SharpTone Records

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SharpTone Records
FoundedSeptember 11, 2013 (September 11, 2013)
Founder
Distributor(s)Nuclear Blast, Believe
Genre
Country of originUnited States
LocationLos Angeles, California
Official websitesharptonerecords.co

SharpTone Records is an American independent record label started on September 11, 2013. The label was founded by Nuclear Blast CEO Markus Staiger and former vice president of Sumerian Records Shawn Keith. The label's roster includes an amalgamation of metalcore and rock bands: Don Broco, Loathe, Miss May I, We Came as Romans, Of Mice & Men, Holding Absence, Story of the Year, August Burns Red, Polaris, Currents, Crystal Lake, Emmure, and Alt.

History[edit]

Conception and first releases (2013)[edit]

The record label was started by Markus Staiger, the current CEO of Nuclear Blast Records and Shawn Keith, the former vice president of Sumerian Records.[1] The label has been described as an offshoot label of Nuclear Blast which primarily focuses on rock and alternative music, similar to Arising Empire. Arising Empire focuses on metalcore and punk bands.[2] In an interview, Keith spoke about the label: "Developing this label has been very exciting for me. The opportunity to partner and cultivate new and established artists working toward broadening their global potential is thrilling. SharpTone will continue to diversify and evolve as a brand for music fans to truly identify with. We are not just another record label. We are a new-music company, allowing artists to be as creative and passionate as they choose to be."[1]

The record label was first hinted at on June 23, 2016,[3] when the several bands shared a mysterious teaser image reading "A New Era of Music Begins..." on their social media. These bands included Attila, Don Broco, Loathe, Miss May I and We Came as Romans.[4] The following day, the former mentioned bands, plus rock band Word War Me, were all confirmed to be members of the newly established independent music label that came to be known as SharpTone Records.[5] The first release of the label would be a re-issue of the debut EP Prepare Consume Proceed by UK metal band Loathe less than a month later, but the labels first studio album release would be Attila's sixth album titled Chaos, released November 4 the same year.[6][7] Other later releases for the year included the American release of Don Broco's Automatic, and a release of Craig Owens new side project, badXchannels, who was also signed later in 2016, with the EP being named WHYDFML. Other artists who were also labelled in late 2016 included Emmure and Widowmaker.[8][9][10]

Releases and signings (2017–present)[edit]

The label's roster would increase from nine bands in 2016 to seventeen acts by the end of 2017. They released 12 studio albums from bands including Emmure's Look at Yourself, Loathe's The Cold Sun, While She Sleeps' You Are We, and Miss May I's Shadows Inside to name a few. In 2018, along with signing four new bands including Bleeding Through, the label's first band to move away from the label, Attila, said they wanted absolute creative freedom. That was their reason for going solo without the help of any record label.[11][12] In 2018 the label issued Don Broco's Technology, Sink the Ship's Persevere, and Bleeding Through's Love Will Kill All among others.[13][14]

Music[edit]

The record label primarily focuses on different subgenres within rock music, more specifically the post-hardcore and progressive metalcore side of rock.[15] Early signings included Attila,[16] Emmure,[9] Currents,[17] and Loathe.[18]

Roster[edit]

Current artists[edit]

