Load Records
Encyclopedia
Load Records is an American
noise
/experimental
independent record label
based out of Providence, Rhode Island
. "Load Records might possibly be in possession of the world's most challenging record roster," writes Mark Hensch of Thrash Pit. "Rounded out by some of the most uncompromising noise/avant-garde/experimental artists in all of music's sordid underbelly, Load has always prided itself on remaining outside of common taste and maybe even common sense."
Load Records was started by Ben McOsker in order to put a 7-inch record out for the band Boss Fuel. The label quickly became the most prominent source for noise music coming out of Providence, Rhode Island - loosely functioning in the same way that Sub Pop
served grunge
out of Seattle in the early '90s. "Ben McOsker got into the business of running a label on a whim," said Stylus Magazine, "and now, after more than ten years of operation, Load Records has become one of the preeminent names in noise music. By signing acts like Lightning Bolt, Sightings and Noxagt
, McOsker has expanded the notions of noise and helped bring numerous Providence bands to the ears of discerning listeners." Some claim McOsker has released some of the most exciting noise/experimental music of the early '00s, including music from Lightning Bolt, Neon Hunk
, Metalux
, Noxagt
, and Friends Forever. Others have attributed a cookie-cutter aesthetic to the label, mostly in terms of the masks/costumes worn by a number of the bands. However, recent records released by Load have run the gamut from strict noise-based squeal of Prurient
and the Yellow Swans. Load also features a number of bands operating in a more metal vein such as Khanate
, Ovo, Necronomitron, and Brainbombs
.
The music of Load Records is popularized and reviewed through national zines like Blastitude, Arthur, and Dead Angel.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
noise
Noise music
Noise music is a term used to describe varieties of avant-garde music and sound art that may use elements such as cacophony, dissonance, atonality, noise, indeterminacy, and repetition in their realization. Noise music can feature distortion, various types of acoustically or electronically...
/experimental
Experimental music
Experimental music refers, in the English-language literature, to a compositional tradition which arose in the mid-20th century, applied particularly in North America to music composed in such a way that its outcome is unforeseeable. Its most famous and influential exponent was John Cage...
independent record label
Independent record label
An independent record label is a record label operating without the funding of or outside the organizations of the major record labels. A great number of bands and musical acts begin on independent labels.-Overview:...
based out of Providence, Rhode Island
Providence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
. "Load Records might possibly be in possession of the world's most challenging record roster," writes Mark Hensch of Thrash Pit. "Rounded out by some of the most uncompromising noise/avant-garde/experimental artists in all of music's sordid underbelly, Load has always prided itself on remaining outside of common taste and maybe even common sense."
Load Records was started by Ben McOsker in order to put a 7-inch record out for the band Boss Fuel. The label quickly became the most prominent source for noise music coming out of Providence, Rhode Island - loosely functioning in the same way that Sub Pop
Sub Pop
Sub Pop is a record label founded in 1986 by Bruce Pavitt and Jonathan Poneman in Seattle, Washington. Sub Pop achieved fame in the late 1980s for first signing Nirvana, Soundgarden, Mudhoney and many other bands from the Seattle music scene...
served grunge
Grunge
Grunge is a subgenre of alternative rock that emerged during the mid-1980s in the American state of Washington, particularly in the Seattle area. Inspired by hardcore punk, heavy metal, and indie rock, grunge is generally characterized by heavily distorted electric guitars, contrasting song...
out of Seattle in the early '90s. "Ben McOsker got into the business of running a label on a whim," said Stylus Magazine, "and now, after more than ten years of operation, Load Records has become one of the preeminent names in noise music. By signing acts like Lightning Bolt, Sightings and Noxagt
Noxagt
Noxagt is a Norwegian rock band. It started as a Kjetil Brandsdal solo project in 1999, but was expanded to a power trio in 2002, with Brandsdal on bass, Nils Erga on viola and Jan Christian L. Kyvik on drums...
, McOsker has expanded the notions of noise and helped bring numerous Providence bands to the ears of discerning listeners." Some claim McOsker has released some of the most exciting noise/experimental music of the early '00s, including music from Lightning Bolt, Neon Hunk
Neon Hunk
Neon Hunk was a husband/wife noise music duo, composed of Jennifurmium - vocals and analog synthesizer/ring modulator, and Pink Diamond - Drums, Vocals, and Modular Digital Synthesizer. Neon Hunk formed in the summer of 2000 under the name Abracadaver, but changed their name to Neon Hunk in 2001....
