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White Collar Criminals

IS EARACHE RECORDS THE METAL LABEL OF THE FUTURE??

 Friday, January 7th, 2011 at 2:00pm by

Earache Records continues to bewilder. While becoming a pioneering and leading label in the digital space over the past year+, the 25+ year-old label’s band roster continues to be firmly rooted in the past.

Earache released their Extreme Stage-Diving iPhone App to great fanfare this past November. As far as I know they’re the first metal label to release a label-centric app, and more importantly they’re the first label to release an app of any kind that’s actually fun instead of just being a boring news hub for all of their bands. Meanwhile Earache head-honcho Digby Pearson continues to write his behind-the-scenes-of-a-label blogs, which for all the shit I give them are actually really informative, entertaining, and further call attention to the fact that Earache understands the digital space. Most recently Earache announced an extensive series of live albums that are available as digital-only releases; looks like they finally got the memo that people care less and less about owning music on plastic and that manufacturing, shipping, returning, distro fee, etc etc etc on all those physical goods is expensive. Ok!

The problem is that Earache’s artist roster of late has been just a step behind the game. They’ve really hedged their bets on re-thrash, which — at least in the U.S. — is quickly proving a disastrous decision (lone exception: Municipal Waste). Newer trad-metal bands like White Wizzard and Cauldron have one-and-a-half feet planted firmly in the past as well, as talented as both are. While Earache remains firmly committed to their legacy acts (Napalm Death, At the Gates, Cathedral, Deicide), the only bands that could really be considered “modern” on their roster are of the vile deathcore ilk, certainly not pioneering by any regards; Oceano and And Hell Followed With. There’s The Browning, a band so vile that Sergeant D is sure to hop on their bandwagon any day now. And then there’s Wormot; alright, Earache, you win with Wormrot!

I point all this out of course because ultimately I want Earache, and every metal record label, to succeed on into the Twenty-Tens. For a label that really seems to “get it” Internet-wise, it’d be awfully sweet to see them “get it” music-wise too; pair those two things together and you’d have a recipe for total Earache domination.

-VN

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  • meat mincing machine

    not really, they’re kinda cocksuckers. look at how they fucked over bolt thrower with lame cash grab unauthorized reissues that they won’t even give them a dime for

    • D

      this

  • Vakarm

    so now bands like Napalm Death, At the Gates, Cathedral, Deicide are legacy acts??? does that mean classic rock radio stations will start playing them???

  • Gecko

    Not that I’m going to sit here and defend Earache, because it’s completely unnecessary, and they certainly don’t sign the worlds greatest bands (Oceano, I’m looking at you), but can I just ask what the big anti-re-thrash movement is all about? I have to give it up for Revocation, Warbringer, Rumplestiltskin Grinder, etc., for writing great albums, and not taking themselves seriously. Those records are a ton of fun to listen to! Am I missing something here?

    • Stu

      Because that “trend” is dead in the water, those bands don’t sell, don’t draw and have generally been forgotten about.

      • Gecko

        I’m not looking at this as a trend though, and maybe I didn’t make that clear in my initial post. I mean, almost all trendy music is God-awful if that’s what we’re looking at. What I want is a concrete reason for not liking these bands (and their thrash brethren). Its got nothing to do with fans, or whether or not they’ll be around in a decade. Most bands won’t be. I’m basing this on talent and enjoyability. Outside of the fact that it’s a weird trend, no one actually seems to be able to pinpoint why they don’t like it, and that’s what I’m asking for.

        • Stu

          Because most of the bands involved are wretched.

        • http://www.facebook.com/people/Faux-King-Christoph/1567502385 Faux King Christoph

          So you are saying trends suck, unless its a trend you like, then its ok/not a trend? Yes re-thrash as a trend is lame because it is a very restrictive genre in terms of the kinds of techniques/ styles the members of a re-thrash band can do. Its a genre created in the 80s before the plethora of genres we have now so any differentiation from the 80s version of thrash may put the music into a different genre. I mean if they arent writing tired thrash riffs, then it really isnt a thrash band right? Or if there are blast beats, technical riffs, growling/screeching vocal etc etc. The point being, thrash is a tired genre and it is reflected by the quickly dying popularity of re-thrash.

