Independent Metal Labels Fill The Void In Rock Releases
In a world full of Britney Spears clones, depending on the radio to supply you with decent rock music can be a losing proposition. The great undermined supplier - independent record labels specializing in hard rock, stoner rock, and all variances on the metal formula - labels that have not yet lost their unique flavor by being assimilated into the bowels of one of the mega-media conglomerates. Here are some of the best ones-
Teepee Records has been around since 1990, and is based in Brooklyn. Among the bands on their label are New York stalwarts Raging Slab- hey, they had Gary Coleman in one of their early videos - straight out of that early 1990's East Village, white trash metal scene. Saw these guys (and girl) at the Continental in New Yawk last year. They still rock out, in that old fashioned beer and hotrod way, and so do the other Teepee records bands. (A review of TeePee band Core is featured below.) Their most high-profile band right now is Atomic Bitchwax, a Jersey trio that features the guitar aerobics of Monster Magnet's Ed Mundell, who must have scant time for activities other than playing his guitar, judging by his nonstop schedule. Another trio based in Jersey, Atomic Bitchwax are hardcore; lyrics and vocals are incidental, it's the guitar work and that drummer Keith Ackerman pounds the skins so hard, you wonder if he's gonna have a heart attack! Listening or watching lengthy guitar solos is normally an incredibly painful procedure for non-musicians, but I didn't mind listening/watching Ed play. Its not all mindless riffing, there's melody to it. And that name is fun - as with his other band, the name alone makes you sit up and take notice, or at least say what the hell is that?
The oldest free-agents in the metal record biz, Metal Blade Records, out of SoCal, was founded in 1986 by Brian Slagel, in the mid-80s. 1986 was the height of the fashionable girlie metal band and Metal Blade was the alternate to buying a pound of make-up at Macy's counter before you even picked up a guitar. Early bands on the label included the Mentors and Bitch (Fine bands. The later, who incorporated whips and S & M in her act, had her nice Jewish mother as manager, the former were proponents what can best be described as porno rock with a cheesy sense of humor) Metal Blade's legacy started with the Metal Massacre compilation, which showcased Slayer, Armored Saint, and one of Metallica's first original songs.
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