Specializing in quality roots and Americana music since 1978.

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/

film sound designer, composer, field recordist, modular synthesisor, photographer, dreamer..

Dynasty Podcasts is Chicago's first and longest-running music podcast and podcast network.

Hosted by Chicago broadcast journalist Jaime Black.

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ATTICUS ANTHEM
Bjorn Franklin – Lead Vocals & Acoustic Guitar
Johnny Marchetta – Lead Electric Guitar & Vocals
Jared McGivern – Drums & Percussion
Olly Skelton – Bass Guitar

“Imagine that guy from the Goo Goo Dolls doing dirty things with one of the Edge’s delay pedals, and then somehow this band were formed out of the resultant fractals of sound coming out of the U2 guitarists amps. This is big, fists-in-the-air music. They ooze confidence up on stage, and the emotive punch of the singer’s voice along with their widescreen music suggests that they don’t see any line on the horizon”
— Paul Klotchkow, Leftlion

'A talented singer-songwriter' - The New Yorker

Refreshingly diverse and a force, barely contained. Dirty Sparrows unconventionally tangle with the familiar; reinvigorating classic styles and bringing a fresh take on old sounds that will not fail to entice.

With elements of funk, blues, hip hop, metal and soul in their music, each member has migrated their individual style into an unquestionably intriguing timbre which is just as powerful to the ear when performed live as it is in their recordings. Fat Freddy's Drop, Bob Marley, Lenny Kravitz, 2pac and The Rolling Stones have all been influences, inspiring the development of this atypical group of musicians

Tamuno, a Nigerian born frontman with a multitude of talent leads the group with a vigor and style that is rarely seen. He is backed by an all Welsh guitar and drum line up and an Englishman on saxophone. They may look like a big group of misfits, but their music is far from out of place. Don't miss out on the Dirty Sparrows experience.


Sound Clouder of the Day - 08.09.2011


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