Trustkill Records

Last updated
Trustkill Records'
Trustkill logo.jpg
Founded1993 (1993)
Defunct2010 (2010)
StatusActive
Distributor(s) Fontana Distribution
Genre Hardcore punk, metalcore, alternative rock
Country of originU.S.
Official website trustkill.com

Trustkill Records is an American independent record label that started as a hardcore punk fanzine in April 1993. It started releasing hardcore, metal and rock records and merchandise in 1994. In 2010, the president of Trustkill, Josh Grabelle, formed a new label called Bullet Tooth Records. In 2022, the rights to the label were reverted to Grabelle and he resumed operations. The label has sold over two million albums worldwide. [1]

Contents

Distribution

On January 9, 2007, Trustkill signed a deal for exclusive distribution in North America with Fontana Distribution, which is under the Universal Music Group umbrella. Trustkill is also distributed by SPV (Europe), Shock (Australia), JVC/Howling Bull (Japan), David Gresham (South Africa), and Liberation (Brazil).

In 2009, independent hardcore label Think Fast! Records signed a worldwide distribution deal with Trustkill Records. [2] Later in 2009, No Sleep Records also signed a worldwide distribution deal with Trustkill. [3]

In June 2010, president/A&R Josh Grabelle left Trustkill Records and started a new label called Bullet Tooth Records. [4] [5] The label's distributor still holds the rights to all of the albums released through the label and will still continue to print Trustkill releases and use the Trustkill logo. Since it is unlikely that their distributor will continue to sign new bands and print new releases, Trustkill is considered to be a defunct label. [4] Many of the bands that were signed to the label at this time were re-signed to Bullet Tooth including Memphis May Fire and Most Precious Blood. [6]

In a 2012 interview, Grabelle announced the formation of another record label. Named Gypsey Diamond, it will sign and release music by pop and electronica artists. [7]

In a 2013 interview with SoundCrave Magazine, Grabelle further explained the situation regarding Trustkill's demise:

I had to walk away from Trustkill. I got into a distribution deal that when I signed it made sense to everyone involved back in 2007. Fast forward it a few years and there was a whole new regime at the distribution company that didn’t necessarily like my deal. The business was kind of in a downward spiral and we got hit with a pretty bad recession all at once. They wouldn’t let me out of my deal, they stopped paying me. I couldn’t sign bands, I couldn’t pay bands. I just couldn’t do anything so I just had to walk away and start clean....I kind of held on to this hope that they would renegotiate or allow me to make some moves and continue on with Trustkill, but it didn’t work out that way. I just fought and fought for like a year and a half and they were just not budging. [8]

Controversies

Several bands signed to the label experienced problems, as detailed below.

Hopesfall

After their breakup at the beginning of 2008, Hopesfall began releasing negative comments about Trustkill including "I hate Trustkill and its owner. Hahahaha. He's not the reason we broke up but I (we) do hate him." [9] The band claimed to be $20,000 in debt due to Trustkill's President, Josh Grabelle, and also claimed that Trustkill "ripped off the band" by removing songs from their final album Magnetic North without discussing it with the band first. The album was recorded, mastered, and ready to be released when the songs were removed by Trustkill. Hopesfall later released a downloadable file containing b-sides and demos from Magnetic North. In an interview on Ryan's Rock Show, drummer Jason Trabue stated that Grabelle added Hopesfall to Warped Tour in 2005, then two weeks into the tour, Grabelle stopped paying for the bus. The band had to take out a loan to pay the driver and get home. [10] In the same interview, Trabue stated that Grabelle "pretty much owed every band on that label money."

In response to these issues, Grabelle stated that, "[Trabue] does not speak a shred of truth... I heard those guys got into some pretty hardcore drugs... and they are just miserable." [9]

Bleeding Through

In 2007, Bleeding Through suggested to Trustkill that they would like to release a reissue of their 2006 release The Truth but the idea was rejected for various reasons. In 2008, Trustkill reissued The Truth with bonus tracks and a bonus DVD of which the band had no knowledge of. Bleeding Through believes that the reissue is a "fast and overt attempt to pay some bills." [11] Bleeding Through also had issues with Trustkill and their new album Declaration . Trustkill violated the band's contract by letting them enter the studio in March 2008 and only funding less than 25% of the recording costs; the rest was paid via loans from lead singer Brandan Schieppati's father and the band's management. Bleeding Through commented on the current state of the label, "Trustkill no longer employs his sales guy, his art director or his publicist. 'Trustkill' is now Josh and one employee in his basement, as far as we can tell." [11]