          • Gecko

            Well, sort of, and sort of not. I mean, in the broad musical spectrum, trendy music, be it disco, nu-metal, hair bands, Ke$ha, Justin Bieber, deathcore, whatever, tends to be unlistenable crap. Trends in music go way beyond metal. I’m not at all saying that it’s a bad trend just because I like it, more along the lines that I never saw re-thrash take off to the level of let’s say deathcore or metalcore, so I personally thought it was an overblown resurgence. But what you’re saying is exactly what I’m asking for, a real reason for the dislike of re-thrash. You mention blast beats, tech riffs, etc., which alter what thrash was, and makes kind of a bleh genre, and that’s definitely being worn out. All I was asking was for someone to make a valid argument besides “well I don’t like it”, which you were pretty much able to do. Cool, man.

    • Matt Pike’s Lost Shirt

      Except than none of the bands you mentioned are signed to Earache. Revocation and RG are both on Relapse and Warbringer is on Century

      • Curmudgeon

        Seriously, just because they’re a Thrash band that emulates their sound from the 1980′s, they’re all of a sudden some trendy thing to be disgusted at? Sometimes, I really think Metalheads are Preppies that were just too ugly to fit in.

        • Joe

          The music lacks raw power and aggression. It’s more of a “I’ve already heard this 1000 times before” type thing. It’s really boring and annoying.

          • Matt

            A backlash against re-thrash? Talk about a storm in a teacup.

  • LoomeyTunes

    i ASK YOU THIS QUESTION: In this digital age is their truly ANY labels left? You have people that can record, master and release their home brand of -insert non-descript monker here music all by there lonesome, without the big budgets and to some extent put out better sounding products. While some of it is excellent (Cloudkicker etc.) most is worthless. With labels, at least to some extent you have quality control. Sure some bands (Oceano, Bring me the horizon come to mind.) make it past the smarter of the label exec’s (if there is such a thing). Say good bye to the majors it was fun while it lasted (remember some of your favorite bands are on majors) and say goodbye to quality control. Bring on the home made jerkoffcore!!

  • pixelate

    What’s a record label?

    • FNM

      What’s a record?

  • Sigivald

    What do you think they should “get”, music-wise?

    People still buy the stuff they put out, do they not? And with the better margins and lower overhead of internet sales, there’s no reason that even marginal acts can’t be profitable.

    If I want cutting-edge stuff there are labels that provide that (Profound Lore, say). If I want the same stuff I was getting from Earache in 1991, I can get that from… Earache now.

    There’s a lot of that old thrash or death metal or grindcore that still holds up pretty well today, and if people want to make more of it, more power to ‘em.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Raphael-Pinsker/28400447 Raphael Pinsker

    You guys really hate on the whole rethrash movement so hard. You’re entitled to your own opinion but you have provided no proof of THE NEW WAVE OF THRASH METAL MOVEMENT (see what I did there?!?!?) being a disaster nor have you provided proof that the NWOTM bands Earache signed have been disastrous. I’m a huge fan of Evile and Bonded By Blood, in fact I like those 2 bands way more than Municipal Waste. Obviously they are doing something right when the bands that they have have fans who support them. Sure these bands aren’t at the level of Municipal Waste or Warbringer but give them time… I’m gonna enjoy watching you guys eat your words in a couple years.

    As far as Earache being the metal label of the future… sure they are thinking ahead of the game and thinking out of the box. Trying new marketing strategies that haven’t been applied to the music industry or to the metal music industry.

    HEY EARACHE I’M STILL WAITING ON THE OCEANO SIGNATURE BBQ GRILL
    http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs200.snc4/38346_607528091955_28400447_34822759_6892418_n.jpg

    Personally I’m not a fan of digital only music, I grew up listening to the radio and as a result I would buy physical records (even singles) based off of the singles labels chose. Is it easier to buy digital music? Sure, but I don’t plan on doing it. The only music I plan on buying online are albums that will get shipped to my home.

    • Joe

      People like Justin Bieber. It doesn’t mean that he’s doing something right. There’s no band that is universally hated by every single person. If you promote it, people will buy it.

      • http://www.facebook.com/people/Raphael-Pinsker/28400447 Raphael Pinsker

        Well Bieber is an artist, not a label. His record label is doing something right… I can care less what Bieber is doing. In the end a record label is a business, they may not like or even enjoy the music they work with but at the end of the day they need to make money.

