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Metal Blade Records

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Metal Blade Records
Founded1982; 43 years ago (1982)
FounderBrian Slagel
StatusMajor
Distributor(s)The Orchard (United States)
Sony Music (International)
GenreHeavy metal, extreme metal
Country of originUnited States
Location5632 Van Nuys Blvd #1301, Van Nuys, California U.S.
Official websitemetalblade.com

Metal Blade Records (often shortened to Metal Blade) is an American record label founded by Brian Slagel in 1982 based in the U.S. state of California.

History

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Metal Blade Records was founded in 1982 by Brian Slagel alongside its first release, Metal Massacre. Slagel was an employee of a Los Angeles record store and had launched a metal fanzine known as The New Heavy Metal Revue. He was a fan of New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM) bands and saw that rock bands with a European influence began increasing in number around Southern California.[1][2] Inspired by popular NWOBM compilations such as Metal for Muthas, he reached out to several local bands regarding contributing to a compilation that he envisioned as a showcase of "the best metal Los Angeles had to offer."[2] Slagel purchased records for the compilation and contacted distributors, who accepted the deal.[2] Slagel received a call from Lars Ulrich—who had not formed a band yet—who asked if he could record a song for the album, which he accepted.[1][2] Using borrowed money from his friends and family, Slagel pressed 5,000 copies of Metal Massacre.[2] The album reportedly sold out almost immediately, and the record distributors were pleased. Slagel told Billboard that one of the distributors told him if he could provide them records, they would handle the manufacturing and distribution, resulting in Metal Blade's founding.[2]

Speaking of the label's integral role during the infancy of death metal, Slagel is quoted saying, "when death metal first came out, I thought it was a refreshing new genre of music. It made complete sense to me. It was the heaviest thing I'd ever heard, but it was also really, really good. [...] When Slayer and Metallica came out, that was the heaviest thing ever, and eventually that became mainstream, right? I just knew that was gonna happen to death metal [...] it was only a matter of time before it was gonna get popular."[3] In April 1987, Metal Blade and Enigma Records signed a long-term distribution and development deal, with Enigma promoting and distributing Metal Blade Records artists' records along with distribution through CEMA, a record-label distribution branch of Capitol-EMI.[4]

On January 18, 2017, Metal Blade Records was inducted into the Hall of Heavy Metal History for their large contribution to the Heavy Metal library. Brian was inducted by special guest Kerry King of Slayer.[5] On August 29, 2017, BMG Rights Management published The Sake of Heaviness: The History of Metal Blade Records, a book on the label's history, co-written by Mark Eglington and the label's founder Brian Slagel.[6]

In 2019 Metal Blade Records opened a store in Las Vegas, Nevada that sold rare and out-of-print items from them and their artists.[7]

Notable artists

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Current and former artists per Metal Blade Records' website, as of November 2024.[8]

Current

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Former

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References

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  1. ^ a b Eglinton, Mark. Of Metal and Man - The Definitive Biography of James Hetfield. Music Press Books. p. 32. ISBN 978-1-78606-855-2. OCLC 1012137338.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Marshall, Clay (April 20, 2002). "From One Man's Dream—And Out of His Parents' Garage—Grew The Biggest Independent Metal Label of The Past Two Decades". Billboard. Vol. 114, no. 16. p. 27.
  3. ^ Coles, T (November 17, 2022). Death Metal. Genre: A 33 1/3 Series (1st ed.). Bloomsbury Publishing. pp. 47–48. ISBN 978-1501381010. LCCN 2022008924. OCLC 1290377919. OL 36433275M.
  4. ^ "Heavy Metal '88: Major Madness" (PDF). Billboard. New York City: Penske Media Corporation. May 7, 1988. p. 58. ISSN 0006-2510. OCLC 732913734. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 10, 2025. Retrieved January 10, 2025 – via WorldRadioHistory. In April '87, Enigma and Metal Blade signed a new long-term development and distribution deal which will benefit select Metal Blade acts such as Lizzy Borden, Fates Warning, and Sacred Reich. Previously, Enigma had marketed and distributed those groups' records; now, while also taking them through CEMA distribution, says [Enigma President Wesley] Hein, (...)
  5. ^ Legaspi, Legaspi (December 22, 2016). "Scorpions Among Nominees for Hall of Heavy Metal History". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on December 17, 2024. Retrieved May 16, 2017.
  6. ^ Bell, Sadie (June 26, 2017). "BMG Will Release a Book on Metal Blade Records on Their Iconic History Later This Summer". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 7, 2023. Retrieved June 27, 2017.
  7. ^ "Metal Blade Records opens store in Las Vegas, NV – rare and out-of-print items now for sale!". Metal Blade Records. October 1, 2019. Archived from the original on December 19, 2024. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
  8. ^ "Artists | Metal Blade Records". Metal Blade Records. Archived from the original on November 7, 2024. Retrieved November 7, 2024.
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