Check out the Small Label Showcase #2!
Welcome to the second Punknews Small Label Showcase! For this feature a few of us on the staff got together to highlight some of the smaller punk labels that we think are putting out great music, but should have more name recognition within the scene. Hopefully you'll discover some new bands to listen to and labels to keep an eye on. Do you have a label in mind that you think should have made the list? Feel free to name it in the comments below. If you missed the first installment last month, you can check it out here. Otherwise, here are our picks in alphabetical order.
Artwork by: Andrew Frankel
Bearded Punk Records Hailing from Belgium, Bearded Punk Records is one of those truly excellent labels that started out supporting a small coterie of local bands, primarily from their home country and the Netherlands to the north, but has since become so much more. Bearded Punk has increased their footprint to releasing albums from bandss across Europe and co-releasing albums in conjunction with labels near and afar (including the likes of Kamikaze Girls, Spanish Love Songs, and The Penske File), all while keeping an eye on their local scene. The label also handles gigs and promotion for their general locale. When all is said and done, like so many others, Bearded Punk is a small label making a big splash. They continue to pour their heart and soul into releasing good music, and keeping their local scene alive and well. -Jeff Sorley
Cointoss Records Formed by record nerd and tour manager-extraordinaire Indy Powers, Cointoss is a hardcore label that’s been steadily gaining steam since 2014. The label generally focuses on hardcore and hardcore punk bands. Really Powers just wanted to stay involved in a scene he started to feel disconnected from, offering, “I had just gotten a ‘desk job’ and with having one kid and another on the way I felt like I wasn't as involved with music the way I used to be when I was touring with bands and going to shows all the time. So I thought about starting up a label again so that I could put out music/bands that I like and wanted to help.” The label has already released music by This Is Hell, Edgewise, and Drug Control. And some of the more recent releases have really gained notoriety for Cointoss. The label pressed the first Mindforce 7-inch, and just released 7-inches for Discourage and Good Touch. Harkening back to the DIY-inspired ethos of punk days past, Cointoss is pressing forward and doing great work for the hardcore genre. - Michael Musilli
Creator-Destructor Records Run by Ben Murray, Creator-Destructor Records is one of the labels that dabbles in putting out records from genres such as metal, melodic punk, and hardcore. While the Northern California-based label is probably best known around the Org for releasing albums from Murray’s projects such as Heartsounds and Light This City, it has a very wide-ranging roster. Just this month the label put out metal band Gulch’s Burning Desire To Draw Last Breath release and in 2016 they put out Western Setting’s Old Pain. That’s quite the difference in sounds. Also, Creator-Destructor is one of those ables that really puts a lot of effort and care into their vinyl releases. The jackets are always high quality and the records themselves always come in really cool color variants. It’s things like these that record nerds like me truly appreciate. Whether you are a fan of just one or all of the genres that Creator-Destructor Records supports, you’re bound to find something in their sizable catalogue. -Ricky Frankel
Halloween Records Until just this year, Halloween Records was collectively owned and populated by members of Milwaukee pop punk bands, Brave You and Telethon. Though the two made for a solid roster on their own, the label started expanding with the seminal debut from Long Island’s Barely March, as well as Barely March’s split with Wausau’s Barely Civil. Though their output can be explored fully in just a few hours, Halloween Records is growing quickly, and picking up a lot of promising talent. -Sean Crawford
It’s Alive Records Since 2004 Southern California label It’s Alive Records has been building up its pop punk catalogue with releases from bands you might know like The Dopamines, Plow United, Mean Jeans, and even a Teenage Bottleneck split (with the Prototypes). And while those are some pretty substantial names in today’s pop punk realm, It’s Alive Records is also home to many other bands that don’t get attention that they deserve. If this is the type of punk rock that you are into, take some time dig through the Its Alive’s catalogue. You’re bound to find a gem or two in there. -Ricky Frankel
Lockjaw Records was launched over twenty years ago by three brothers, although control was passed on in 2011 to Rob Piper, guitarist of melodic hardcore act Darko. Although Lockjaw does release Darko albums, it is by no means simply a vanity label for Piper's band. Lockjaw has continued to build up an impressive roster of acts across the punk and hardcore spectrum through a variety of label-only releases, as well as co-releasing with labels both in the UK and abroad. Lockjaw is one of those small labels which give the ‘whole package’ experience, including regular press and PR for the bands under the label to help boost exposure. Lockjaw has so many releases under their belt that there is sure to be something for just about everyone. -Jeff Sorley
My Fingers! My Brain! Records Toronto, Canada’s My Fingers! My Brain! Records came to my attention when they (along with Get Party! Records and Say 10 Records) released Brutal Youth’s 2013 full-length Stay Honest. It seems that My Fingers! My Brain! Records really has had a good grasp on the local hardcore scene and the general punk scene in Canada for quite a while. After doing some deep digging, I’ve discovered a few good finds myself. -Ricky Frankel
No Affiliation Records
No Affiliation Records is a new punk label that just started putting out records over the past year or so, but already has double digit releases under their belt. The Arizona based upstart has gathered an impressive roster of bands, both locally and from across the globe. Ramones loving Latte+ from Italy, the skate punk of Sun-O-Bathers from Holland and the melodic hardcore of Square Shapes from Hawaii are just a few the label’s geographically diverse offerings. No Affiliation Records is definitely a label to watch. After a strong start, they seem poised to poised to become a lot of people’s favorite new label. -Tom Trauma
Underground Communique Records For the last 15 years, Underground Communique Records has quietly been putting out great punk and hardcore records. Their impressive, midwest heavy lineup includes Windy City heavy hitters like 88 Fingers Louie, The Methadones, The Copyrights and Apocalypse Hoboken. They also seem to to have a soft spot for Motor City bands with releases from Suicide Machines, Rebel Spies!, Break Anchor and Easy Action. Underground Communique shows the power of a well curated roster of releases. If color vinyl variants are your thing, they’ve got plenty of those too. Check UC out. You’re just about guaranteed to find something you’ll love. -Tom Trauma