, Metalux
Metalux
Metalux is a noise band consisting of M.V. Carbon and J. Graf, both members of Bride of No No. They are occasionally joined by Nautical Almanac member Twig Harper...
, Noxagt
Noxagt
Noxagt is a Norwegian rock band. It started as a Kjetil Brandsdal solo project in 1999, but was expanded to a power trio in 2002, with Brandsdal on bass, Nils Erga on viola and Jan Christian L. Kyvik on drums...
, and Friends Forever. Others have attributed a cookie-cutter aesthetic to the label, mostly in terms of the masks/costumes worn by a number of the bands. However, recent records released by Load have run the gamut from strict noise-based squeal of Prurient
Prurient
Prurient is the performing name of Ian Dominick Fernow. He has released material on numerous independent record labels, such as American Tapes, Hanson Records, RRRecords, Load Records, Troubleman Unlimited, Chrondritic Sound, Kitty Play Records, and his own label Hospital Productions...
and the Yellow Swans. Load also features a number of bands operating in a more metal vein such as Khanate
Khanate (band)
Khanate was a drone metal supergroup that brought together James Plotkin and Alan Dubin, two members of the defunct band OLD, as well as Tim Wyskida and Stephen O'Malley )) fame)....
, Ovo, Necronomitron, and Brainbombs
Brainbombs
Brainbombs is a Swedish noise rock band formed 1985 in Hudiksvall. The members are Dan, Peter, Jonas, Drajan and Lanchy. The latter was also a member of Totalitär....
.
The music of Load Records is popularized and reviewed through national zines like Blastitude, Arthur, and Dead Angel.
Load Records bands
- Air Conditioning
- Arab On RadarArab on RadarArab on Radar are a Providence, Rhode Island based noise rock band founded in 1994. They went on hiatus in 2002. Members of the band went on to form or join the bands The Chinese Stars, Athletic Automaton, Made in Mexico, and most recently Doomsday Student...
- Astoveboat
- BrainbombsBrainbombsBrainbombs is a Swedish noise rock band formed 1985 in Hudiksvall. The members are Dan, Peter, Jonas, Drajan and Lanchy. The latter was also a member of Totalitär....
- Burmese
- Coughs
- ExcepterExcepterExcepter is an experimental music group from Brooklyn, founded in 2002 by No-Neck Blues Band member John Fell Ryan. They have released their work on labels such as Load Records and Animal Collective's Paw Tracks, and are known for their improvisational approach to playing both live and in the...
- Fat DayFat DayFat Day is a Boston-based noisecore band. Formed in Cambridge, MA in 1992 , they were associated with bands like Swirlies, Kudgel, and Trollin Withdrawal who formed the core of the Boston chimp rock scene. Fat Day released three LPs and several EPs on their own 100% Breakfast! label, as well as an...
- Fat Worm of ErrorFat Worm of ErrorFat Worm of Error is an Experimental/Noise/conceptual art avant garde rock band from Northampton, Massachusetts. They are seen as staples of the underground noise and improvisation scene and helped to start what is known as a regional form of noise music called . They have been associated with the...
- ForcefieldForcefield (art collective)Forcefield was a noise band and art collective closely associated with Fort Thunder in Providence, Rhode Island. Known for performing in colorful full-body knit-wear of their own design, the band rarely played outside of Rhode Island but did one US tour with their Fort Thunder roommates Lightning...
- Friends Forever
- Gerty Farish
- Giant Jesus
- Hawd Gankstuh Rappuh MC's
- the HospitalsThe HospitalsThe Hospitals is a noise rock band from San Francisco, California, USA. It was formed by Adam Stonehouse and Rod Meyer in 2002 in Portland, Oregon, USA...
- thee Hydrogen Terrors
- KhanateKhanate (band)Khanate was a drone metal supergroup that brought together James Plotkin and Alan Dubin, two members of the defunct band OLD, as well as Tim Wyskida and Stephen O'Malley )) fame)....