        • Rik

          “Bieber is an artist”

          If you say so…

      • LoomeyTunes

        Yes there is a band everyone hate: Bring me the Horizon, all hate…all the time. Except from the Hot Topic tween girls that get there panties in a bunch over that Twlight wannabe singer. And anyone ever notice the what I was told is the new guitar player has the look of “What the fuck did I ge tmyself into look” in all there promo photos.

    • Stu

      “Obviously they are doing something right when the bands that they have have fans who support them. Sure these bands aren’t at the level of Municipal Waste or Warbringer but give them time… I’m gonna enjoy watching you guys eat your words in a couple years.”

      Most of the bands you mentioned barely have fans in the states. If Warbringer are your benchmark for some sort of success, pack it in. This trend is only in its death rattle here. The MS guys won’t be eating their words in a couple of years; they’ll be laughing when most of the bands you’re talking about are totally off the radar in a year.

      • Joe

        Warbringer suck and ape Demolition Hammer. They also play nearly the same set on every tour. Kevill is a cool dude though

  • Brian Roach

    well, they screwed over there biggest bands, which is why none of them are on the lable anymore, and they don’t sign much good stuff now, but they do GET how to stay relevant business wise, hopefully the other metal labels will follow their ‘digital’ lead, because it’s the only way that they will stay in business!

    • http://www.facebook.com/people/Raphael-Pinsker/28400447 Raphael Pinsker

      Well merch and touring are the KEY ways to stay in business; everything else is icing on the cake. That’s why metal labels NEED deathcore/____core bands. These bands not only sell music but they sell a shit ton of merch. A deathcore fan will buy mulitple White Chapel shirts to match his assortment of Acacia Strain fitted caps and exclusive Nike Oceano “Bringin the Beef” Dunks.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Alexandre-Perrault/545955672 Alexandre Perrault

    The only modern Earache bands I like are Wormrot and Municipal Waste. For all his desire to be cutting-edge Digby Pearson doesn’t seem to understand what constitutes a passing trend, and many of the bands he signs are DOA. In some cases, they’ll sign bands that are doing what others are doing, but in an inferior form (see: the godawful Enforcer). Profound Lore is the label of the future. Earache’s primary purpose at this point is to re-release their back catalog.

  • Joe

    Earache has been a trendhopper since the beginning. Fortunately, they hopped on a good trend when they started. In the mid 90s Digby wanted to invest in stuff like hard trance and techno because he thought the fans of death metal and grind were fans of extreme music regardless of style. He thought hard trance was going to be the next big thing and it wasn’t. Now he’s riding the retro thrash and trad wave along with some shitty deathcore bands (sorry for being redundant- all deathcore is shitty) and Earache will always stay afloat due to the fact that no matter what you promote people will buy it since it has a promotional campaign behind it and someone is bound to like it. They have a couple cool newer bands like White Wizzard (even though that band is in shambles with the inconsistent lineup) and Enforcer, but those bands will never take off. There’s heaps of garbage like Oceano, And Hell Followed With, Cauldron, Ignoniminsajdhg Incarceration, and Evile. I’m sick of seeing Evile on every thrash tour and the last Overkill tour was flooded by 3 painfully generic bands- Evile, Gama Bomb, and Bonded By Blood. BBB have some killer songs, but ultimately won’t be remembered as any significant contributors to thrash.

  • http://myspace.com/duckbillz Duck Billz

    Every time I scroll down an article and indirectly see Dave Witte with his little hat and beefy neck, I think that he is John Cena.

    • http://www.twitter.com/jwseveredtwwk Tonberry

      Ditto

  • http://twitter.com/stuffuyouwillhate Sergeant D

    UNSEEN TERROR REISSUE PLS

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Dan-Burton/784250631 Dan Burton

    I was obsessed with Earache in the 90s, they could do no wrong. The current roster is an absolute joke now to be honest. I still spend money on their releases but only the remasters that they’re doing. They put a lot of effort in to their re-releases, but only to keep old timers like me happy. The last new stuff I bought from then was the Insect Warfare and Wormrot records.

  • http://fullmetalattorney.blogspot.com/ Full Metal Attorney

    Why doesn’t anyone think of the obvious? Earache needs to transform itself from a traditional label to an online distribution hub. They could do this by partnering with other labels and providing their “getting” Internet business (for a cut) to labels that “get it” musically (e.g. Profound Lore–do they do anything wrong musically?).

