| EMP Label Group | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Founded | October 2015 |
| Founder | David Ellefson |
| Distributor(s) | eOne, [1] [2] SPV [3] |
| Genre | Death metal, hard rock, metalcore |
| Country of origin | U.S. |
| Official website | emplabelgroup |
EMP Label Group, also known as Ellefson Music Productions, is an American record label formed in October 2015, which was founded by former Megadeth bassist David Ellefson.
In October 2015 it was announced that Ellefson had launched a record label and production company, Ellefson Music Productions, also known as EMP Label Group, and would release In Your Face, the debut EP from Phoenix-based all-girl Pop-Punk group Doll Skin, a band Ellefson also produced, in conjunction with Megaforce Records in North America, and Cargo Records in Europe. [4] [5] The EP was released October 30 in North America, and December 18 in Europe, and re-released as an LP titled In Your Face (Again) in March 2016 via eOne Distribution. The singles from the LP received airplay on many prominent stations in the US and Europe, including Rodney Bingenheimer's weekly show on influential LA Rock station KROQ.
It was also announced, via social media, that Ellefson had tapped former major label A&R Scout, Marketing Exec, and Corporate Punishment Records and THC : Music President Thom Hazaert, known for his work with artists including Bleed the Sky, Chimaira, Limp Bizkit, Ghost Machine (featuring Ivan Moody of Five Finger Death Punch), Black Light Burns, American Head Charge, Depswa, Bumblefoot, Staind, and more, to oversee Marketing, A&R, and operations, and several additional releases would be announced for 2016. [6]
Since forming in 2015, EMP Label Group has become a major independent label, securing distribution from eOne Distribution in North America, and SPV Records in Europe, with a large Rock and Metal roster spread among several imprints including EMP Label Group (Ellefson Music Productions in Europe), and EMP Underground, including Cage9, Another Lost Year, Dead by Wednesday, Even The Dead Love A Parade (Featuring Stevie Benton of Drowning Pool), Arise in Chaos, Green Death, Helstar, Ancient, Heaven Below (Featuring Patrick Kennison of The Union Underground), Semblant, Machinage, Chuck Mosley, formerly of Faith No More, Apollo Under Fire (Featuring Peter Klett formerly of Candlebox), Your Chance to Die, Solus Deus and many more. [7] [8] [9]
Ellefson also appears on a recurring segment "Mandatory Megadeth" on Hazaert's Dash Radio show AM/PM WITH THOM HAZAERT, and is a frequent guest, often discussing EMP, DOLL SKIN, and their various collaborations. [10] In August 2016, Orange county hard rockers Behind The Fallen signed a deal with EMP Label Group. [11]
In 2016, EMP announced the formation of EMP UNDERGROUND, an imprint featuring more "extreme, subversive, and underground" artists with a roster that includes Solus Deus, Skumlove, Ancient, Your Chance to Die, Killing The Messenger, and Helstar. [1] [12] The label has also released a compilation of EMP and Unsigned artists called EMP UNDERGROUND Volume One. [13]
Additional imprints include Hazaert's THC MUSIC, which has released or co-released LP's from Chuck Mosley and Dead By Wednesday. The label also reformed and relaunched Combat Records, which was home to Ellefson's former band Megadeth, where they released all of the Megadeth albums up till Countdown to Extinction . [14]
Megadeth is an American thrash metal band formed in Los Angeles in 1983 by vocalist/guitarist Dave Mustaine. Known for their technically complex guitar work and musicianship, Megadeth is one of the "big four" of American thrash metal along with Metallica, Anthrax, and Slayer, responsible for the genre's development and popularization. Their music features complex arrangements and fast rhythm sections, dual lead guitars, and lyrical themes of war, politics, religion, death, and personal relationships.
David Warren Ellefson is an American musician, best known for his long tenure as the bassist for thrash metal band Megadeth.
Chris Poland is an American guitarist, best known as the former guitarist of the thrash metal band Megadeth. Since 2002, Poland has been the guitarist of the instrumental rock/jazz fusion bands OHM and OHMphrey, among others, and has appeared on several projects and albums from a variety of different genres.
Combat Records was an American independent record label founded in 1983 and based in New York City.
Helstar is an American heavy metal band formed in Houston, Texas, in 1982 by guitarist Larry Barragan. They were an influential force in the American power metal genre emerging in the mid-1980s.
James LoMenzo is an American musician, currently the bassist for thrash metal band Megadeth. LoMenzo was a member of White Lion, performing with them from 1984 to 1991. He was later the bassist for Black Label Society and Slash's Snakepit. In August 2021, LoMenzo was announced as the touring bassist for Megadeth following David Ellefson's dismissal and in June 2022 was announced as a permanent replacement. Outside music, he is known for being a contestant on the 21st season of the reality television series The Amazing Race.
