BY KELLEY SIMMS
In August, Outburn ran a feature on the Top 5 Underground Metal Record Labels, which was met with favorable praise (unless your label didn’t make the list).
This time around, instead of a ranking system, we decided to focus more on the diversity of the different labels to spotlight our appreciation and give recognition to them. Because that’s really what the whole point of this is about, to get metal fans to check out the labels’ Bandcamp pages and their excellent rosters.
In no particular order, here are a few current record labels that you should know about, along with their top bands and links to their Bandcamp pages.
FDA RECORDS: Formed in 2006, this extreme German label specializes in a wide variety of thrash, doom, avant grade, black metal, goth metal, and death metal.
Top bands: God Disease, Obscure Infinity, Requiem, Lifeless, Discreation
Bandcamp: fda-records.bandcamp.com
REDEFINING DARKNESS: This Cleveland, OH label releases an unabashed and dangerous mix of death metal, black metal, and grindcore.
Top bands: Appalling, Sentient Horror, Wretched Fate, Curse of Denial, Cleric
Bandcamp: redefiningdarknessrecords.bandcamp.com/music
SATANATH RECORDS: This Russian label, founded in 2012, specializes in an eclectic blend of extreme music, folk, ambient, noise, post-rock, and more.
Top bands: Skeletal Remains, Degragore, Vomitile, Obscenity, Mouldered
Bandcamp: satanath.bandcamp.com
DARK DESCENT: Hailing from Colorado Springs, CO, this label, owned by Matt Calvert, just celebrated its 10th anniversary.
Top bands: Crypt Sermon, Gravehill, Spectral Voice, Blood Incantation, Ghoulgotha
Bandcamp: darkdescentrecords.bandcamp.com
XENOKORP: This great label from France consistently releases quality products of blackened death metal, crusty grind metal, and vicious death metal. They also possess an excellent social media presence while boasting reasonable prices for their merchandise.
Top bands: Mithridatic, Ad Patres, Mercyless, Mortuary, Otargos
Bandcamp: xenokorp.bandcamp.com
