Always at the forefront with an active role in emerging stylistic nuances Century Media has truly shattered the barriers and exemplified diversity in extremes while remaining rooted in the underground but giving bands opportunities outside of the normal means with major league international touring, commercial radio play, and music placement in high-profile films, TV and commercials. Despite all of the years and breakthroughs the company maintains their organic, family feel and business is still being conducted by fans of the music for fans of the music.

Metal Blade Records history by Dan Slessor:
Founded upon owner Brian Slagel's enduring drive to find great bands and get their music out to as many people as possible, since 1982 Metal Blade has brought wave after wave of powerful, innovative, and often genre-defining music to the ever-hungry metal masses. It is this ethos that has seen Metal Blade build up a stunning and diverse catalogue, weather the various storms facing any independent label, and in an age of declining record sales boast the most successful years of its existence as it strides into its fourth decade.

What perhaps makes this achievement all the more notable is the fact that Slagel never even intended to start a label. Working in an LA record store and writing for various publications, Slagel was acutely aware that many great bands in the local metal scene were being ignored, and he decided to release a compilation of tracks drawn from these ranks. "There were a lot of really good bands and I was just bummed out that nobody could hear them. It just seemed like I could help them out and have some fun at the same time, and that compilation was the first Metal Massacre," he states. Collating tracks from then unknown bands including Ratt, Bitch, Cirith Ungol, and Metallica amongst others, the compilation sold out immediately. "How important is Metal Blade to our career? They're only the reason we are enjoying the worldwide success we have today," states Metallica's James Hetfield. "Without Brian's openness to some raunchy teens with a crap sounding cassette tape we would be who knows where, and playing who knows what!" With the popularity of the tape spurring Slagel on, the first seeds of Metal Blade were sown. "After the success of those compilations I just started putting out records of bands that I was friends with, but without ever really intending it to be a label at all," he explains. "After I put out four or five releases I started to feel like something was happening, and I decided to quit the record store and quit college and see where it went."

Battling through the first few lean years, when the label consisted solely of Slagel working out of his mom's poorly ventilated garage in the San Fernando Valley, it gradually grew in both revenue and stature. Within a few years Metal Blade would go on to release the debuts of Slayer, Armored Saint, Trouble, and Corrosion Of Conformity amongst others, fanning the flames of the burgeoning metal scene and launching careers of bands that would go onto reap global success. "Without Metal Blade, there is a damn good chance we never would've made it out of L.A," says Slayer's Kerry King. "That was the one bit of luck we needed. You can be the most awesome band on the scene, and if no one notices you, you don't catch on. And Brian Slagel is still one of the biggest metalheads I know!" This genuine love and devotion to metal is central to the relationship many of the artists have with Metal Blade, and King Diamond credits much of its relevance and strength to this passion. "I refer to it as having 'boots on the ground'," the mighty Dane states. "It's not like a major label where some people might be into what you're doing but a lot of them just see it as a job – there's a genuine love for metal there. Through staying true to that and doing their own thing they've carved out a very specific niche that they control, and as an artist it's wonderful to be a part of that."over the years. Clearly without those people we couldn't do what we do, and to everyone out there who has helped us along by being a fan we are so very grateful to you."

Read more: http://www.metalblade.com/us/about-us/

New Album ‘Crazy Eyes’ Available Now ft “Take Me to Heaven” 

Get it: http://bit.ly/FilterCrazyEyes 
Stream it: http://bit.ly/CrazyEyesStream

'Crazy Eyes,' the new record from multiplatinum industrial alternative luminary group Filter comes from a place of deconstruction. 

As a nod to Filter’s debut, 'Short Bus,' the forthcoming release (and Filter’s seventh full-length), 'Crazy Eyes' [Wind-up Records] eschews the signature wall of guitars heard on their last release ('The Sun Comes Out Tonight') and breathes with a stark, industrialized menace that’s equally haunting and hypnotic. 

Richard completely immersed himself in the process after getting off the road in support of 2013’s 'The Sun Comes Out Tonight'—which moved over 8,500 copies first-week, 10 million streams to date and a Top 13 radio track with “What Do You Say.” The record gained critical acclaim, garnering attention from Loudwire, Hollywood Reporter, Fader, Rolling Stone, Blabbermouth and also landing high-profile commercial syncs including Diablo 3 (“Burn It”) and WWE (“What Do You Say” & “Burn It”). Their brooding cover of The Turtles’ classic, “Happy Together” was featured in the trailer for Baz Luhrmann’s 2012 The Great Gatsby.

For this new endeavor, Richard collaborated with old friends such as the man behind 1999’s seminal platinum-certified Title of Record, producer Ben Grosse [Thirty Seconds To Mars, Marilyn Manson], and Michael “Blumpy” Tuller [Nine Inch Nails]. He also worked closely with new band mates Oumi Kapila [guitar, programming], Ashley Dzerigian [bass], Chris Reeve [drums], and Bobby Miller [keyboards], and former Filter bandmates, Johnny Radke and Danny Lohner. Mixed by Brian Virtue (Janes Addiction, Thirty Seconds to Mars, Deftones) and mastered by Howie Weinberg (Van Halen, Mars Volta, The White Stripes).

Ultimately, 'Crazy Eyes' comes back to the fact that Richard remains honest. “I’m completely into this for the music,” he leaves off. “Being yourself is the most important thing. I authentically went places I’d never gone before. That was from my heart. I’m trying to be as genuine as possible to what Filter is. It’s about sounding fucking different, forward, and original.”

Putting the laughter back into manslaughter, splitTRACT has returned to slay you with a new line-up, massive shredding guitars, bigger drums, and sharp melodic hooks that will gut you like a Saw movie. I mean, why kill a person with kindness when you can use a 7- String axe, Chevelle-infused riffs, and Mesa amps cranked to 11? The fuse has been lit, the atom's been split, and from this explosive hellfire, splitTRACT emerges with dark mid-tempo grooves, thoughtful lyrics, and the type of chorus that make you crank up the radio and scream randomly at passing motorists. But be prepared to sever your ties with what you think rock is, as splitTRACT prides itself on versatile song-writing amongst dynamic mood-shifts, while always reminding you that sooner or later... there will be blood! If you've ever wondered what the spawn of Deftones and Tool would sound like, splitTRACT JUST became the soundtrack to your life! Stay tuned for splitTRACT's brand new EP "Smashemup!" Featuring the hit single "Alone"

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