    Or, to take things to the next level entirely, they need to (a) create viral marketing campaigns, and (b) stop operating exclusively as a traditional label, and instead provide curated content (like Apple), going over releases submitted by the public and just releasing them as-is if they’re up to a certain standard (again, for a cut). These things take almost all of the label’s investment out of it, and work better in the current environment. Ideally, they would put a different label name on the curated content but operate the labels in tandem.

    • http://twitter.com/stuffuyouwillhate Sergeant D

      I like this idea! They could call it ‘iTunes’ or ‘Amazon’ maybe?

      • http://fullmetalattorney.blogspot.com/ Full Metal Attorney

        You miss the point of curated content. iTunes and Amazon don’t curate anything, they pretty much accept everything.

  • Bierko

    This type of thinking from metalsucks is retarded. Who gives a flying fuck whether an act is old or new? All that matters is if the output is good and the so-called “legacy” acts are putting out fantastic material to this day.

    They’re basically saying good music goes out of style when the band gets to a certain age. Tell that to Tony Iommi.

  • Grim Kim

    Always a few years behind a trend…what a lonely place to be.

    Thrash is boring. Retrothrash is just embarrassing.

    • Joe

      Only a handful of thrash bands are worth listening to. German thrash, and some American stuff like Overkill, Testament, Morbid Saint, and Holy Terror (some of the best soloing ever!) I saw your top 10 and I know you don’t like Overkill, but cmon it’s better than Slayer after their first three albums, ‘Tallica, Anthrax, and Megadave.
      The only decent new wave thrash band is Vektor.

  • Noskaj

    What’s with all the And Hell Followed With hate? They’re honestly a diamond in the rough in regards to deathcore, compared to shitty “up and comers” like Chelsea Grin, and honestly, Oceano.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Alex-Layzell/620458119 Alex Layzell

    At the end of the day people have to appreciate that not only must a record label balance quality acts with money making acts, but the scene is constantly evolving. You cant hold the crown forever, and sometimes you slide up and down the ranks its the way it goes.
    Earaches current regime of testing new market strategies and opening up into markets which they did not exist before is what will keep earache afloat in the age of the decline of record labels, yes earache will not go unscathed in this trend, but they are the most ahead of the game, look at the gamma bomb free to download album? That is a prime example of them appreciating the times.
    Earache has additionally realised the importance of merchandise as a revenue maker, and the importance of having material on games like rockband network or guitar hero.
    All in all, I think Earache will be around for many more years to come, and as a grindcore fanatic, I would love to see Earache rehash the past and sign up some more decent Grindcore acts. Wormrot was a lifeline for earache amongst its disillusioned Grindcore fan base, and it would be nice to see a few more bands in the roster, as there is plenty of them out there.

  • Matt

    These days I see the whole “being signed” thing as a gimmick. If you have distribution and a way to fund yourself the whole “record label” concept is pretty much obsolete. Digital sales are just basically throwing the last of the wood onto a dying fire and bands are going to go way more DIY as they obviously have been doing. I can see how people think a label could “promote the quality acts over the bad ones” but in reality a good band is going to prevail if the following is there, just as a shit band will prevail if they can get the 14 year old scene girls to buy their merchandise.

    If you were smart you would start a really good recording studio. Yes you can record at home but people are always going to be willing to pay for a service if it’s there (a little thing called “convenience”). Since we’re in the digital age you can do a digital only release then if you have strong enough sales consider pressing a physical format. The only reason I buy a cd anymore is to “support” a band by giving them record sales. In reality they make very little money off of “physical” sales if they are a signed band.

    • Joe

      Well said and some good insight, but it is probably nice being on Nuclear Blast than DIY :) I can’t think of any way to get my band on a tour with Suffocation haha. I understand what you mean by the gimmick comment. The music scene is so over-saturated that being on a label doesn’t mean much anymore because there’s so many bands to compete with and a lot of lesser priority bands might just get lost in the mix. There’s so many bands on a label now that some releases go virtually unnoticed.

      Can’t wait to see DB again, you guys rip it up live!

      • Matt

        I’m not Matt Sotelo but I could see where you could think that judging by my avatar and name if that last part was directed at me.

        In a sense if you’re on the same label with another band you’d like to tour with it would make it easier but a good booking agent can get you on a good tour with said band. Most labels probably provide you a booking agent but in reality if you have the cash or work out something out with the agent you could hire them without being on a label

        • Stu

          Virtually no respectable agent will pick up a new band without a label or without label prospects. The labels bring marketing power that you can’t duplicate on your own. You also talk about distribution like anyone can get it, which is completely incorrect.