Throwdown

Throwdown ended their three-album contract with Trustkill Records in 2007 with their release of Venom and Tears . Nearly a year after the release, the band felt it was necessary to "air out years of dirty laundry with Josh Grabelle of Trustkill Records," [12]

It Dies Today

In late 2010, Nick Brooks and Mike Hatalak of It Dies Today formed a new group called The March. In a Myspace blog, the band posted lyrics to one of their first demos; a song titled "Harlots, Thieves, & Fakes." In the blog, a lyric line was capitalized as follows: "When TRUST is KILLed you'll only have yourself to blame." The band has not commented on the meaning of the song, but from the rest of the lyrics it can be inferred that they are referring to label president Josh Grabelle. [13]

Terror

Todd Jones, formerly of the hardcore band Terror and currently of the band Nails, blasted label president Josh Grabelle in a 2011 interview, saying "I also regret ever having anything to do with Josh Grabelle; but I know karma is very real and will catch up with him (if it hasn't already)." [14]

Poison the Well

In a 2013 podcast interview, Poison the Well drummer Chris Hornbrook spoke ill of the label and president Josh Grabelle, saying the band went through "dumb shit with that guy" and that he owed the band money. [15]

Walls of Jericho

In a 2013 radio interview, Dustin Schoenhofer of Walls of Jericho claimed that the band had finally severed ties with Trustkill Records, stating that while the label helped the band get established, they "owe us quite a bit of money" and did not fully support the band while engaging in heavy festival touring. [16]

Roster

See also

Related Research Articles

<i>Magnetic North</i> (Hopesfall album) 2007 studio album by Hopesfall

Magnetic North is the fourth full-length album released by the hardcore band Hopesfall. Josh Brigham, one of the guitarists and the only founding member remaining during the recording of the album, has said: "Our music has always been spacey and heavy, and we use those roots, combined with our love of grunge-era Smashing Pumpkins, Dinosaur Jr., HUM, and Pixies, we add some bigger, heavier riffs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Poison the Well (band)</span> American metalcore band

Poison the Well is an American metalcore band from Miami, Florida who were last signed to Ferret Music. In 2010, they announced a hiatus to explore other interests. Lead guitarist Ryan Primack and drummer Chris Hornbrook were the only remaining founding members, although vocalist Jeffrey Moreira featured on all five of their full-length albums. The band reformed for numerous shows in 2015 and again in 2016 and 2020; they have since reunited permanently and are working on a new album as of 2024. Their albums have sold a combined total of over 300,000 copies in the United States as of 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Further Seems Forever</span> American rock band

Further Seems Forever is an American rock band formed in 1998 in Pompano Beach, Florida. Over its initial eight-year run the band experienced several lineup changes, resulting in a different lead vocalist performing on each of their first three studio albums. Original singer Chris Carrabba recorded The Moon Is Down (2001) with the group before leaving to focus on Dashboard Confessional. He was replaced by Jason Gleason, who performed on How to Start a Fire (2003) but left the band the following year. Former Sense Field vocalist Jon Bunch joined Further Seems Forever for Hide Nothing (2004). The band broke up in 2006 but reunited four years later with Carrabba on vocals. Their fourth studio album, Penny Black, was released in 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bleeding Through</span> American metalcore band

Bleeding Through is an American metalcore band from Woodlake, California, formed in 1999. Influenced largely by hardcore punk and Swedish melodic death metal, the band was established by lead vocalist Brandan Schieppati as a personal project after leaving Throwdown. Schieppati, who also was a member of Eighteen Visions, originally balanced playing with Eighteen Visions and Bleeding Through, recording the independent albums Dust to Ashes (2001) and Portrait of the Goddess (2002) before departing Eighteen Visions to focus on Bleeding Through.

Hopesfall is an American post-hardcore band from Charlotte, North Carolina, formed in 1998. They are currently signed to Equal Vision Records. The band dissolved in 2008 after all members, with the exception of singer Jay Forrest, left the band. Following this, the lineup of the band's first two albums got together temporarily and played reunion shows in 2011. The band finally reformed with the majority of their last album's members and original drummer Adam Morgan in 2016 with a new label Equal Vision Records. Arbiter was released on July 13, 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Most Precious Blood (band)</span> American punk band

Most Precious Blood is an American hardcore punk band from New York City formed from the remnants of the band Indecision. They blend the song structures of hardcore with heavy metal, and the band cites Sick of It All, Aphex Twin, The Sisters of Mercy, and The Obsessed as influences, among others. They were signed to Trustkill Records until it dissolved in 2010. They are now with Trustkill president Josh Grabelle's new label Bullet Tooth.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Throwdown (band)</span> American metal band

