Relapse Records

Relapse Records is an American independent extreme metal label founded in 1990 by Matthew F. Jacobson in Upper Darby Township, Pennsylvania, with an office in Philadelphia. It features grindcore, death metal, metalcore, sludge metal, hardcore punk, and experimental artists. The label employs 9 people and is distributed by The Orchard (US), INgrooves/Fontana (Canada), and eOne Music (worldwide).

Relapse built its reputation on extreme metal and grindcore. Its catalog includes Death (one of the most influential death metal bands), Neurosis (post-metal pioneers), Mastodon and Baroness (early work before they moved to larger labels), Dillinger Escape Plan (mathcore), and Pig Destroyer (grindcore). The label's roster spans the extreme end of metal, from death and black metal to sludge, grindcore, and experimental noise. Its alumni have moved to Elektra Music Group, Spirit Music, Season of Mist, and Century Media Records.

Notable Artists and Releases

Relapse Records has released some of the most influential extreme metal albums of the last 35 years. The label's catalog includes genre-defining records in death metal, grindcore, sludge metal, and post-metal.

• Death - Human (1991, reissued by Relapse in 2011). Chuck Schuldiner's progressive death metal landmark. The 2011 Relapse reissue was entirely remixed and remastered.
• Death - Individual Thought Patterns (1993, reissued by Relapse in 2011). Included "The Philosopher," which received significant airplay on MTV.
• Death - The Sound of Perseverance (1998, reissued by Relapse). Death's final studio album.
• Neurosis - Through Silver in Blood (1996). The album defined post-metal as a subgenre. "Locust Star" remains one of the band's signature tracks.
• Mastodon - Remission (2002, Relapse debut). Mastodon's first full-length album.
• Mastodon - Leviathan (2004, #139 Billboard 200, #5 US Heatseekers Albums). A concept album based on Moby-Dick. Named Album of the Year by Revolver, Kerrang!, and Terrorizer. MetalSucks named it the best metal album of the 21st century in 2009 and 2015.
• Baroness - Red Album (2007, Relapse debut). Baroness' first full-length album.
• Baroness - Blue Record (2009, #117 Billboard 200, #1 US Heatseekers Albums). The band's first charting release, selling 4,700 copies in its first week.
• Pig Destroyer - Prowler in the Yard (2001). A grindcore landmark that defined the genre's modern era.
• Pig Destroyer - Book Burner (2012). The band's first album in 5 years, with "The Diplomat" as a single.
• The Dillinger Escape Plan - Miss Machine (2004). Mathcore landmark that expanded the band's audience.
• The Dillinger Escape Plan - Ire Works (2007). The band's most commercially successful album.

Official Music Videos

How Relapse Operates

Relapse runs dedicated A&R for extreme metal and experimental music from its Upper Darby and Philadelphia offices. It is distributed by The Orchard in the US, giving it major-distribution reach while remaining independently owned. The label's strength is its deep ties to the underground extreme metal community and its history of signing bands that define subgenres (Neurosis in post-metal, Pig Destroyer in grindcore).

Deal Structures

Relapse offers several deal types tailored to extreme metal and underground artists:

• Traditional recording deals: Relapse signs bands to multi-album deals. The label funds recording, manufacturing, and distribution. Royalty rates are typically more favorable than major labels, often 15 to 20 percent of net revenue after recoupment.
• Catalog reissue deals: Relapse has reissued catalog from Death, Dillinger Escape Plan, and other bands whose original labels no longer exist or support the catalog. These deals involve remixing, remastering, and re-packaging with bonus material.
• Licensing deals: For international bands, Relapse may license albums from foreign labels for US distribution rather than signing the band directly.
• Physical-focused deals: Relapse places heavy emphasis on vinyl, CD, and cassette manufacturing. The label's mail-order operation was once the largest underground metal distribution center in the US.
• No 360 deals: Relapse does not typically take cuts of touring or merchandising. Deals focus on recordings.

How Artists Get Signed

Relapse does not accept unsolicited demos. The signing process works through specific channels:

1. A&R scouting at underground shows: Relapse A&R attends extreme metal shows, festivals, and underground tours to identify bands with strong live performances and growing fanbases.
2. Streaming and Bandcamp monitoring: The label tracks Bandcamp, Spotify, and YouTube for extreme metal acts showing traction in underground communities.
3. Referrals from existing roster: Current and former Relapse bands refer new acts. The extreme metal community is tight-knit, and personal recommendations carry weight.
4. Tape trading legacy: Founder Matt Jacobson started the label through tape trading networks in the early 1990s. That community-driven approach still informs how Relapse discovers new bands.
5. Underground credibility over commercial potential: Relapse favors bands with strong technical ability and underground credibility. The label signs bands that define or push subgenres, not bands chasing mainstream radio.

Why It Matters for Independent Artists

If you make grindcore, death metal, sludge, or experimental extreme metal, Relapse is one of the most respected independent labels in those niches. Its track record of signing bands that go on to define subgenres (Neurosis, Mastodon, Dillinger Escape Plan) shows it can identify and develop artists who shape extreme metal.

Drawbacks and Things to Consider

• Genre focus: Relapse signs extreme metal and experimental music. Artists outside that world should look elsewhere.
• No unsolicited demos: Relapse does not accept cold submissions.
• Underground expectations: Relapse favors bands with underground credibility and strong technical ability.
• Small team: A 9-person operation means limited marketing bandwidth.

Related Resources

• Record Label Contracts Explained - What a Relapse deal contains
• Independent Labels vs Major Labels - The underground indie model
• Tour Revenue Calculator - Touring income for metal bands
• Metal Blade Records - A related metal indie label
• Nuclear Blast Records - German extreme metal label with global reach
• Century Media Records - International metal label with similar roster profile
• Relapse Records Official Site - Roster and releases