label of Eagle Rock. They had a lot of reissues, licensing deals and back catalogue, focusing on the 70’s and 80’s heritage acts like Krokus, Dio, Ted Nugent, TNT and Twisted Sister. Known for revitalizing the career of many veteran acts during the grunge revolution.
First licensed release: (Unconfirmed) Ian Gillan-Scarabus 1998 /Cat # 6-70211-5029-2
First release: Testament-The Gathering (1998 / SPITCD -001)
THE END RECORDS
Home: California early, now NYC, USA
Founded: 1998
Founder: Andreas Katsambas
Subsidiary Labels (if any): Unruly Sounds
Status: Active
Notes: Formed by an ex-member of Century Media. Catering to the darker underground.
First release: Mental Home-Vale Reissue, first pressing on CD) (1998 / TE-001)
WILLOWTIP
Home: PA, USA
Founded: 1998
Founder: Jason Tipton
Subsidiary Labels (if any):
Status: Active
Notes: Smaller but well respected Death Metal label focusing on the heaviest sub-sub genres. Crushingly heavy label.
First release: Creation Is Crucifixion / [Fate Of] Icarus (Split 7″ vinyl single) (1998 / WT -001)
DRAKKAR RECORDS
Home: Witten, Germany
Founded: 1999
Founder:
Subsidiary Labels (if any):
Status: Active
Notes: Started strong with many German bands and thrash albums but have tapered off activities.
First release: Kreator-Endorama (1999 / Drakkar 001)
GREAT WHITE NORTH RECORDS
Home: Quebec, Canada
Founded: 1999
Founder:
Subsidiary Labels (if any):
Status: Defunct
Notes: Short-lived underground label
First release: Ghoulunatics-Mystralengine (1999 / GWN 001)
SLEAZY RIDER
Home: Athens, Greece until 2021
Founded: 1999
Founder: Tolis G. Palantzas.
Subsidiary Labels (if any):
Status: Active
Notes: Well established label focusing on lesser known Greek and Italian bands. Not as many big name bands, hampered perhaps by weaker distribution channels.
First release: Snowblind – s/t (2001, SR-001)
UNIQUE LEADER
Home: California, US
Founded: 1999
Founder:
Subsidiary Labels (if any):
Status: Active
Notes: An all time titan of true, brutal underground Death Metal. Founded by the band Deeds Of Flesh
First release: Deeds OF Flesh-Path Of The Weakening (1999 / ULR-001)
CDN RECORDS
Home: Ontario, Canada
Founded: 2000
Founder: Craig Newman
Subsidiary Labels (if any):
Status: Active
Notes: Long standing, indie Death Metal label. Originally known as Civilian Death Network supporting Canadian and American underground Death Metal. World class mail-order too.
First release: Decayed Remains-One Man’s Fate (2000 / CDN-001)
HELLS HEADBANGERS
Home: OH, USA
Founded: 2000
Founder:
Subsidiary Labels (if any):
Status: Active
Notes: A massive, productive and prolific underground label focusing on extreme genres.
First release: Bloodsick/ The Spawn Of Satan (Split) (2002 / HELLS 001)
METALFIGHTERS
Home: Athens, Greece
Founded: 2000
Founder:
Subsidiary Labels (if any):
Status: Active
Notes: Not very prolific label, but still active label focusing on Greek Power Metal
First release: Raging Storm – s/t (2001 / MF 001)
METAL IS
Home: London, England
Founded: 2000
Founder:
Subsidiary Labels (if any):
Status: Defunct
Notes: A Metal specialty sub-label of the massive Sanctuary music group. Relatively short-lived but signed some huge bands like Gamma Ray, Helloween, Megadeth and W.A.S.P.
First release: Halford-Resurrection (2000 / MISCD001)
METAL MAYEHM
Home: CT, US
Founded: 2000
Founder:
Subsidiary Labels (if any):
Status: Active
Notes: Quality, underground Melodic Metal label. Lots of classic era reissues (Keel, Hawk, Burning Starr) but supported new bands as well. After a 10 year run productivity really dropped off.
First release: Passion Risk- s/t (2000 / MM00001)
COMATOSE MUSIC
Home: NC, USA
Founded: 2001
Founder: Steve Green
Subsidiary Labels (if any):
Status: Active
Notes: Ultra brutal underground Death Metal label.
