El Puerto Records | |
---|---|
Founded | 2014 |
Founder | Bernd Stelzer, Torsten Ihlenfeld |
Distributor(s) | Edel Music, Kontor New Media |
Genre | Heavy metal, hard rock, thrash metal, rock, glam rock, gothic rock, rock'n'roll, symphonic music |
Country of origin | Germany |
Location | Ulm |
Official website | https://el-puerto-records.com/en/ |
El Puerto Records is a German music label that was founded in 2014 in Gerstetten near Ulm by Bernd Stelzer and Torsten Ihlenfeld. [1] The main focus of the label is on rock / hard rock / heavy metal. In the beginning the distribution extends over Europe (Soulfood Music) and North America (Soulfood-Amped). In 2022, the distribution changed in favor of Edel Music and Kontor New Media.
The beginnings of El Puerto Records go back to 2011 when Stormwitch founder Harald Spengler (alias Lee Tarot) teamed up with co-founders Stefan Kauffmann (git) and Peter Langer (drums) to record new songs. After Spengler's death in 2013, the decision was made to continue Spengler's musical legacy under the name Witchbound. This also became the first release by El Puerto Records in 2015. This was followed in 2016 by the releases of "The Phans" (vintage rock) and Stepfather Fred (alternative rock), two bands from southern Germany, which the label noticed primarily because of their live qualities.
When Matt Bischof joined the promotion department, the label began to become increasingly international. With the American singer David Reece (ex-Accept) and his Sainted Sinners [2] (including Frank Pané (Bonfire) and Ferdy Doernberg), another big name joined the label in 2016. In 2017, the European distribution of Beasto Blanco [3] was taken over by two of the band members, Alice Cooper bassist Chuck Garric and Calico Cooper, the daughter of Alice Cooper. Souldrinker and Mystic Prophecy guitarist Markus Pohl made a debut in the same year. The increasing attention in the music scene led to larger and more experienced bands joining the label in 2018: Undertow [4] and the German thrash metal band Necronomicon. [5] With the Italians Alight and the Swiss Bloodlost, other bands joined. The year was rounded off by Mission in Black [6] and Ginger Red. [7] At the turn of the year 2019, Bodo Schopf (drummer from Michael Schenker and The Sweet) and David Readman (Pink Cream 69, Voodoo Circle, Almanac) joined Pendulum of Fortune [8] and Dark Blue Inc. [9] u. a. with Frank Pané (Bonfire), Göran Edman (Ex-Malmsteen), Hal Patino (Maryann Cotton, Ex-King Diamond and Ex-Pretty Maids). The latter came up with a guest appearance by Ian Paice [10] (Deep Purple) on the debut CD. The orientation of the labels, both to oblige bands from the immediate region and to perform internationally, ensured that more international acts joined the label in 2019: Nightqueen [11] from Belgium and, for the first time, a band from Australia - Envenomed. [12] In the summer of 2019, another old friend came with the Austrians Garagedays and the Sons Of Sounds from the Karlsruhe area: David Reece returned to El Puerto Records after a short interlude to continue his solo career there, as well as the Danish / US combo Maryann Cotton. Also from Denmark: Phonomics. But expansion continued in 2020 as well. Welicoruss from Siberia joined them, followed by two German metal bands (Scorged - Saarland, Red To Grey - Bavaria). With Last Days Of Eden (Symphonic Metal) and Dieversity (Melodic Death Metal) the label showed its versatility in the following years. In 2022, the decision was made to improve the digital positioning of the label. The decision was made to switch to Edel Music and Kontor New Media (digital), which enabled further renowned bands such as Dawn of Destiny, Crossplane, Dezperadoz and Vanish as well as the newcomers Dying Phoenix. 2023 began with a bang when Dispyria with Zak Stevens (ex-Savatage), Ralf Scheepers (Primal Fear) and Carsten "Lizard" Schulz as well as The Revenants (with Michelle Darkness / End Of Green) and Pontillo and The Vintage Crew (Gianni Pontillo / Victory) joined the label. The power metal albums by Elvenpath, Generation Steel and Stormage were also released under the pirate banner! 2024 started with the signings of the Finns Lost in Grey, as well as My Merry Machine and the comeback of Pussy Sisster.
Miguel Ángel Cancel Vázquez is a Puerto Rican singer, actor and retired police officer who began his career with the Puerto Rico-based boy band Menudo.
Helloween is a German power metal band founded in 1984 in Hamburg by members of bands Iron Fist, Gentry, Second Hell and Powerfool. It is said that the band is one of the most influential European heavy metal bands of the 1980s. Its first lineup consisted of singer and guitarist Kai Hansen, bassist Markus Grosskopf, guitarist Michael Weikath and drummer Ingo Schwichtenberg. By the time Hansen left Helloween in 1989 to form Gamma Ray, the band had evolved into a five-piece, with Michael Kiske taking over as lead vocalist. Schwichtenberg and Kiske both parted ways with Helloween in 1993; Schwichtenberg died two years later as the result of suicide. Between then and 2016, there had been numerous line-up changes, leaving Grosskopf and Weikath as the only remaining original members. As a septet, their current lineup includes four-fifths of the Keeper of the Seven Keys: Parts I and II-era (1987–1988) lineup, featuring three additional members, vocalist Andi Deris, guitarist Sascha Gerstner and drummer Daniel Löble.