Throwdown is an American hardcore and heavy metal band from Orange County, California. Formed in 1997, the band has endured numerous lineup changes to the point where no original members remain. Throwdown has toured as part of Ozzfest, Sounds of the Underground, Hellfest, and Warped Tour, as well as with bands such as In Flames, Lamb of God, As I Lay Dying, Killswitch Engage, Korn and Cavalera Conspiracy. The songs "Forever" and "Burn" were staples on MTV2's Headbangers Ball and Revolver Magazine called them part of "The Future of Metal" after hearing the album Vendetta. Initially branded a hardcore punk band, albums like Venom and Tears and Deathless took a sharp turn towards metal, with critics likening the band's sound to that of Pantera and Sepultura. The band are straight edge.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Midtown (band)</span> American pop-punk band

Midtown is an American pop-punk band from New Brunswick, New Jersey. Midtown was formed in November 1998 by three Rutgers University students, but quickly became a quartet. The group released three full-length studio albums and three extended plays before disbanding in 2005. In early 2014, Midtown reunited to play three shows, the first as a secret show at The Knitting Factory in Brooklyn, and the two remaining at the Skate And Surf Festival. They reunited for more shows in 2022 as openers on My Chemical Romance's reunion tour.

Hellfest was an American all-ages music festival that existed between 1997 and 2005. The festival showcased hardcore music in its broadest sense, including punk rock, metalcore, emo, post-hardcore and more. It originated in Central New York, in and around Syracuse, but eventually relocated to Central New Jersey during its final years. Hellfest was known for its fan-friendly atmosphere, including a lack of barriers that provided easy access to the stage for stage diving and sing-alongs. It also encouraged social-awareness through workshops that discussed such causes as animal rights, LGBTQ and politics, with many of its bands and attendees following straight-edge and/or vegetarian or vegan lifestyles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">This Is Hell (band)</span> American hardcore punk band

This Is Hell is an American hardcore punk band from Long Island, New York. The band is known for extensive touring and high energy concerts. They have released five studio albums and five EPs.

<i>When Broken Is Easily Fixed</i> 2003 studio album by Silverstein

When Broken Is Easily Fixed is the debut studio album by Canadian post-hardcore band Silverstein, released in 2003 under the label Victory Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">It Dies Today</span> American metalcore band

It Dies Today is an American metalcore band formed in Buffalo, New York, in September 2001. The band achieved success in 2004 with the release of their debut album, The Caitiff Choir. After frontman Nicholas Brooks departed in 2006, just after the release of the band's sophomore effort Sirens, It Dies Today released Lividity in 2009 before going on hiatus in 2010. The band reunited briefly for a show in 2012, but the reunion paused again in 2015. On December 22, 2022, It Dies Today was announced as an act appearing at FurnaceFest 2023. The band then played Better Lovers BLissmas in their hometown of Buffalo on 8 Dec 2023.

<i>Tear from the Red</i> Album by Poison the Well

Tear from the Red is the second full-length album by American metalcore band Poison the Well. It was released via Trustkill Records on February 19, 2002. The album was the band's first release to appear on Billboard's Independent Albums and Heatseekers Albums charts, and was responsible for landing Poison the Well a major record label deal. It also featured the band's first single and music video for "Botchla". The release received numerous reissues on various formats over the years through such record labels as Good Life Recordings, Roadrunner Records, Shock Records, Rise Records, Ides of March, and Undying Music, and was digitally remastered in 2012.

<i>The Opposite of December... A Season of Separation</i> Album by Poison the Well

The Opposite of December... A Season of Separation is the debut full-length album by American metalcore band Poison the Well. It was released on December 14, 1999. Influential in the early popularization of metalcore around the turn of the 21st century, the album was the band's first on Trustkill Records and is now recognized as a landmark album in the genre due to its quality and influence. The album was the band's first release to appear on CMJ's charts, reaching number nine on the Loud Rock chart in May 2000. It had sold 30,000 copies by 2002. The release received numerous reissues on various formats over the years through such record labels as Good Life Recordings, Roadrunner Records, Shock Records and Rise Records and was digitally remastered in 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brandan Schieppati</span> American singer and guitarist

Brandan Schieppati is an American musician. He is the singer of metalcore band Bleeding Through and a former guitarist/songwriter of the fellow Orange County metalcore band Eighteen Visions, for which he played from 1997 to 2002. He is also a bodybuilder, personal trainer and "Rise Above Fitness" gym owner. He was strictly straight edge from an early age until his late twenties.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steel Train</span> American indie rock band

Steel Train was an indie rock band from New Jersey. They performed at Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza, Coachella, Late Night with Conan O'Brien, and Late Show with David Letterman, and toured with several acts, including Tegan and Sara, Fun, Ben Folds, O.A.R., Finch, and the Get Up Kids. The band played their final show at the Bowery Ballroom in January 2013.