List of all current artists signed with Sharptone
Artist Year Labelled Origin Genres
Vukovi 2023[19] UK: Kilwinning, Scotland Pop-punk
156/Silence 2020[20] US: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Metalcore
Alpha Wolf 2017[21] Australia: Burnie, Tasmania Metalcore
Alt. 2022 Australia: Adelaide, South Australia Post-hardcore
Alternative rock
August Burns Red 2022[22] US: Lancaster, Pennsylvania Metalcore
Better Lovers 2023[23] US: Buffalo, New York Metalcore
Hardcore punk
Mathcore
Bleeding Through 2018[11] US: Orange County, California Metalcore
Boston Manor 2021[24] UK: Blackpool, England Punk rock
Broadside 2020[25] US: Richmond, Virginia Pop-punk
Emo
Caskets 2020[26] UK: Leeds, England Post-hardcore
Currents 2017[27] US: Connecticut Metalcore
Crystal Lake 2018[28] Japan: Tokyo Metalcore
Dead Lakes 2020 US: Seattle, Washington Post-hardcore
Alternative rock
Don Broco 2016[1] UK: Bedford, England Rock
Dying Wish 2020 US: Portland, Oregon Metalcore
Emmure 2016[9] US: New Fairfield, Connecticut Metalcore
Foreign Hands 2022 US: Delaware Metalcore
The Gloom In The Corner 2022[29] Australia: Melbourne Metalcore
Heart of Gold 2019 UK Dream pop
Holding Absence 2017[15] UK: Cardiff, Wales Post-hardcore
Alternative rock
Jamie's Elsewhere 2023 US: Sacramento, California Metalcore
Kingdom of Giants 2019[30] US: Northern California Metalcore
Kingsmen 2018[31] US: Providence, Rhode Island Metalcore
Letters Sent Home 2023[32] Germany Pop rock
Loathe 2016[1] UK: Liverpool, England Metalcore
Make Them Suffer 2023 Australia: Perth Metalcore
Miss May I 2016[1] US: Troy, Ohio Metalcore
Of Mice & Men 2021[33] US: Costa Mesa, California Metalcore
Paledusk 2023 Japan: Fukuoka Metalcore
Polaris 2017[34] Australia: Sydney Metalcore
Pridelands 2021 Australia: Mount Gambier Alternative metal
Profiler 2021[35] UK: Bristol, England Metalcore
Savage Hands 2018[36] US: Waldorf, Maryland Post-hardcore
Senna 2022 Germany: Mannheim Post-hardcore
Sentinels 2021[37] US: New Jersey Metalcore
Stepson 2020 Australia: Brisbane Melodic hardcore
Story of the Year 2022 US: St. Louis, Missouri Post-hardcore
Emo
We Came as Romans 2016[1] US: Troy, Michigan Metalcore
Post-hardcore

Former artists[edit]

List of all former artists no longer signed with Sharptone
Artist Years Labelled Origin Genre's
Across the Atlantic 2017[38]–2018 US: Texas Post-hardcore
Alazka 2017[17] Germany: Recklinghausen Post-hardcore
Annisokay 2017[39] Germany: Halle (Saale), Saxony-Anhalt Post-hardcore
Any Given Day 2019[40] Germany: Gelsenkirchen Metalcore
Attila 2016[1]–2018[12] US: Atlanta, Georgia Metalcore
badXchannels 2016[8] US: Davison, Michigan R&B, Pop-punk, Post-hardcore
Being as an Ocean 2017[41] US: San Diego, California Post-hardcore
Commonwealth 2016[42] US: California Rock
ExitWounds 2018–2019[31] US: Indianapolis, Indiana Metalcore
Imminence 2017[43] Sweden: Trelleborg Post-hardcore
In Search of Solace 2019–2021 US: Minneapolis, Minnesota Metalcore
Make Out Monday 2018[44] US: Los Angeles, California Rock
Novelists 2017–2020[45] France: Paris Metalcore
Of Virtue 2019[46] US: Lansing, Michigan Metalcore
Rise of the Northstar 2018[47] France: Paris Hardcore punk
Sink the Ship 2018[48] US: Cleveland, Ohio Post-hardcore
Stuck Out 2020–2022 Australia: Melbourne Pop punk
While She Sleeps 2017[49]–2018 UK: Sheffield, England Metalcore
Widowmaker 2016[10] US: Huntsville, Alabama Deathcore
Send Request 2018[50] US: Nanticoke, Pennsylvania Pop punk, Post-hardcore
Settle Your Scores 2018[51] US: Cincinnati, Ohio Pop punk
Telltale 2019[52] US: Richmond, Virginia Alternative
Pop punk
The Wise Man's Fear 2020[53]–2021 US: Indianapolis, Indiana Metalcore
Post-hardcore
World War Me 2016–2019 US: Chicago, Illinois Rock

Releases[edit]

