There are so many labels out there, and invariably I'll forget some in my attempts to create any sort of comprehensive list, so I'm just going to freewheel it. I'll start with some metal labels, or at least labels whose primary focus is metal.
For a few years, I obsessively bought a fair amount of music from the Finnish label, Blood Music, which is the work of one anonymous person who seems to have a fine eye for detail and quality, both in the bands he chooses to release and the packaging of said releases. I won't go into details about the bands, but I became a fan of a bunch of new musicians, some of them only having the most tenuous connection with metal, and some not being metal at all. It all started with buying the double vinyl release , "Gallows Gallery," by insane Japanese metal band Sigh back in 2012 or so, and the only reason I haven't been buying as much from the label lately is that they've really slowed down their release schedule while the anonymous label guy focuses on making video games or something.
Minotauro Records will forever have a place in my heart for releasing all of the early Paul Chain records. Their Bandcamp page is basically a portal to a Paul Chain Bandcamp page, and to an project/musician named Tele S. Therion who I know nothing about, but will explore soon. I'm not sure what Minotauro's arrangement with Paolo Catena (formerly known as Paul Chain) is, since Catena has now distanced himself from that pseudonym, preferring instead to make abstract art and minimalist synth drone/experimental music (which also comes highly recommended - look him up on Facebook).
Minotauro Records Bandcamp here.
Heading north to Finland again (but we were just there!, you cry), I would be remiss if I didn't mention the indescribably Ektro Records, home to Circle and about 700 other bands who share or have shared members with Circle, plus other bands lumped under the tongue slightly in cheek NWOFHM (New Wave of Finnish Heavy Metal) moniker. Imagine krautrock,classic metal, experimental, and a few kitchen sinks crammed together in an icy cabin where everybody is going stir crazy, and you have a starting point. There is a genuine appreciation for the cheesier side of heavy metal, a mastermind who plays sociological experiments on his own fanbase, and some of my favorite records in the Ektro arena. I'm planning on doing a rather large order soon because there is sale on over at their main site.
Shadow Kingdom Records is a U.S. label flying the flag of traditional metal, with nods to various subgenres like doom metal and such. There is a strong early eighties NWOBHM feel to some of the bands on their site. I haven't had a chance to listen to everything, but I've listened to (and bought) enough to know that I'll be back for more.
Shadow Kingdom Records Bandcamp here.
Bindrune Recordings is the home of one of my current favorite black metal/bluegrass bands, Panopticon, and other forward thinking genre-mixing artists. Again, I haven't explored it all, but so far, so good.
Bindrune Recordings Bandcamp here.
Prophecy is home to some of my absolute favorite musicians (even if some of them cough... Tenhi... take a long time to release new albums). Plenty of rabbit holes to disappear down over at their Bandcamp page. Bring a light. It gets pretty dark in there.
Okay, one more for the day... Profound Lore are another fearless label committed to musical innovation. Again, the music is dark, but hey, dark music for dark times! Wallow in it.
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