First release: Lust Of Decay-Infesting The Exhumed (2002 / Coma 001)
RETROACTIVE RECORDS
Home: Iowa, USA
Founded: 2001
Founder:
Subsidiary Labels (if any):
Status: Active
Notes: Christian White Metal label focusing on reissues
First release: (Unconfirmed) X-Sinner/Angry Einsteins (2003 / RAR7777)
UNMATCHED BRUTALITY
Home: TN, USA
Founded: 2001
Founder: Mike Bailey
Subsidiary Labels (if any): Undergrind
Status: Active
Notes: One of many high quality, long-standing true Death Metal labels. File with Cdn and Unique Leader.
First release: Brodequin-Festival Of Death (2001 / UMR-001)
BLACK LODGE
Home: Stockholm, Sweden
Founded: 2002
Founder:
Subsidiary Labels (if any):
Status: Active
Notes: Noted for signing Sabaton and Twilight Force and a reunited Merciless!
First release: Merciless-s/t (2002 / BLOD1CD)
ESCAPI MUSIC
Home: Stockholm, Sweden
Founded: 2002
Founder:
Subsidiary Labels (if any):
Status: Defunct
Notes: Sweden trad/doom Metal label. It was a hard time for Metal and they only lasted seven years. Confusing label with multiple licensing deals and odd catalogue numbers.
First release: (Unconfirmed) Candlemass-Documents Of Doom (2002 / CAN010SED) DVD
GALY RECORDS
Home: Quebec, Canada
Founded: 2002
Founder: Eric Galy
Subsidiary Labels (if any): Cryogenic
Status: Active
Notes: Underground Canadian label.
First release: Howling Syn-Forebearers Of Dusk (2002 / Galy 001)
MAGIC CIRCLE MUSIC
Home: NY, USA
Founded: 2002
Founder: Joey DeMaio (Manowar)
Subsidiary Labels (if any):
Status: Unknown
Notes: Joey DeMaio’s label focusing on Metal that is the truest of the true! Focusing on Manowar back catalogue, Rhapsody and a few others.
First release: Bludgeon-Crucify The Priest (2002 / 3984-14392-2) Co-released with Metal Blade.
TABU RECORDS
Home: Oslo, Norway
Founded: 2002
Founder:
Subsidiary Labels (if any):
Status: Defunct
Notes: Niche label focusing on later era Norwegian Black Metal.
First release: Various Artists-Infernal Gathering (2002 / Tabu 001)
CRUZ DEL SUR
Home: Rome, Italy
Founded: 2003
Founder:
Subsidiary Labels (if any): Gates Of Hell
Status: Active
Notes: Quality label specializing in classic Metal. Very prolific.
First release: Pharaoh-After The Fire (2003 / Cruz 01)
MAGICK RECORDS
Home: California, USA
Founded: 2003
Founder:
Subsidiary Labels (if any):
Status: Defunct
Notes: Short-lived Metal sub-label of Cleopatra Records. Catalogue used Cleopatra’s numbering system.
First release: Wehrwolfe-Godless We Stand ( 2003 / CLP 1309-02)
METAL HEAVEN
Home: Germany
Founded: 2003
Founder: George and Monika Siegl.
Subsidiary Labels (if any):
Status: Defunct
Notes: Respected label specializing in Melodic and Power Metal
First release: Altaria-Invitation (2003 / Metal Heaven 00001)
ARMAGEDDON
Home: Germany
Founded: 2004
Founder:
Subsidiary Labels (if any):
Status: Defunct
Notes: Became Wacken Records in 2008 and ties with UDR and Silver Lining.
First release: (Unconfirmed) Various Artists-Armageddon Over Wacken-Live 2003 (2004 / AP001-0)
BLACK-LISTED RECORDS
Home: Japan
Founded: 2004
Founder:
Subsidiary Labels (if any):
Status: Active
Notes: Very cool label specializing in Japanese high-speed and symphonic Power Metal
First release: (reissue w. alt artwork) Mastermind-Song for The New World (2004 /BLRC-00001)
First release: (original) Nova Era-Beginning:Lunar Mind (MCD) (2004 /BLRC-00002)
KILLER METAL RECORDS
Home: Germany
Founded: 2004
Founder:
Subsidiary Labels (if any):
Status: Active
Notes: Quality Underground True Metal label
First release: Soldier-Murderous Night (7″ vinyl single) (2004 / KMR-S001)
PROFOUND LORE
Home: Ontario, Canada
Founded: 2004
Founder: Chris Bruni
Subsidiary Labels (if any):
Status: Active
Notes: Highly regarded, prolifIc and uncompromising extreme Metal specialty label.
