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/

Tāmaki Makaurau based Nigerian Artist and Producer.

Hope for the Dying formed in November of 2006 with sights set on bringing something different to the table. Tiring of the typical simplistic music that has manifested itself in the heavy music culture, Hope for the Dying brings new meaning to the idea of 'guitar-driven metal.' By blending the musical virtuosity of old school shred-metal pioneers like Iron Maiden and Metallica with the modern edge of today's progressive heavy-hitters like Between the Buried and Me and The Human Abstract, Hope for the Dying is developing a signature sound that is as technically proficient as it is fresh and unique.

In 2008, Hope for the Dying was featured in HM Magazine's 'Pick-of-the-Litter' section and subsequently inked a deal with the newly resurrected Strike First Records (a division of Facedown Records) and released their debut self-titled full length on November 25 of that year. In the two years following the release of their debut, Hope for the Dying matured in both their music and their line-up. As 2010 comes to a close, the band is stronger and more driven than ever before, and on December 1, revealed that they will be releasing a new album in mid-April of 2011 on Facedown Records.

The band is currently writing and recording tracks for the highly anticipated follow-up, and is very excited about the direction in which the music is moving. "This is definitely the most ambitious music we've written to date," says guitarist James Houseman. "When we were writing for the last album, the process was so spread out, and then at the end we were just rushing to finish up a couple more songs, I think we felt like the album kind of suffered a little bit and didn't have the 'flow' that we would have liked." With the new album, HFTD has deliberately set aside an essentially uninterrupted block of time to focus on writing in hopes that their next release will have more continuity and consistency from track to track. "This is by far the most complex music we've ever made. We're trying lots of new things and so far we couldn't be more excited about how things have been going, " - guitarist Jack Daniels.

The as-yet-untitled project will be mixed by Brian Hood of 456 Recordings (A Plea for Purging, Before There Was Rosalyn) in Huntsville, AL, in early February of 2011. "Working with Brian has been awesome so far, he's been really helpful to us in getting things prepared and making sure we come out with the best product possible" says Daniels. "We're thrilled with what he brings to the table and can't wait to work with him more as we get closer to wrapping this thing up!"

In the mean time, Hope for the Dying will be returning to the tour circuit in early 2011 with plans for coast-to-coast tours in both headlining and support roles.

Musician, Engineer, Producer from Auckland, New Zealand. 
Here is where you can find my work. 
I mix and work on anything from folk, pop, to heavy metal. 



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