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/

The Midnight Voyage is an epic journey through the endless realm of electronic music. If you have the desire to feel the rhythm, to feel inspired by beautiful sounds, then tune into the show every Thursday night/Friday morning from 10 PM to 1 AM. It happens on 90.3 FM WUTK in Knoxville, TN broadcasting from the University of Tennessee. For those out of reach of the station, you can also tune it in online at http://www.wutkradio.com/listen. To listen, all you have to do is install either Real Player or Real Alternative.

You can download Real Alternative at the following link:
http://www.free-codecs.com/download_soft.php?d=4763&s=65

On the show, you can hear a wide variety of electronic music both old and new, covering a vast array of sub-genres and styles. The main goal of the show is to provide listeners with creative, inspired electronic music in whatever form it may take, whether it makes you wanna get down, freak out, or just close your eyes and let it take you to that special place. The Midnight Voyage features psychedelic and experimental styles of music including trance, techno, breakbeat, drum n bass, house, industrial, downtempo/chillout, post-rock, and everything in between. Also, on the first show of every month, you can catch a live in-studio DJ set from local Knoxville artist Dialectic Sines, who brings the crazy psychedelic sounds that will warp your brain and take you to another dimension! Hear music by Dialectic Sines at http://www.myspace.com/dialecticsines. Last but not least, tune into The Midnight Voyage for chances to win tickets to upcoming electronic music shows and festivals in and around Knoxville!

Then join us for MIDNIGHT VOYAGE LIVE, every Friday in Knoxville's Old City, where you can groove to the artists you catch on the airwaves! 
Tickets at
http://themidnightvoyage.com/

For those of you who aren't so genre-bent, some other artists/musicians you can hear on the show include:

- Shpongle
- Ott
- Younger Brother
- Dialectic Sines
- 4matiks
- Fast Nasty
- Bassnectar
- Royksopp
- The Juan Maclean
- Pendulum
- Ratatat
- MSTRKRFT
- Justice
- The Crystal Method
- Paul van Dyk
- Kraftwerk
- The Orb
- Flying Lotus
- STS9
- Thievery Corporation
- Autechre
- The Album Leaf
- Sigur Ros
- Boards of Canada
- God is an Astronaut

The show is a never-ending journey, and I'm always open to comments, suggestions, and requests, so please feel free to post them here. Also, feel free to start discussions about music or post any kind of cool videos or photos you have relating to anything about electronic music.

For playlists, go to http://www.myspace.com/midnightvoyage903

Finally, if you create your own electronic music and think it would sound good on the show, feel free to e-mail me at bpcoakley@gmail.com and we can discuss further. Hope to hear from some of you creative people out there.

The Midnight Voyage
Every Thursday night 10 PM to 1 AM
90.3 FM WUTK Knoxville, TN
http://www.wutkradio.com/listen
Request line: 865-974-2535

http://www.myspace.com/midnightvoyage903

Hosted by DJ Psychonaut and featuring live in-studio DJ mixes from Dialectic Sines on the first show of every month.

Peace, everyone!!!

Described by the press as a very promising act of the french Metal scene,  Magoa persists in breaking the established rules.

The band's musical arrogance triggers on stage an explosive catharsis, an inevitable rebellion.

And their music speaks by itself : the writing is raw, brutal and without compromise.

Unlabeled and developing its very own style, Magoa carries the flag of insurrection, and forms with its audience the first true bastion of the Resistance.


Oversat is producer/DJ duo King Doug and Jeremiah LongBear. They producer house, surf, hip-hop, and pop music. 

Formed in 1999, Oversat has released a number singles, and EPs including 2013 Verge Culture Mixtape, 2012 Summer Saved Me, 2010 Mixed Signals, and several earlier works. Their debut full length is 2014's "You Ain't No Hipster."

"We Are Alive!" is a project of two German producers which started to create electronic music in 2009. Since then they produced tracks of very different styles and will continue creating music without sticking to any specific genre.

I’ve played in bands in Knoxville since 1997 and figured it’s time I did something on my own. In a conceited way, it’s easier to make what I want without any kind of interference, ya know? I could list influences, a lot of them, but I feel it’s irrelevant to what I’m doing. None of the songs are mixed, and I don’t care. But they’re all done by me.

Caseys Trunk is the finest of grunge/ punk resonating in stoner rock/ metal genre pioneered by Black Sabbath. Caseys Trunk was founded in mid 2011 by Wes Henry (Mantooth) and Zach Foss (The Count Zackula) during the Casey Anthony trail. After a decade of failed bands the two went back to jamming their old punk repetoire. With the addition of Branden Lasley (Laz) who had played with the two in a previous metal project the band became whole. The songs are solidly constructed. Mantooths guitar riffs arent flashy but very catchy. Laz's bass mostly follows the riffs with the occasional higher octaves making the sound full. Count Zackula's drumbeats will satisfy any rock music lovers affinity for the up and off beats. Vocals are done by Mantooths high Ben Weasel screeches backed by Laz's banshee screams. The songs and riffs are mostly written by The Count and Mantooth. The lyrics are humorous, honest, and will open your mind to not take life so serious. So... turn it up, rock out, and TAKE A CLOSER LOOK IN CASEYS TRUNK!!!


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