- Kites
- Kites/Prurient
- Landed
- Lightning Bolt
- Men's Recovery ProjectMen's Recovery ProjectMen's Recovery Project was an American experimental noise rock band formed by Sam McPheeters and Neil Burke in Richmond, Virginia, active from 1993–2002...
- MetaluxMetaluxMetalux is a noise band consisting of M.V. Carbon and J. Graf, both members of Bride of No No. They are occasionally joined by Nautical Almanac member Twig Harper...
- MindflayerMindflayer (band)Mindflayer is a noise rock band from Providence, Rhode Island, made up of Brian Chippendale and Matt Brinkman which was formed out of Fort Thunder....
- MonotractMonotractMonotract is a 3-piece experimental music group based in Brooklyn, New York but originated in Miami, Florida. The group consists of Nancy Garcia, Carlos Giffoni and Roger Rimada...
- Mr. California and the State Police
- Mystery Brinkman
- Nautical AlmanacNautical Almanac (band)Nautical Almanac are a noise music group based out of Baltimore Maryland with a rotating membership based around Carly Ptak and Twig Harper. -History:...
- Necronomitron
- Neon HunkNeon HunkNeon Hunk was a husband/wife noise music duo, composed of Jennifurmium - vocals and analog synthesizer/ring modulator, and Pink Diamond - Drums, Vocals, and Modular Digital Synthesizer. Neon Hunk formed in the summer of 2000 under the name Abracadaver, but changed their name to Neon Hunk in 2001....
- NoxagtNoxagtNoxagt is a Norwegian rock band. It started as a Kjetil Brandsdal solo project in 1999, but was expanded to a power trio in 2002, with Brandsdal on bass, Nils Erga on viola and Jan Christian L. Kyvik on drums...
- the OhseesThe ohseesThee Oh Sees is a band from San Francisco, California, USA. It began as an outlet for John Dwyer to release his instrumental, experimental home recordings, and over the course of several albums evolved into a full band...
(aka OCS) - Olneyville Sound System
- Pink and BrownPink and BrownPink and Brown were a noise rock/punk rock band from San Francisco, California, formed in 1997 when the members moved west from their old home of Providence, RI. The band consisted of two members: Pink and Brown . Pink played guitar and sang while Brown played drums...
- Pleasurehorse
- PrurientPrurientPrurient is the performing name of Ian Dominick Fernow. He has released material on numerous independent record labels, such as American Tapes, Hanson Records, RRRecords, Load Records, Troubleman Unlimited, Chrondritic Sound, Kitty Play Records, and his own label Hospital Productions...
- the Scissor GirlsThe Scissor GirlsThe Scissor Girls were a Chicago no wave band formed by Washington D.C. natives Azita Youssefi, Sue Anne Zollinger, and Heather Melowic in 1991. The idea to form the group was conceived during the late eighties by Azita Youssefi and Heather Melowic while they were living in their hometown of...
- Sightings
- Silver DaggersSilver DaggersSilver Daggers were an American Synthpunk/noise rock band formed in 2003. Known for combining intense, atonal music with post-apocalyptic political ideas, they form part of the circle of musicians in close affiliation with The Smell.-Discography:...
- Six Finger SatelliteSix Finger SatelliteSix Finger Satellite are an American synthesizer-based post-hardcore band, based in Providence, Rhode Island.- History :The band formed in 1990 around a line-up of J. Ryan , John MacLean , Peter Phillips , Chris Dixon , and Rick Pelletier...
- Swordheaven
- Tinsel Teeth
- Total Shutdown
- the USAISAMONSTER
- Ultralyd
- Vincebus Eruptum
- John Von Ryan
- Vaz
- the White MiceThe White MiceThe White Mice are an abrasive, experimental, industrial, noise rock and noisegrind band from Providence, Rhode Island. They consist of vocals, drums, bass and electronics, but, live, often have a rotation of guest members playing guitars, electronica and custom, unidentifiable circuit-bent...
- WizardzzWizardzzWizardzz is an electropop/noise pop band consisting of Brian Gibson on drums and Rich Porter on synthesizer. Their debut album Hidden City of Taurmond was released on March 21, 2006 under the independent label Load Records.-External links:*...