<i>The Truth</i> (Bleeding Through album) 2006 studio album by Bleeding Through

The Truth is the fourth album by American metalcore band Bleeding Through, released on January 10, 2006. It was produced by Rob Caggiano, lead guitarist of Anthrax. It was the last album to feature lead guitarist and founding member Scott Danough.

<i>The Satellite Years</i> 2002 studio album by Hopesfall

The Satellite Years is the second studio album by the post-hardcore band Hopesfall. It was released in 2002 on Trustkill Records, the group's first for the company. The album was also released on vinyl by One Day Savior Recordings. The album was produced by Matt Talbott of HUM, who also provided vocals on the track "Escape Pod for Intangibles".

<i>Love</i> (The Juliana Theory album) 2003 studio album by The Juliana Theory

Love is the third studio album by American rock band the Juliana Theory. It was released on February 4, 2003, through Epic Records. After signing to that label in mid-2001, the band connected with Jerry Harrison, and began recording their next album in early 2002. Harrison and the Juliana Theory frontman Brett Detar produced the sessions; recording was held at The Site in Nicasio, California, Sausalito Sound in Sausalito, California, Lightning Tiger Studios in San Rafael, California, and Detar's basement and bedroom in Greensburg, Pennsylvania. Described as an alternative rock release, the album saw the band shift away from the emo sound of their past albums.

<i>Bleeding Through</i> (album) 2010 studio album by Bleeding Through

Bleeding Through is the sixth studio album by American metalcore band Bleeding Through. The album was released through Rise Records on April 13, 2010.

