Nuclear Blast
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| Nuclear Blast | |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1987 |
| Founder(s) | Markus Staiger |
| Distributing label | Independent |
| Genre(s) | Metal |
| Country | Germany, US |
| Location | Donzdorf, Göppingen |
| Official site of Nuclear Blast | |
- For information related to weapons, see nuclear explosion.
Nuclear Blast is an independent record label and mail order record distributor with subsidiaries in Germany, the United States and Brazil. The record label was founded in 1987 by Markus Staiger in Germany. Originally releasing hardcore punk records, the label moved on to releasing albums by melodic death metal, grindcore and black metal bands, as well as tribute albums. Nuclear Blast is widely respected as the top label for the melodic metal scene, along with fellow non-RIAA label Century Media. The label's main office is in Donzdorf, Göppingen.
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[edit] Music
At their inception, Nuclear Blast focused on Hardcore records, with bands like Agnostic Front, Attitude and Stark Raving Mad. They progressed toward metal in 1990, however, currently signing and distributing dozens of artists such as Dimmu Borgir and Hypocrisy.
They have also released a series of compilation albums called "Death Is Just the Beginning". Music from the Nuclear Blast label was featured in the 2005 movie Alone in the Dark.
For all Nuclear Blast artists, former and current, see List of Nuclear Blast artists
[edit] History
Nuclear Blast was formed in 1987 after founder Markus Staiger traveled throughout the United States for four weeks and saw a gig of his favorite band BLAST. The label was original title simply "Blast", but was soon changed to Nuclear Blast. The first release was a vinyl compilation Senseless Death (NB 001) featuring US Hardcore bands like Attitude, Sacred Denial, Impulse Manslaughter and others. The first edition of 1000 copies was sold out after one year.
Nuclear Blast started signing Grindcore after Staiger discovered Las Vegas grindcore band Righteous Pigs. This followed with releases by Atrocity, Master and Incubus, which all sold over 30,000 copies. The grindcore explosion is considered a landmark in the label's history, gaining the label worldwide attention.
In the early nineties, black metal became highly popular in the European underground, and Nuclear Blast signed many bands. Many of them, such as Dimmu Borgir and Dissection, are still signed to Nuclear Blast. The black metal trend became increasingly popular, and by 1996, several Nuclear Blast-signed artists were entering European charts. By the end of 1997, Nuclear Blast had 20 employees and mailed out a 100 page catalogue quarterly to 50 countries.
Nuclear Blast remains one of the most popular and successful independent record labels to this day, with chart-topping releases and continual growth in terms of music and business.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
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