First release: (Unconfirmed) Melechesh-The Ziggurat Scrolls (Vinyl) (2004 / PLF 001-04)
INDIE RECORDINGS
Home: Oslo, Norway
Founded: 2006
Founder: Espen and Erik Solheim Røhne
Subsidiary Labels (if any):
Status: Active
Notes: Split off from Tabu Records. Specializes in Norwegian Death Metal.
First release: Tulus-Cold Core Collection (2007 / Indie001CD)
PURE STEEL RECORDS
Home: Germany
Founded: 2006
Founder: Kay Anders and Andreas Lorenz.
Subsidiary Labels (if any): Pure Underground, Pure Prog,
Status: Active
Notes: Long running and prolific True Metal label.
First release: Crystal Tears-Choir of Immortal (2006 / PSRCD-0001)
SHADOW KINGDOM RECORDS
Home: PA, USA
Founded: 2006
Founder:
Subsidiary Labels (if any):
Status: Active
Notes: Started as a store in 2004 became a label in 2006. True underground Metal label. Strong focus on quality reissues.
First release: Stygian Shore-The Shore Will Arise ( 2007 / SKR-001)
STORMSPELL RECORDS
Home: California, USA
Founded: 2006
Founder:
Subsidiary Labels (if any): Dark Lore, Days Of Yore, Disciples Of Steel, Silken Spell, Trend Killers Series
Status: Active
Notes: Classic old-school Metal label. Known for extremely high quality reissues and supporting new true Metal bands.
Classic slogan “Old Farts Stuck in the 80’s and Proud Of It!”
First release: In Spell-Arcadian Tales:The Egregore (2006/ SSR-DL01)
PITCH BLACK RECORDS
Home: Cyperus
Founded: 2007
Founder: Phivos Papadopoulos
Subsidiary Labels (if any):
Status: Active
Notes: Possibly the first and only active label from Cyperus. Features all genres.
First release: Diptheria-To Wait For Fire (2008 / PBR-001)
WORMHOLE DEATH
Home: Italy
Founded: 2007
Founder:
Subsidiary Labels (if any):
Status: Active
Notes: Subdivision of Aural Music. Very prolific label.
First release: Unknown
EONIAN RECORDS
Home: USA
Founded: 2008
Founder:
Subsidiary Labels (if any):
Status: Active
Notes: Specializes in high quality reissues and rare Hard Rock and Melodic Metal.
First release: Charlemange-s/t (2008 / 00001)
HEAVEN AND HELL RECORDS
Home: PA, USA
Founded: 2008
Founder: Jeremy Golden and Jamie Mobley.
Subsidiary Labels (if any): Lost Relics
Status: Active
Notes:
First release: The ReticentAmor Mortem Mei Erit (2008 / HHR 001)
METAL GATE
Home: Czech
Founded: 2008
Founder:
Subsidiary Labels (if any):
Status: Active
Notes: First Metal in Czechia. Full service group active in promo, distro, festivals and more.
First release: (Unconfirmed) Abstract Esssence-Manifest (2008 /MGR24301)
METAL ON METAL RECORDS
Home: Italy
Founded: 2008
Founder:
Subsidiary Labels (if any):
Status: Active
Notes: Much like Killer Metal and StormSpell they support the truest of the true.
First release: Catch 22-Soulreaper:Evolution/Devilution (2008 /MOMR08001)
FNA RECORDS
Home: TN, USA
Founded: 2009
Founder:
Subsidiary Labels (if any):
Status: Active
Notes: Specializes in high quality reissues and rare Hard Rock and Melodic Metal.
First release: (Unknown) Title; name Year/Cat #
SVART RECORDS
Home: Turku, Finland
Founded: 2009
Founder: Jarkko Pietarinen and Tomi Pulkki
Subsidiary Labels (if any):
Status: Active
Notes: Started as an underground Metal label and unfortunately moved into other genres of music.
First release: Callisto-Providence (2009 / SVR 001)
DIABOLICAL CONQUEST/TRANSCENDING OBSCURTY
Home: India
Founded: 2010
Founder:
Subsidiary Labels (if any):
Status: Active
Notes: Changed name from Diabolical Conquest to Transcending Obscurity in 2015. India’s biggest Metal label.