References

  1. ↑ "The iconic hardcore label Trustkill Records shares unique archived photos from the past [UPDATES] - IDIOTEQ.com". 2021-12-20. Retrieved 2024-08-06.
  2. ↑ Reid, Sean. "Think Fast! Records Sign Distrubution [sic] Deal With Trustkill". Alterthepress.com.
  3. ↑ "No Sleep Recs, Trustkill announce distro deal". Lambgoat.com.
  4. 1 2 3 Alex (June 23, 2010). "Josh Grabelle / Bullet Tooth interview". Lambgoat.com. Retrieved June 23, 2010.
  5. ↑ Paul, Aubin (June 23, 2010). "Trustkill founder launches new hardcore label". Punknews.org. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
  6. ↑ DiVincenzo, Alex (June 23, 2010). "Trustkill Founder Starts Bullet Tooth". AbsolutePunk . Retrieved June 23, 2010.
  7. ↑ "Comb Magazine | Exclusive Interview: Bullet Tooth Founder/CEO Josh Grabelle". Combmagazine.com.
  8. ↑ "Sound Design In Mixing – Methods & Techniques". Soundcravemagazine.com. 9 April 2023. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
  9. 1 2 "Hardcore News and Metal News". Lambgoat.com. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
  10. ↑ Minic, Ryan (13 January 2008). "Hopesfall - Jason Trabue - Why they hate Trustkill and Josh Grabelle". Ryansrockshow.com. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
  11. 1 2
  12. ↑ Werkheiser, Seth Throwdown Has Beef With Trustkill Records Archived 2008-07-28 at the Wayback Machine Buzz Grinder. Retrieved on July 25, 2008
  13. ↑
  14. ↑ "Blogger". accounts.google.com. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
  15. ↑ "Chris Hornbrook from Poison the Well - Episode 76". 100 Words Or Less: The Podcast.
  16. ↑ "Walls of Jericho Talk About A New Album, Clutch Rocks Detroit and Inside The Circle Pit". Archived from the original on 2013-12-12. Retrieved 2013-12-07.
  17. ↑ Kohli, Rohan (September 3, 2008). "Trustkill Signs Adversary". AbsolutePunk . Retrieved June 23, 2010.
  18. ↑ White, Adam (June 26, 2003). "Trustkill Sings Armsbendback". Punknews.org. Retrieved June 23, 2010.
  19. ↑ "Awaken Demons Signs with Trustkill Records". Blabbermouth.net . Roadrunner Records. July 11, 2009. Retrieved June 23, 2010.
  20. ↑ Apar, Corey. "Bedlight for Blue Eyes -- Biography". Allmusic . Retrieved June 23, 2010.
  21. ↑ Nguye, Julie (December 4, 2008). "Bedlight for Blue Eyes Announced their Last Show". Alternative Press . Retrieved June 23, 2010.
  22. ↑ Heisel, Scott (January 17, 2003). "Bleeding Through signs to Trustkill". Punknews.org. Retrieved June 23, 2010.
  23. ↑ Heisel, Scott (July 10, 2010). "AltPress Exclusive: Bleeding Through Sign to Rise Records". Alternative Press . Retrieved June 23, 2010.
  24. ↑ Megan (June 28, 2007). "Trustkill Records sign City Sleeps". Punknews.org. Retrieved June 23, 2010.
  25. ↑ Apar, Corey. "Crash Romeo -- Biography". Allmusic . Retrieved June 23, 2010.
  26. ↑ Pascarella, Tony (March 2, 2010). "Deception of a Ghost Sign to Trustkill". AbsolutePunk . Retrieved June 23, 2010.
  27. ↑ Downey, Ryan J. "Eighteen Visions -- Biography". Allmusic . Retrieved June 23, 2010.
  28. ↑ Foucart, Jon (February 22, 2007). "Trustkill Signs Fightstar". AbsolutePunk . Retrieved June 23, 2010.
  29. ↑ "First Blood sign with Trustkill Records". Blabbermouth.net . Roadrunner Records. January 13, 2006. Retrieved June 23, 2010.
  30. ↑ "The Great American Beast signs with Trustkill Records". Blabbermouth.net . Roadrunner Records. October 6, 2009. Retrieved June 23, 2010.
  31. ↑ Paul, Aubin (February 11, 2002). "Hopesfall Signs to Trustkill". Punknews.org. Retrieved June 23, 2010.
  32. ↑ Paul, Aubin (January 3, 2008). "Break-ups: Hopesfall (1998-2007)". Punknews.org. Retrieved June 23, 2010.
  33. ↑ Phillips, Michael (April 7, 2004). "It Dies Today Sign To Trustkill". ScenePointBlank. Retrieved June 23, 2010.
  34. ↑ "Trustkill Records signs Kid Liberty". LambGoat. November 16, 2009. Retrieved June 23, 2010.
  35. ↑ "Memphis May Fire -- sign to Trustkill Records". SMN News. September 22, 2007. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved June 23, 2010.
  36. ↑ "Trustkill News Entry". Trustkill Records. June 8, 2001. Archived from the original on December 19, 2006. Retrieved June 23, 2010.
  37. ↑ Rivadavia, Eduardo. "Nora -- Overview". Allmusic . Retrieved June 23, 2010.
  38. ↑ Heisel, Scott (July 17, 2002). "Open Hand signs to Trustkill". Punknews.org. Retrieved June 23, 2010.
  39. ↑ Phillips, Michael (August 13, 2009). "Think Fast! Inks Distro Deal With Trustkill". ScenePointBlank. Retrieved June 23, 2010.
  40. ↑ Downey, Ryan J. "Poison the Well -- Biography". Allmusic . Retrieved June 23, 2010.
  41. ↑ Tate, Jason (February 14, 2007). "Trustkill Sign Sick City". AbsolutePunk . Retrieved June 24, 2010.
  42. ↑ G., Doug (August 2, 2007). "Soldiers Signs To Trustkill Records". MetalUnderground. Retrieved June 23, 2010.
  43. ↑ Kohli, Rohan (October 15, 2007). "Trustkill Signs StoneRider". AbsolutePunk . Retrieved June 23, 2010.
  44. ↑ Heisel, Scott (December 20, 2005). "This Is Hell sign to Trustkill". Alternative Press . Retrieved June 23, 2010.
  45. ↑ Shultz, Brian (April 30, 2009). "This Is Hell and Trustkill Go Separate Ways". Alternative Press . Retrieved June 23, 2010.
  46. ↑ Heisel, Scott (February 27, 2003). "Throwdown sign with Trustkill". Punknews.org. Retrieved June 23, 2010.
  47. ↑ Carman, Keith (December 15, 2008). "Throwdown Sign to Koch, Readying Deathless". Exclaim! . Retrieved June 23, 2010.
  48. ↑ DeAndrea, Joe (August 29, 2007). "Too Pure To Sign". AbsolutePunk . Retrieved June 24, 2010.
  49. ↑ "Too Pure To Die breaks up". LambGoat. September 2, 2009. Retrieved June 24, 2010.
  50. ↑ Ferris, D.X. (September 23, 2009). "Around Hear: Ventana Debut". Cleveland Scene. Retrieved June 23, 2010.
  51. ↑ Paul, Aubin (December 16, 2009). "Trustkill signs Victory In Numbers". Punknews.org. Retrieved June 23, 2010.
  52. ↑ Downey, Ryan J. "Walls of Jericho -- Biography". Allmusic . Retrieved June 23, 2010.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.