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/

Formed in 2001, Egypt Central is named after a street that runs through the heart of Memphis, TN.

BURSTAGE: Nu metal, alternative rock/metal

A distinctive look at an alternative with a nostalgic aesthetic.

FOLLOW US ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA:

your friendly neighborhood story teller. 


Nigerian-born, UK-based singer/songwriter Jacob Banks moved to Birmingham at the age of 13, and began singing, playing guitar and writing songs at the age of 20. He got his start recording songs for friends to listen to in their cars and hitting the open mic circuit before self-releasing his first EP The Monologue in 2013.

Jacob has since released independent EP The Paradox and made his debut on Interscope Records with The Boy Who Cried Freedom EP.  His track “Worthy” has surpassed 5 million streams on Spotify, and his music has been praised by everyone from The New York Times to Vogue, with Time recognizing “Chainsmoking” as one of the “Best Songs of 2017 So Far” and The FADER naming “Mercy” one of their “Songs You Need in Your Life This Week.”

Having supported the likes of Alicia Keys, Sam Smith and Emeli Sandé on tour in the UK, Jacob is now playing to festival crowds around the world including including Lollapalooza, Firefly, Outsidelands and Austin City Limits in the US. The New York Times named Jacob one of “12 Notable Acts” at SXSW.  This fall, Jacob will embark on his headlining North American Into the Wild tour. The tour will kick off with a show at LA’s The Roxy on November 2nd, which sold out 3 months in advance, and will run through December 5th in Atlanta. Jacob is also gearing up to release new music imminently.

Progressive metal band looking for vocalist.

Follow :
Donate: http://paypal.me/jflaa
Audiomack: https://audiomack.com/artist/jflaa
YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/JFlaMusic

castle is following