Sharptone Records discography
Studio albums55
EPs10
Album Type Artist Release date
Prepare Consume Proceed (Re-issue) EP Loathe July 8, 2016
Chaos Studio Album Attila November 4, 2016
Automatic (North American Release) Don Broco November 11, 2016
WHYDFML[8] EP badXchannels November 18, 2016
Look at Yourself Studio Album Emmure March 3, 2017
This Is Goodbye[54] Imminence March 31, 2017
The Cold Sun Loathe April 14, 2017
You Are We While She Sleeps April 21, 2017
Shadows Inside Miss May I June 2, 2017
The Place I Feel Safest[55] Currents June 16, 2017
Widowmaker[56][better source needed] Widowmaker July 7, 2017
Phoenix[57] ALAZKA September 1, 2017
Works of Progress[58] Across the Atlantic September 1, 2017
Noir[45] Novelists September 8, 2017
World War Me[59] World War Me October 6, 2017
Cold Like War We Came as Romans October 20, 2017
The Mortal Coil Polaris November 3, 2017
Technology Don Broco February 2, 2018
This Is as One Split EP Loathe/Holding Absence February 16, 2018
Barely Alive Studio Album Savage Hands March 2, 2018
Better Luck Tomorrow Settle Your Scores April 13, 2018
Persevere Sink the Ship April 27, 2018
Love Will Kill All Bleeding Through May 25, 2018
Arms Annisokay August 17, 2018
Perspectives Send Request August 24, 2018
Waiting for Morning to Come (Deluxe Edition) Being as an Ocean September 7, 2018
The Legacy of Shi Rise of the Northstar October 19, 2018
Visions of Hollywood Make Out Monday October 26, 2018
Split Series #1 Split EP Kingsmen/ExitWounds November 2, 2018
I Let the Devil In EP Currents December 14, 2018
Everyone Around Me Studio Album Commonwealth January 18, 2019
Helix Crystal Lake February 15, 2019
Holding Absence Holding Absence March 8, 2019
Overpower Any Given Day March 15, 2019
Fault EP Alpha Wolf April 19, 2019
Timeless Youth Telltale April 26, 2019
What Defines You Studio Album Of Virtue May 24, 2019
The Truth in Your Eyes Studio Album Savage Hands January 31, 2020
I Let It In and It Took Everything Studio Album Loathe February 7, 2020
The Death of Me Studio Album Polaris February 21, 2020
Revenge. Forgiveness. Recovery. Studio Album Kingsmen April 10, 2020
The Way It Ends Studio Album Currents June 5, 2020
Hindsight Studio Album Emmure June 26, 2020
Into The Raging Sea Studio Album Broadside July 24, 2020
A Quiet Place to Die Studio Album Alpha Wolf September 25, 2020
Irrational Pull Studio Album 156/Silence October 5, 2020
Passenger Studio Album Kingdom of Giants October 16, 2020
The Things They Believe Studio Album Loathe February 7, 2021
The Greatest Mistake of My Life Studio Album Holding Absence April 16, 2021
Help Me, Help You Studio Album Stepson May 26, 2021
Lost Souls Studio Album Caskets August 13, 2021
Fragments of a Bitter Memory Studio Album Dying Wish October 1, 2021
Amazing Things Studio Album Don Broco October 22, 2021
Collapse by Design Studio Album Sentinels October 22, 2021
Echo Studio Album Of Mice & Men December 3, 2021
Lie Your Way Out EP Telltale March 25, 2022
Profiler EP Profiler June 24, 2022
Beautiful Dangerous Studio Album Heart of Gold August 12, 2022
The Lost & the Longing Split EP Alpha Wolf/Holding Absence August 15, 2022
Curse of Existence Studio Album Miss May I September 2, 2022
Narrative Studio Album 156/Silence September 2, 2022
Darkbloom Studio Album We Came As Romans October 14, 2022
Datura Studio Album Boston Manor October 14, 2022
Trinity Studio Album The Gloom in the Corner October 28, 2022
Tear Me to Pieces Studio Album Story of the Year March 10, 2023
Death Below Studio Album August Burns Red March 24, 2023
Bones Don't Lie Studio Album Kingsmen March 31, 2023
Rock Bottom EP Savage Hands April 7, 2023
The Death We Seek Studio Album Currents May 5, 2023
Fatalism Studio Album Polaris September 1, 2023
Symptoms of Survival Studio Album Dying Wish November 3, 2023