First release: The Dead-Ritual Executions (2010 / DC 001)
UDR
Home: Germany
Founded: 2010
Founder:
Subsidiary Labels (if any):
Status: Active
Notes: I believe this is an evolution of the Armageddon/Wacken/UDR/Silver Lining group with all the same stable of veteran bands, Alice Cooper, Motorhead, Saxon, Annihilator etc.
First release: Motorhead-The World Is Yours (2010/ UDR 0001)
HEAR NO EVIL RECORDINGS
Home: England
Founded: 2012
Founder:
Subsidiary Labels (if any):
Status: Active
Notes: Metal sub-label of Cherry Red Records. Focuses on high quality NWOBHM reissues and some originals
First release: Pig Iron-IV (2012 / HNEDCD001)
ROCK OF ANGELS RECORDS
Home: Greece
Founded: 2013
Founder:
Subsidiary Labels (if any):
Status: Active
Notes: Productive underground label that supports original bands. Full service label with local licensing deals.
First release: Bloody Donation-Vengeance Of The Enslaved (2013 / ROAR 001)
PRIDE & JOY MUSIC
Home: Germany
Founded: 2014
Founder:
Subsidiary Labels (if any):
Status: Active
Notes: Specializes in Power and Power/prog Metal
First release: (Unconfirmed) The Summit-Higher Ground (2014 /PJM10025)
DISSONANCE
Home: England
Founded: 2016
Founder: Steve Beatty
Subsidiary Labels (if any):
Status: Active
Notes: Label primarily specializing in English bands (Diamond Head, Grim Reaper) and reissues. Affiliated with Cherry Red and Plastic Head
First release: (Reissue) Venom-Black Metal (2012 / DISS001CD)
First release: (Original) Diamond Head-s/t (2016 / DISS001CDUSA)
EMP
Home: USA
Founded: 2016
Founder: David Ellefson (Megadeth)
Subsidiary Labels (if any):
Status: Active
Notes: Dave Junior’s own multi genre Metal Label. Ellefson Music Productions.
First release: Dollskin-In Your Face (2016 / EMP 001)
FIGHTER RECORDS
Home: Madrid, Spain
Founded: 2017
Founder:
Subsidiary Labels (if any):
Status: Active
Notes: Power Metal sub-label of Xtreem Music
First release: Candle-Demo 2016 (2017 / FIGHT 001)
CULT NEVER DIES
Home: England
Founded: 2020
Founder: Dayal Patterson
Subsidiary Labels (if any):
Status: Active
Notes: Black Metal Specialty label supporting new bands and quality reissues
First release: Yoth Iria-Under His Sway (2020 / CDN 001)
ATOMIC FIRE
Home: Germany
Founded: 2021
Founder:
Subsidiary Labels (if any):
Status: Active
Notes: In a surprise move global powerhouse Nuclear Blast split in two. Atomic Fire took a huge part of the NB roster including titans Helloween, Primal Fear, Amorphis, Sonata Arctica
First release: Power Paladin-Kraven The Hunter (vinyl single) 2021 /AFR0001VS)
APPENDIX A: Select Labels listed by Nation
ARGENTINA: Icarus
CANADA: Cdn, Galy, Profound Lore, Great White North
CZECH: Metal Gate
CYPERUS: Pitch Black,
ENGLAND: Z Records, Escape, Spitfire, Armoury, Metal Is, Hear No Evil, Dissonance, Cult Never Dies
FINLAND: Svart
FRANCE: Season Of Mist,
GERMANY: MTM, Drakkar, Armageddon, Killer Metal, Metal Heaven, Pure Steel, Wacken , UDR, Pride & Joy, Atomic Fire. BO Records
GREECE: Black Lotus, Sleazy Rider, Metalfighters, No Remorse
INDIA: Diabolical Conquest/ Transcending Obscurity
ITALY: Elevate, Frontiers, Scarlet, Cruz Del Sur, Metal On Metal, Wormhole Death
JAPAN: Avalon, Black Listed
MEXICO: Scarecrow
NORWAY: Tabu, Indie
RUSSIA: CD-Maximum, Arts Music Group
SPAIN: Fighter
SWEDEN: Regain, Black Lodge, Escapi
