Nuclear Blast
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{{Short description|German independent record label, specialised in metal and related music styles}}
{{For|nuclear detonations|nuclear explosion}}
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{{Infobox record label
| bgcolor = black
| name = {{color|white|Nuclear Blast}}
| image_name = File:Nuclear Blast Records Logo.png
| image_size = 250px
| image_bg =
| parent = Believe Digital
| founded = 1987
| founder = Markus Staiger
| status = Active
| distributor = {{ubl|AMPED Distribution|Alternative Distribution Alliance|BMG Rights Management|Warner Music Group}}
| genre = {{hlist|Heavy metal|hard rock|hardcore punk|extreme metal}}
| country = Germany
| location = Donzdorf, Germany
| url = {{url|nuclearblast.de}}
}}
Nuclear Blast Records is a German record label with subsidiaries in Germany, the United States and Brazil. It was founded in 1987 by Markus Staiger in Donzdorf. Originally releasing hardcore punk records, the label moved on to releasing albums by thrash metal, melodic death metal, grindcore, industrial metal, power metal and black metal bands, as well as tribute albums. It also distributes and promotes post-hardcore/metalcore labels SharpTone Records; another post-hardcore/metalcore label, Arising Empire, was in Nuclear Blast portfolio until its acquirement by Kontor New Media in 2020.
In October 2018, French independent label Believe Digital acquired a majority stake in Nuclear Blast.{{cite web|url=https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/believe-buys-again-acquiring-majority-stake-in-rock-and-metal-label-nuclear-blast/|title=Believe buys majority stake in rock and metal label Nuclear Blast|date=10 October 2018|website=Music Business Worldwide}}
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 BL'AST!. The label's first release was a vinyl compilation called Senseless Death (NB 001) featuring US hardcore bands like Attitude, Sacred Denial, Impulse Manslaughter and others.
Swedish band Meshuggah became the first band in the history of Nuclear Blast Records to crack the Billboard 200, landing at number 165 with their 2002 album, Nothing. Meshuggah also became the first Nuclear Blast band to be reviewed in Rolling Stone magazine.{{cite web|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/meshuggah-breaking-new-ground-with-nothing/|publisher=Blabbermouth.net|title=Meshuggah Breaking New Ground With 'Nothing'|date=8 September 2002|access-date=23 February 2019}}
In 2004, Finnish symphonic metal band Nightwish released Once on Nuclear Blast, which rocketed to the top of the charts in multiple countries, including Finland, Germany, Norway, Greece, Sweden, Austria, and more. It became the first release in the company's history to reach number 1 on the German charts. Slayer released the album Repentless in 2015 which went to number 4 on the Billboard 200 making it the highest charting Nuclear Blast release in the United States.{{cite web |last=MFN2001LD |first=Advertiser |title=History 2003–2007 – Nuclear Blast |url=http://www.nuclearblast.de/en/label/company/history/2003-2007.html}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.dailyrindblog.com/slayers-repentless-slays-charts/|title=SLAYER's "Repentless" SLAYS Through The Charts|date=30 September 2015|work=The Daily Rind|access-date=12 September 2017|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170916094717/http://www.dailyrindblog.com/slayers-repentless-slays-charts/|archive-date=16 September 2017|url-status=dead}}
During the 2000s and 2010s, Nuclear Blast signed many veteran thrash metal bands including Slayer,{{cite magazine|last=Grow|first=Kory|title=Slayer Debut New Song 'Implode' During Surprise Golden Gods Appearance|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/slayer-debut-new-song-implode-during-surprise-golden-gods-appearance-20140424|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=24 April 2014|access-date=26 November 2020}} Exodus,{{Cite web|title=EXODUS Sign With NUCLEAR BLAST RECORDS|url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/exodus-sign-with-nuclear-blast-records/|website=Blabbermouth.net| date=28 August 2003 |access-date=26 November 2020}} Testament,{{Cite web|title=TESTAMENT Signs With NUCLEAR BLAST RECORDS|url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/testament-signs-with-nuclear-blast-records/|website=Blabbermouth.net| date=28 June 2007 |access-date=26 November 2020}} Anthrax,{{Cite web|title=ANTHRAX – Nuclear