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g "SharpTone Records Opens With Attila, Miss May I & We Came as Romans on Roster". Billboard. June 24, 2016. Retrieved May 2, 2018.
  2. ^ "Nuclear Blast: Metal record label's 30-year history". loudersound. Retrieved May 7, 2018.
  3. ^ "Attila, Miss May I, WCAR rumored to have signed with new label". Lambgoat. Retrieved June 16, 2021.
  4. ^ "Multiple metalcore bands have shared this image". Alternative Press. June 24, 2016. Retrieved January 18, 2018.
  5. ^ "Attila, We Came As Romans, Miss May I, others leave current record labels for new company". Alternative Press. June 24, 2016. Retrieved January 18, 2018.
  6. ^ "Loathe Re-Release New EP, Prepare Consume Proceed - National Rock Review". www.nationalrockreview.com. July 12, 2016. Retrieved May 7, 2018.
  7. ^ "Attila's "Chaos" is as much a celebration as it is a confrontation". Alternative Press. October 27, 2016. Retrieved May 7, 2018.
  8. ^ a b c Sayce, Rob (October 31, 2016). "Craig Owens Has A Weird New Project - News - Rock Sound Magazine". Rock Sound Magazine. Retrieved May 7, 2018.
  9. ^ a b c "Emmure drop first single with new lineup, sign deal with SharpTone Records—listen". Alternative Press. October 13, 2016. Retrieved January 18, 2018.
  10. ^ a b "Widowmaker Sign A Deal With SharpTone, New Video Streaming". Ultimate Guitar. May 12, 2017. Retrieved May 7, 2018.
  11. ^ a b Robert Pasbani (January 22, 2018). "BLEEDING THROUGH Forging A Comeback, New Album Coming This Year?". Metal Injection. Retrieved May 2, 2018.
  12. ^ a b Natasha Heinz (February 13, 2018). "Attila announce they're unsigned, tease new music: 'We can do anything we want'". Alternative Press. Retrieved May 7, 2018.
  13. ^ Everley, Dave (February 13, 2018). "Technology Sharptone Out Now Bedford Bro-Rock-Ers' Overdone Third Album". Q: 108. Retrieved May 8, 2018 – via PressReader.
  14. ^ "Persevere - Sink the Ship | Releases". AllMusic. Retrieved May 7, 2018.
  15. ^ a b Caitlyn Ralph (February 10, 2017). "Sharptone Records sign Cardiff heavyweights Holding Absence—watch their new video". Alternative Press. Retrieved May 2, 2018.
  16. ^ "Attila announce new album, headlining tour". Alternative Press. August 2016. Retrieved January 18, 2018.
  17. ^ a b Lindy Smith (April 7, 2017). "SharpTone Records signs new band and other news you might have missed today". Alternative Press. Retrieved January 18, 2018.
  18. ^ "Watch Loathe's Crushing Video For New Song 'Dance On My Skin'". Rock Sound Magazine. Retrieved January 18, 2018.
  19. ^ "SharpTone Records signs Vukovi". Lambgoat. July 28, 2023. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
  20. ^ "SharpTone Records signs 156/silence". Lambgoat. October 6, 2020. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
  21. ^ "Alpha Wolf Sign to SharpTone Records + Announce New EP 'Fault'". Sound Fiction. March 22, 2019. Retrieved April 22, 2019.
  22. ^ "August Burns Red sign with SharpTone Records, prepare new album". Lambgoat. March 25, 2022. Retrieved March 25, 2022.
  23. ^ https://www.brooklynvegan.com/ex-every-time-i-die-members-dillinger-escape-plans-greg-puciato-form-new-band-better-lovers-share-debut-single/
  24. ^ "NEWS: Boston Manor sign to SharpTone Records!". Dead Press!. July 23, 2021. Retrieved October 11, 2021.
  25. ^ Broadside announce Sharptone signing with new song "Foolish Believer"
  26. ^ "Captives Joins Sharptone". SharpTone Records. December 2, 2020. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
  27. ^ "Currents Sign With SharpTone Records, Debut "Night Terrors" Video". Theprp.com. March 3, 2017. Retrieved May 2, 2018.