Undertow is the debut studio album by the American rock band Tool, released on April 6, 1993, by Zoo Entertainment. Produced by the band and Sylvia Massy, it was recorded from October to December 1992 at Sound City Studios in Van Nuys and Grandmaster Recorders in Hollywood. The album includes some tracks the band decided to not release on their debut EP Opiate. This is their only album to feature original bassist Paul D'Amour.
Tales from the Elvenpath is the second compilation album by Finnish symphonic metal band Nightwish, released on 18 October 2004 by Drakkar Entertainment. Elvenpath is also the name of another Nightwish song, and although the compilation takes its name from that song, the song itself does not appear on the record, because that song is from the debut album, Angels Fall First, which was recorded with another record label.
DRT Entertainment was a New York City based independent record label founded in March 2004 by Derek Shulman, Ron Urban, and Theodore "Ted" Green. The label is defunct.
Michael Kiske is a German singer who is the co-lead vocalist for the power metal band Helloween. Kiske has also released four solo albums, two albums with the hard rock band Unisonic, has participated on various metal and rock related projects such as Avantasia, Place Vendome and Kiske/Somerville, and has performed with numerous bands as a guest vocalist.
Pendulum is an Australian electronic rock band founded in 2002. Pendulum originally formed in the city of Perth, Western Australia, by Rob Swire, Gareth McGrillen and Paul "El Hornet" Harding. The band was later expanded to include members Ben Mount, Peredur ap Gwynedd and KJ Sawka. The group is notable for its distinctive sound, mixing electronic music with hard rock and covering a wide range of genres.
The Flaming Sideburns are a garage punk/garage rock revival band that was formed in Helsinki, Finland in 1995. Most of the members are Finnish, but lead vocalist Jorge Eduardo "Speedo" Martinez is an Argentine expatriate.
Drakkar Entertainment GmbH, also called Drakkar Records or Drakkar Publishing, is a German record label with its headquarters in Witten. It is a joint venture with Bertelsmann Music Group.
Unholy is the second album by German metal band Brainstorm, released in 1998. On 23 March 2007 this album and Hungry were remastered by Achim Köhler and re-released by Century Media with four bonus tracks. Metal Blade Records reissued the album as a double CD with both the remastered and original version and all the bonus tracks.
Ricky Laureano is a Puerto Rican musician most known for being the guitarist and one of the main songwriters of the Rock en Español band Fiel a la Vega.
Soulfood Music Distribution GmbH is a German company distributing music and video games as well as related merchandise products. The company's distribution deals usually cover Germany, Austria and Switzerland (G/A/S). The headquarters of the company are located in Hamburg, Germany.
Juergen Steinmetz is a German musician. He is the bass player for Rock Ignition, Silent Force, Sons of Seasons, Lima and ex-member of Headstone Epitaph.
Tommy Henriksen is an American musician from Port Jefferson Station, New York, best known for his work as a guitarist, bassist and songwriter with Alice Cooper, Hollywood Vampires, Crossbone Skully and German metal band Warlock. He has also fronted punk rockers P.O.L. and released several albums as a solo artist. In addition, Henriksen is a songwriter, arranger, producer and mixer who has worked with artists such as Lady Gaga, Meat Loaf, Lou Reed, Halestorm, Kesha, and Daughtry. Henriksen is currently based out of Zurich, Switzerland where he lives with his family.
Hämatom is a German metal band that formed in 2004 in Speichersdorf, Franconia. They developed their style from Neue Deutsche Härte.
Necronomicon is a German thrash metal band.
Andy Susemihl is a German guitarist, singer, songwriter and record producer. He began his career in the 1980s and gained international success since 1987 in hard rock bands such as U.D.O. and Sinner.
Alltheniko are an Italian heavy metal band formed in Vercelli in 2002 by Dave Nightfight, Joe Boneshaker (guitar) and Luke the Idol (drums). The band's name comes from a pun involving the comune of Oldenico. The line-up never changed since the beginning.
Brotality is an American thrash and groove metal band that originated out of Narrowsburg, New York. The band began in 2016 between brothers Bryce (guitars/vocals) and Reece Maopolski (bass/vocals). In 2018, the band was joined by Liam Fenton on drums and the band began to record and perform shows alongside the likes of Knocked Loose, Red, Deep Purple, and Judas Priest. The band cites Mastodon, Alice Cooper, Metallica, Silent Planet, August Burns Red, and many others as influences.