By: Michael Madavi
Upper Darby, Pennsylvania’s Relapse Records have set the standard over and over for what defines a high quality independent metal label. It would be hard to corral the company to dealing in one specific style or another as there are artists of such a wide variety on their roster, ranging from stoner rock and hardcore bands through grindcore and death metal right the way to retro thrash and doom. Alternative Press refers to the powerhouse as “…the Justice League of Extreme Metal.” Perhaps Legion of Doom would have been more appropriate? Regardless of what collection of powerful beings you want to compare them too (95’-96’ Chicago Bulls?), their eye for talent and sincere love for all things heavy have amassed a roster that sits un-rivaled: Dillinger Escape Plan, Neurosis, Mastodon, Nile, High On Fire, Suffocation, Brutal Truth, Cephalic Carnage, Necrophagist, and Dying Fetus (just to name a few) are all either Relapse artists or Alumni. We’re not talking about your cousin’s Megadeth tribute band; this is a collection of the groups that created it and the bands that are best at it.
“We sign bands we like first and foremost,” says Relapse Records President Matthew F. Jacobson, who has signed bands off of demos, out of garages (Dillinger), and from basement shows (Mastodon). If there’s a thread running through Relapse’s steadfast musical vision and wildly divergent roster of artists, it’s the desire to champion new, forward-thinking sounds for an audience who has come to expect releases that showcase nothing but the best the hard music world has to offer. Relapse’s assemblage is largely comprised of compelling, exciting artists who either started or are near the pinnacle of their respective musical genres. Furthermore Relapse has established itself as a fan’s label – one that combines an enthusiasm for providing extreme music fans with the highest quality, most well-packaged releases with a forward-thinking musical foresight.
We spoke to Pat Egan, Relapse’s Director of Sales, about his favorite parts of working at the label: “The great thing about working at Relapse, or even being a fan of the label, is that you never know what direction they will take you on next. The last month or so it has been the sludgy awesomeness of Howl and Black Tusk, and next it will be the post rock trippiness of The High Confessions or the doom of Indian.”
One particular arena for such forward-thinking to occur is without a doubt Savannah, Georgia: home to a number of fantastic Relapse artists. In their southern paradise, groups such as Pig Destroyer, Baroness, and Black Tusk (also Kylesa, who aren’t on the label but are nonetheless awesome) have reached international recognition as top-notch metal acts. Aggregately, they have created a veritable hellfire of brutality, and it never looked so good; literally. All of the groups have been lucky enough to boast incredible album covers created by Baroness singer and guitarist John Baizley, who has a unique, detailed, and inspired style. We’ve lined up a few releases from the Relapse catalog that feature Baizley covers, not to mention top-notch metal in various animalistic incarnations. Check out some old favorites as well as Black Tusk’s new release, Taste the Sin. Their sophomore release and first for Relapse Records “rips into you with locomotive riffing and powerful percussion, creating a furious display that incorporates the fury of punk and the precision of thrash metal within a familiar Southern-fried landscape” (from the label). Mmm mmm, just like Mama used to make.
Black Tusk
“Red Eyes, Black Skies” (mp3)
from “Taste The Sin”
(Relapse Records)
Artist: Pig Destroyer
Title: Phantom Limb
Label: Relapse Records
Genre: Metal : Thrash Metal
UPC: 781676671724
Territory: Worldwide
Release Date: 06.26.07
Artist: Baroness
Title: The Red Album
Label: Relapse Records
Genre: Metal : Hard Rock
UPC: 781676672127
Territory: Worldwide
Release Date: 09.04.07
Adam Rabinovitz- VP Marketing
Christophe LeBreton- Marketing, France