  • Curmudgeon

    I’m liking Earache a little more in the recent years because they’re redeeming themselves from the early 00′s. Best record label goes to Razorback Records. Out of all the albums they sell, from them and even other labels, there have been maybe only 5 shitty albums.

    Seriously, stop with the anger over Thrash bands. Warbringer and the ilk are making music that sounds like it comes straight outta the 80′s, that’s where the best Thrash comes from. If you don’t like it, then don’t listen. The bands from that era are either no more or they make shitty albums now, so we need something to fill their place. I wish I could smack you people upside the head for being so fucking jaded about Metal. In the late 90′s and early 00′s, you’d be creaming your fucking pants just at the mention of someone possibly making Metal music.

    • http://www.facebook.com/people/Anthony-Noto/1173214408 Anthony Noto

      This x10000

    • http://www.facebook.com/people/Anthony-Noto/1173214408 Anthony Noto

      This x10,000

      • Gecko

        Amen dude.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Cary-Hutchison/713105300 Cary Hutchison

    Fuck ‘em, Napalm Records is where it’s at.

  • cosmoretro

    No. They are a damn rip-off label as far as I care, just check the situation with Anata…

  • mike

    I really dont like say anything negative but Earache records is light years behind other metal labels. Saying they are the future metal labels is kinda nieve considering their roster and their sales. I personally dont like their bands (At The Gates is the exception) but earache can be the future label is they try updating their roster and direction

  • Dimmu Burger

    uhm, last time i checked, people listen to metal because of the music. not because its a “trend”. that word has no place in metal. all of you people saying “OMG THER 2 POPULAR I DONT LIKE THEM ANYMORE” dont know what ur saying. this genre started with not caring about what people think of what you listen to. cant we just chill and not complain like bitches about whos trendy or not? i have seen warbringer live and i never once was reminded of any previous band that sounds like them. maybe all of you 45 year olds may be tired of thrash because you grew up with it, but what about the new generation? ever thought of that?

  • kris m.

    They got Wormrot. That’s all that matters,

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Matt-Elliott/510004365 Matt Elliott

    I come from the cite where Earache was started, Nottingham, UK harharharhr

  • Paradox Kirby (>^o^)>

    they would be a good metal label, except they have Oceano on their roster. That alone takes many points off the metal scale.

  • Utmu

    I enjoy a handful of bands on their roster, mostly the older bands like Napalm Death. Off the top of my head though, I do like 2 of the newer bands: Wormrot and Cerebral Bore.

  • Deebo

    Thrash, new thrash, re-thrash.
    Whatever.
    One main thing about thrash enthusiasts (among other sub genre enthusiasts) is that the older fans swear by it, and claim it was the best and only true form of metal music.
    As soon as any band deviates slightly from what ‘thrash’ is-everyone is up in arms.
    Same goes for any sub genre given to any heavy band.
    Pretty much the more ‘pure’ a sub genre is, the more limited it becomes, and the less those purists are willing to bend to musical evolution and modernization.
    All of a sudden everyone starts arguing and throwing around terms like ‘breakdowns’ ‘beatdowns’ ‘blast beats’ ‘slam riffs’ ‘the 80′s’ ‘ELEPHANT MARCHING RIFFS’ —thus further funneling the perspective of metal. >>ps- some of these terms are great though<<
    If a new band clings to an old sound they've shot themselves in the foot right off the bat. If that band doesn't know the proper history {and heaven forbid use a bloody chord in a song or something like that} the old fans write them off as 'too young' impure noobs, and younger fans can't relate as a whole because it's a throwback genre.
    Earache might be on the right track with the whole digital age thing, but agreed: their roster needs to be modernized. This would potentially create an accurate model for the direction of the music business. -Utilizing an up-to-date digitally-aware record label while acclimating the younger / new fans to new up-to-date bands. And don't call it a ("insert sub genre here") label. Just a heavy music label.

  • buster poindexter

    You might not like all their bands, but are you really supposed to? Then it would just be a cookie cutter label and people would bitch about that (Sumerian anyone?). Think about this too…a band like Oceano will pay for plenty of other good bands, so sometimes trendy shit is just good business. I’ll give anyone the benefit of doubt that is able to keep a metal label going for as long as they have.

  • goatman

    almost as big of sellouts as roadrunner. give me a fucking break