  28. ^ "Crystal Lake Joins Sharptone". SharpTone Records. November 28, 2018. Retrieved December 6, 2018.
  29. ^ "All Hail The Gloom In The Corner – New Label, Single, Record (Features Central)". Wall of Sound AU. Retrieved July 28, 2022.
  30. ^ "Kingdom Of Giants sign with SharpTone Records, premiere single". Lambgoat. February 7, 2019. Retrieved February 8, 2019.
  31. ^ a b "Sharptone Records Launches New Split Record Series *Split Series #1 Feat. Kingsmen & Exitwounds out Nov 2nd*". thenetwork317.net. October 23, 2018. Retrieved November 27, 2018.
  32. ^ Major, Michael. "Letters Sent Home Release New Single 'Request Denied'". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved October 28, 2023.
  33. ^ "OF MICE & MEN Announces 'Timeless' EP, Drops New Song 'Obsolete'". Blabbermouth.net. January 13, 2021. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
  34. ^ "【NEWS】オージー産メタルコアバンドPolaris (SharpTone Records)が今週リリースのデビューアルバムから新曲 "LUCID" のMusic Videoを公開". Alternative Press Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved May 2, 2018.
  35. ^ "LISTEN: The Potent Debut Single from Profiler, SharpTone Records' New Signing - News".
  36. ^ "【NEWS】ポストハードコアバンドSavage Hands (SharpTone Records) がデビューEPから "Unconditional" のMusic Videoを公開". Alternative Press Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved May 7, 2018.
  37. ^ "Sentinels sign to Sharptone Records, share intense new single "Inertia"". Bring the Noise. February 4, 2021. Retrieved June 28, 2021.
  38. ^ "Across The Atlantic And SharpTone Records Sign A Deal, "24 Hours" Video Streaming". Retrieved May 2, 2018.
  39. ^ "SharpTone Records Announces Signing of ANNISOKAY". Sound Fiction. July 13, 2018. Retrieved November 27, 2018.
  40. ^ "Any Given Day Release 'Overpower'". SharpTone Records. March 15, 2019. Retrieved April 22, 2019.
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  43. ^ "Imminence release awesome new video and other news you might have missed today". Alternative Press. March 31, 2017. Retrieved May 2, 2018.
  44. ^ "Make Out Monday Sign To SharpTone Records & Share Music Video for New Single, "Bullet For Your Sweetheart"". The Prelude Press. October 26, 2018. Retrieved November 27, 2018.
  45. ^ a b "Novelists announce new album 'Noir' - Distorted Sound Magazine". Distorted Sound Magazine. July 28, 2017. Retrieved May 7, 2018.
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  48. ^ "【NEWS】イージーコアバンドSink The Ship (SharpTone Records)がデビューアルバムを4月にリリース、新曲 "Second Chances" のMusic Videoを公開". Alternative Press Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved May 7, 2018.
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  50. ^ "SEND REQUEST Announce Signing With Sharptone Records". Rock 'N' Load Magazine. July 13, 2018. Retrieved November 27, 2018.
  51. ^ "Settle Your Scores New Single 'Zero Hour' Is Pretty Much Pop-Punk Perfection". Rock Sound Magazineen-GB. Retrieved May 7, 2018.
  52. ^ "Telltale Signs to SharpTone Records + Announces New EP 'Timeless Youth'". Sound Fiction. March 4, 2019. Retrieved April 22, 2019.
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  55. ^ "The Place I Feel Safest - Currents | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved May 7, 2018.
  56. ^ "It's Here - Widowmaker Release Debut Album + New Video". SharpTone Records. July 7, 2017. Retrieved May 7, 2018.
  57. ^ "German melodic hardcore act Alazka premiere intense music video for "Ghost"—watch". Alternative Press. August 4, 2017. Retrieved May 7, 2018.
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  59. ^ "Listen To World War Me's New Song". Rock Sound Magazine. Retrieved May 7, 2018.

External links[edit]