USA: Sentinel Steel, Sensory, Prosthetic, Olympic, Southern Lord, The End, Willowtip, Unique Leader, Unmatched Brutality, Metal Mayhem, Hells Headbangers, Magic Circle, Magick, Shadow Kingdom, Stormspell, Heaven & Hell, Retroactive, EMP,
APPENDIX B: Labels listed by year/nation of formation
1996
Elevate (Italy)
Escape (England)
Frontiers (Italy)
MTM (Germany)
Season Of Mist (France)
Sentinel Steel (US)
1997
AOR Heaven (Germany)
Avalon (Japan)
B.O. Records (Germany)
CD-Maximum (Russia)
Icarus (Argentina)
Regain (Sweden)
Sensory (US)
Shadow (Swe)
Z Records (England)
1998
Black Lotus (Greece)
No Remorse (Greece)
Olympic (US)
Prosthetic (US)
Scarlet (Italy)
Southern Lord (US)
Spitfire (England)
The End (US)
Willowtip (US)
1999
Armoury (England)
Drakkar (Germany)
Great White North (Canada)
Sleazy Rider (Greece)
Unique Leader (US)
2000
Arts Music Group (Russia)
Cdn (Canada)
Hells Headbangers (US)
Metalfighter (Greece)
Metal Is (England)
Metal Mayhem (US)
Scarecrow (Mexico)
2001
Retroactive (US)
Unmatched Brutality (US)
2002
Black Lodge (Swe)
Escapi (Swe)
Galy (Canada)
Magic Circle (US)
Tabu (Norway)
2003
Cruz Del Sur (Italy)
Magick (US)
Metal Heaven (Germany)
2004
Armageddon (Germany)
Black-Listed (Japan)
Killer Metal (Germany)
Profound Lore (Canada)
2006
Pure Steel (Germany)
Shadow Kingdom (US)
Stormspell (US)
2007
Indie (Norway)
Pitch Black (Cyperus)
Wormhole Death (Italy)
2008
Eonian (US)
Heaven & Hell (US)
MetalGate (Czech)
Metal On Metal (Italy)
2009
FNA (US)
Svart (Finland)
2010
Diabolical Conquest/Transcending Obscurity (India)
UDR (Germany)
2012
Hear No Evil (England)
2013
Rock Of Angels (Greece)
2014
Pride & Joy (Germany)
2016
Dissonance (England)
EMP (USA)
2017
Fighter (Spain)
2020
Cult Never Dies (England)
2021
Atomic Fire (Germany)
APPENDIX C: Honourable Mentions
These are labels that were…
-Not founded as Metal specific labels but are often associated with Metal bands.
-Non-Metal labels with significant Metal rosters.
-Sub-labels, labels created for international licensing deals, tax purposes etc.
ARMOURY RECORDS
Home: London, England
Founded: 1999
Founder:
Subsidiary Labels (if any):
Status: Defunct
Notes: One of many sub-divisions of Eagle Rock. Lots of pop and rock and a good chunk of Metal reissues. They had a few bands, Black Label Society and Stratovarius.
ARTS MUSIC GROUP
Home: Moscow, Russia
Founded: 2000
Founder:
Subsidiary Labels (if any):
Status: Defunct
Notes: Licensed western releases for Russia. Mostly traditional, power stuff from Accept and Sabaton
First release: Yngwie J. Malmsteen-War to End All Wars (2000 / AMG 001)
AVALON
Home: Tokyo, Japan
Founded: 1997
Founder:
Subsidiary Labels (if any):
Status: Active
Notes: Largely known for licensing releases for the Japanese market.
First licensed release: Fredrik Thordendal’s Special Defects-Sol Niger Within (1997/ MICY 1001)
ICARUS MUSIC
Home: Argentina
Founded: 1997
Founder:
Subsidiary Labels (if any):
Status: Active
Notes: The biggest licensing label in Argentina. They have hundreds of releases from multiple labels world-wide
First licensed release: Soulgrind-Whitsongs (1997 / Icarus 1)
SCARECROW RECORDS
Home: Mexico
Founded: 2000
Founder:
Subsidiary Labels (if any):
Status: Active
Notes: The biggest licensing label in Mexico. They have hundreds of releases from multiple labels world-wide
First licensed release: Trail Of Tears-Profundemonium (2001 / SC01001)
THANK YOU FOR READING!
