Early Days:
Metal Blade Records was formed by Brian Slagel in 1982. Slagel created a compilation album with material from Ratt, Malice, Steeler, and an unknown thrash band by the name of Metallica. This album, called Metal Massacre, would help Metallica get their first big break. A year later, Slagel would begin to release albums by Armored Saint, Warlord, and Slayer, with the latter’s debut album, Show No Mercy, becoming the label’s highest selling album, at that time.
Metal Blade History:
In the early 1980s, Metal Blade was the starting point for several major metal bands, including Metallica, Slayer, and Voivod. During the mid '80s, Flotsam and Jetsam would release their underrated classic debut, 1986’s Doomsday For The Deceiver, on Metal Blade, while Corrosion of Conformity released their influential crossover metal album Animosity on the label.
Metal Blade had a distribution deal with Warner Brothers Records in the late 1980s. However, the partnership fell through in 1992, when Warner Brothers, which was known at the time as WEA, tried to censor the lyrics to GWAR’s America Must Be Destroyed. Brian Slagel was opposed to censoring his artists, and Metal Blade signed with Sony BMG/RED for distributing.
While Metal Blade has released albums from extreme bands such as Cannibal Corpse and Immolation, the label was also where Goo Goo Dolls got their big break in the early '90s. Metal Blade has also enlisted several underground progressive metal bands in its history, including Spock’s Beard and Symphony X.
Essential Metal Blade Releases:
Various Artists- Metal Massacre
Slayer- Hell Awaits
Cannibal Corpse- Tomb Of The Mutilated
Fates Warning- No Exit
King Diamond- The Spider’s Lullabye
Voivod- War And Pain
Flotsam And Jetsam- Doomsday For The Deceiver
Symphony X- V: The New Mythology Suite
Spock’s Beard- The Light
Mercyful Fate- In The Shadows
Immolation- Close To A World Below
Lizzy Borden- Visual Lie
The Black Dahlia Murder- Nocturnal
As I Lay Dying- An Ocean Between Us
Goo Goo Dolls- A Boy Named Goo
Amon Amarth- With Oden On Our Side
GWAR- Scumdogs Of The Universe
Metal Blade Records Links
History and Releases
Century Media is home to a variety of metal bands, including goth, black, power, black, and hardcore. With offices all over the world, including the United States, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom, Century Media is one of the top independent record labels in metal today.
Early Days:
Century Media was formed in Germany in 1988 by Robert Kampf, the singer of thrash/crossover band Despair. Kampf used the label to self-release the band’s album. From there, Century Media expanded to include acts both locally and around Europe. The label started out as a place where death metal bands like Grave and Asphyx first became known in the metal community. The label built its way from the ground up, eventually going international with a United States office.
Century Media History:
Century Media became a major independent label in the 1990’s with the signing of bands like Iced Earth, Eyehategod, and Nevermore. These bands would go on to become quite popular in their respective genres. Century Media continued to expand, opening offices all over Europe and Australia.
Century Media would launch a off-shoot label called Century Black that specialized in releasing or re-releasing black metal albums that may have passed under the noses of most metal listeners the first time through. Century Black would re-release Emperor’s first two albums, 1993’s In The Nightside Eclipse and 1997’s Anthems To The Welkin At Dusk, as well as early albums from Katatonia, Mayhem, and Opeth.
While Century Media is known for signing heavier and more aggressive bands, the label has had success with mainstream acts. Lacuna Coil’s 2006 album Karmacode sold almost half-a-million copies worldwide. Shadows Fall had great success with their 2004 album The War Within, which cracked the Top 20 Billboard charts.
Essential Century Media Records Releases:
Grave - Into The Grave
Asphyx - The Rack
Morgoth - Cursed
Tiamat - The Astral Sleep
God Forbid - IV: Constitution Of Treason
Celtic Frost - Monotheist
Jag Panzer - Thane To The Throne
Nevermore - This Godless Endeavor
Dark Tranquillity - Character
Into Eternity - Buried In Oblivion
Napalm Death - The Code Is Red…Long Live The Code
Paradise Lost - In Requiem
Mercenary - 11 Dreams
Strapping Young Lad - City
Bloodbath - Resurrection Through Carnage
Iced Earth - Burnt Offering
s Shadows Fall - The Art Of Balance
Opeth - My Arms, Your Hearse
Stuck Mojo - Rising
Lacuna Coil - Karmacode
Century Media Records Links
Official Site
Early Days:
Century Media was formed in Germany in 1988 by Robert Kampf, the singer of thrash/crossover band Despair. Kampf used the label to self-release the band’s album. From there, Century Media expanded to include acts both locally and around Europe. The label started out as a place where death metal bands like Grave and Asphyx first became known in the metal community. The label built its way from the ground up, eventually going international with a United States office.
Century Media History:
Century Media became a major independent label in the 1990’s with the signing of bands like Iced Earth, Eyehategod, and Nevermore. These bands would go on to become quite popular in their respective genres. Century Media continued to expand, opening offices all over Europe and Australia.
Century Media would launch a off-shoot label called Century Black that specialized in releasing or re-releasing black metal albums that may have passed under the noses of most metal listeners the first time through. Century Black would re-release Emperor’s first two albums, 1993’s In The Nightside Eclipse and 1997’s Anthems To The Welkin At Dusk, as well as early albums from Katatonia, Mayhem, and Opeth.
While Century Media is known for signing heavier and more aggressive bands, the label has had success with mainstream acts. Lacuna Coil’s 2006 album Karmacode sold almost half-a-million copies worldwide. Shadows Fall had great success with their 2004 album The War Within, which cracked the Top 20 Billboard charts.
Essential Century Media Records Releases:
Grave - Into The Grave
Asphyx - The Rack
Morgoth - Cursed
Tiamat - The Astral Sleep
God Forbid - IV: Constitution Of Treason
Celtic Frost - Monotheist
Jag Panzer - Thane To The Throne
Nevermore - This Godless Endeavor
Dark Tranquillity - Character
Into Eternity - Buried In Oblivion
Napalm Death - The Code Is Red…Long Live The Code
Paradise Lost - In Requiem
Mercenary - 11 Dreams
Strapping Young Lad - City
Bloodbath - Resurrection Through Carnage
Iced Earth - Burnt Offering
s Shadows Fall - The Art Of Balance
Opeth - My Arms, Your Hearse
Stuck Mojo - Rising
Lacuna Coil - Karmacode
Century Media Records Links
Official Site