American thrash metal band Megadeth has released sixteen studio albums, six live albums, seven compilation albums, one EP, fifty-nine singles, ten video albums, and fifty music videos. After he was fired from Metallica in 1983, guitarist and vocalist Dave Mustaine formed Megadeth along with bassist Dave Ellefson, guitarist Greg Handevidt, and drummer Richard Girod. After some initial lineup changes during 1984, Megadeth's lineup was cemented, consisting of guitarist Dave Mustaine, bassist Dave Ellefson, guitarist Chris Poland, and drummer Gar Samuelson. The band toured and gained a following, signing with the independent label Combat Records in late 1984. Megadeth's debut album Killing Is My Business... and Business Is Good! (1985), sold very well for an independent release, and the group attracted the attention of major record labels. By the end of the year, the group signed with Capitol Records. Megadeth's first major-label album, Peace Sells... but Who's Buying?, was released in 1986.
Switched was an American nu metal band from Cleveland, Ohio.
Waylon Reavis is an American musician best known for being a former vocalist for American heavy metal band Mushroomhead. He was in Mushroomhead from 2004-2015 and with them released three albums: Savior Sorrow (2006), Beautiful Stories for Ugly Children (2010), and Righteous and the Butterfly (2014). He has also performed vocals for the Cleveland-based band Tenafly Viper and the alternative rock band 3 Quarters Dead. Reavis starred in the 2011 movie horror 13th Sign
Killer Dwarfs is a Canadian hard rock band that formed in late 1981 in Oshawa, Ontario, and enjoyed moderate success in their native Canada in the 1980s. The band is known for its offbeat sense of humour and was nominated for two Juno Awards during its career. Killer Dwarfs were sometimes compared to NWOBHM acts such as Iron Maiden and Saxon.
F5 is a heavy metal band based out of Phoenix, Arizona, which features ex-Megadeth bassist David Ellefson and ex-Megadeth drummer Jimmy DeGrasso.
Thom Hazaert is an American musician, author/journalist, music executive and radio personality. He was co-founder and president of Corporate Punishment Records and currently runs THC: MUSIC, a management firm and label. With David Ellefson, he relaunched legendary metal label Combat Records, as part of EMP Label Group. Hazaert's work was also influential in the early advent of lifestyle street and viral marketing among rock acts, as an independent consultant for record labels including Flip Records, Interscope Records, Warner Bros. Records, Hollywood Records, Jive Records, and as co-founder of Total Assault Street Teams.
Noah "Shark" Robertson is an American drummer, comedian, and writer. He is one of the founding members of The Browning. He was also the drummer of Motograter from 2013 to 2017. Robertson is currently the drummer for Jeffrey Nothing, former vocalist and founding member of Mushroomhead.
Solus Deus was a death metal supergroup project from Orange County, California, United States. All of its musicians have been in other bands, such as Bleed the Sky, Living Sacrifice, Chimaira, Time Spent Burning, The Elite, and Once to Die. The band's name means "Only God", which vocalist Jey Collins says is personal to him. Other band members have their own personal beliefs. However, Solus Deus does not claim to be a religious band. In 2016, the band signed to EMP Underground, and Imprint of Dave Ellefson's (ex-Megadeth) label, EMP Label Group, who have a distributing deal through eOne.
Doll Skin was an American rock band from Phoenix, Arizona, United States. The original band members met at School of Rock Scottsdale. Their sound blended a blend of punk, metal, alternative, and pop. Doll Skin has been compared to bands ranging from The Donnas to The Go-Go's to The Runaways. They have received press coverage in Alternative Press, Phoenix New TimesBillboard, Rock Sound, Kerrang and Bravewords.
Your Chance to Die is an American melodic death metal band from Columbia, South Carolina, formed in 2007.
A Killer's Confession is an American alternative metal band from Cleveland, Ohio formed in 2016. The band consist of vocalist Waylon Reavis, drummer Lee Hutt, bassist JP Cross and guitarist James Skrtich.
Andrew Lawrence Fortier is an American musician, guitarist, filmmaker, actor, and author. He is best known for his work with The Lucid; which he cofounded alongside Vinnie Dombroski (Sponge), David Ellefson, and Mike Heller. He was guitarist for the now late Chuck Mosley. He has directed and edited the documentary Attack of Life: The Bang Tango Movie as well as the David Ellefson produced horror film Dwellers which Fortier also wrote and stars in. He is the author of Dark, Depressing, and Hilarious which is an autobiography on his career thus far.
The Sick, the Dying... and the Dead! is the sixteenth studio album by American thrash metal band Megadeth, released on September 2, 2022, on frontman Dave Mustaine's Tradecraft label via Universal. It is the first Megadeth album to feature drummer Dirk Verbeuren, their last album with guitarist Kiko Loureiro, and their first studio album in six years since Dystopia (2016), marking the longest gap between two studio albums in the band's career. The album was produced by Mustaine and Chris Rakestraw.