Blast|url=https://www.nuclearblast.de/en/label/music/band/about/70967.anthrax.html|access-date=23 September 2020|website=www.nuclearblast.de}} Kreator,{{Cite web|title=KREATOR Signs With NUCLEAR BLAST RECORDS|url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/kreator-signs-with-nuclear-blast-records/|website=Blabbermouth.net|date=9 February 2010|access-date=26 November 2020}} Overkill,{{Cite web|title=OVERKILL Signs With NUCLEAR BLAST RECORDS|url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/overkill-signs-with-nuclear-blast-records/|website=Blabbermouth.net|date=30 October 2009|access-date=26 November 2020}} Sepultura,{{Cite web|title=SEPULTURA Signs With NUCLEAR BLAST RECORDS|url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/sepultura-signs-with-nuclear-blast-records/|website=Blabbermouth.net|date=6 July 2010|access-date=26 November 2020}} Destruction,{{Cite web|title=DESTRUCTION Signs New Deal With NUCLEAR BLAST RECORDS|url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/destruction-signs-new-deal-with-nuclear-blast-records/|website=Blabbermouth.net|date=9 June 2010|access-date=26 November 2020}} Tankard,{{Cite web|title=TANKARD Signs With NUCLEAR BLAST RECORDS|url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/tankard-signs-with-nuclear-blast-records/|website=Blabbermouth.net|date=14 February 2012|access-date=26 November 2020}} Death Angel,{{Cite web|title=DEATH ANGEL Sign With NUCLEAR BLAST RECORDS|url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/death-angel-sign-with-nuclear-blast-records/|website=Blabbermouth.net|date=8 October 2003|access-date=26 November 2020}} and Heathen.{{Cite web|title=HEATHEN Signs With NUCLEAR BLAST RECORDS|url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/heathen-signs-with-nuclear-blast-records/|website=Blabbermouth.net|date=10 April 2012|access-date=26 November 2020}}
In 2021, Nuclear Blast founder Markus Staiger launched a new record company called Atomic Fire GmbH.{{Cite web |last=Blabbermouth |date=11 November 2021 |title=NUCLEAR BLAST Founder Launches New Label ATOMIC FIRE |url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/nuclear-blast-founder-launches-new-label-atomic-fire/ |access-date=11 April 2022 |website=BLABBERMOUTH.NET}}
In June 2022, Nuclear Blast unveiled a new logo. The logo caused some controversy when the canned water company Liquid Death jokingly noted its similarities with their logo (which also features a melting skull), inadvertedly leading to its designer, Justin Moll, receiving hate mail.{{Cite web |last=Rhombus |first=Emperor |date=2022-06-21 |title=Liquid Death Water Roast Nuclear Blast's New Logo, Apologize to Designer When Their Fans Blame Him |url=https://www.metalsucks.net/2022/06/21/liquid-death-water-roast-nuclear-blasts-new-logo-apologize-to-designer-when-their-fans-blame-him/ |access-date=2023-08-08 |website=MetalSucks |language=en}} Liquid Death quickly apologized for the joke, saying that it was not targeted at Moll but at Nuclear Blast, whose personnel had reportedly raised concerns over the new logo's similarities with Liquid Death's before it was implemented.
On 23 August 2022, the video game Saints Row was released, which features an in-game radio station that includes Nuclear Blast artists.{{Cite web|last=Lambgoat |date= 28 September 2022 |title=Nuclear Blast Records curates in-game radio station for Saint's Row (2022) |url=https://lambgoat.com/news/37128/nuclear-blast-records-curates-in-game-radio-station-for-saints-row-2022/ |access-date=27 December 2022 |website=lambgoat.com}}
Blood Blast Distribution
Blood Blast Distribution is a subsidiary of Nuclear Blast that focuses solely on the distribution of extreme music. The company was founded in 2020 by Bryce Lucien, Jerome Riera, Denis Ladegaillerie and Myriam Silberstein.{{cite web |last1=STASSEN |first1=MURRAY |title=BELIEVE AND NUCLEAR BLAST TEAM UP TO LAUNCH BLOOD BLAST DISTRIBUTION 'DEDICATED TO EXTREME MUSIC' |date=25 February 2020 |url=https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/believe-and-nuclear-blast-team-up-to-launch-blood-blast-distribution-dedicated-to-extreme-music/ |access-date=4 June 2020}}
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.nuclearblast.de/ Nuclear Blast Europe]
{{Authority control}}
Category:German independent record labels
Category:Record labels established in 1987
Category:Heavy metal record labels
Category:Hardcore record labels
Category:Death metal record labels
Category:Black metal record labels