Music For Nations
Encyclopedia
Music For Nations was a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...

 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:...

 focusing mainly on rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...

 and metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...

. They were a subsidiary of the larger label distributor Zomba Records who in turn is owned by BMG.

Launched in 1983 by Martin Hooker, Music For Nations established itself as a European leader in the rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...

 and metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...

 world, with early signings like Tank
Tank (band)
Tank is a British heavy metal band, formed in 1980 by Algy Ward, a former member of The Damned. The band is known as part of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal movement...

, Exciter
Exciter
Exciter may refer to:* The low-power RF stages of a radio transmitter* A component of an electrical generator* Exciter bulb, a light source for reading the optical soundtrack on motion picture film; see sound-on-film* Exciter , audio effect unit...

, Metallica
Metallica
Metallica is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1981 when James Hetfield responded to an advertisement that drummer Lars Ulrich had posted in a local newspaper. The current line-up features long-time lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo ...

 (who had three gold albums while on MFN), Slayer
Slayer
Slayer is an American thrash metal band formed in Huntington Park, California, in 1981 by guitarists Jeff Hanneman and Kerry King. Slayer rose to fame with their 1986 release, Reign in Blood, and is credited as one of the "Big Four" thrash metal acts, along with Metallica, Megadeth and...

 and Megadeth
Megadeth
Megadeth is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California which was formed in 1983 by guitarist/vocalist Dave Mustaine, bassist Dave Ellefson and guitarist Greg Handevidt, following Mustaine's expulsion from Metallica. The band has since released 13 studio albums, three live albums, two...

 paving the way. As Music For Nations grew, the company expanded its operation to include not just licensed acts from the USA, but its own signings. It released albums by artists including Paradise Lost
Paradise Lost (band)
Paradise Lost are a heavy metal band that formed in 1988 in Halifax, England.-History:Their first three full-length albums are examples of the death/doom style, although the latter two incorporated some melodic and gothic elements...

, Opeth
Opeth
Opeth is a Swedish heavy metal band from Stockholm, formed in 1990. Though the group has been through several personnel changes, singer, guitarist, and songwriter Mikael Åkerfeldt has remained Opeth's driving force throughout the years...

, Anathema
Anathema (band)
Anathema are an English band from Liverpool primarily known for their ever evolving sound. Beginning as pioneers of the death/doom metal sub-genre, their later albums have been associated with genres such as alternative rock, progressive rock, art rock, new prog, and post-rock.-History:Anathema...

, Cradle of Filth
Cradle of Filth
Cradle of Filth are an English extreme metal band, formed in Suffolk in 1991. The band's musical style evolved from black metal to a cleaner and more "produced" amalgam of gothic metal, symphonic black metal, and other extreme metal styles, while their lyrical themes and imagery are heavily...

, Testament
Testament (band)
Testament is an American metal band from Berkeley, California, formed in 1983. They are often credited as one of the most popular bands of the 1980s thrash metal scene...

 and countless other metal bands. As well as the traditional metal bands Music For Nations went on to sign up and coming UK bands such as Tigertailz who had a top 40 album while signed to Music For Nations

In 2004, the label officially closed its doors. The company's catalogue — which had also previously included titles from artists as varied as Lost Horizon
Lost Horizon (band)
Lost Horizon are a power metal / progressive metal band from Gothenburg, Sweden. They went under the name Highlander from 1990 until 1994 before the band was put on hold. Reformed in the late nineties, briefly under the same name, before changing it to Lost Horizon...

 and Frank Zappa
Frank Zappa
Frank Vincent Zappa was an American composer, singer-songwriter, electric guitarist, record producer and film director. In a career spanning more than 30 years, Zappa wrote rock, jazz, orchestral and musique concrète works. He also directed feature-length films and music videos, and designed...

 — was folded into parent company Zomba Records Group
Zomba Music Group
The Zomba Group of Companies was a music group and division which was owned by and operated under Sony Music Entertainment. The division was renamed to Jive Label Group in 2009 and was placed under the RCA/Jive Label Group umbrella. In 2011, the RCA/Jive Label Group was split in half...

.

Roster

  • Acid Drinkers
    Acid Drinkers
    Acid Drinkers are Polish thrash metal band formed in September 1986 in Poznań. Acid Drinkers were formed on September 21, 1986 consisting of Tomasz "Titus" Pukacki and Robert "Litza" Friedrich . The band's style from back then to present is thrash metal, with influences of heavy metal...

     (1990–1992) (Subsidiary Label - Under One Flag)
  • Agent Steel
    Agent Steel
    Agent Steel is an American speed metal band from Los Angeles, California that was formed in 1984 by singer John Cyriis ,and drummer Chuck Profus. The band released two full length albums, and one EP before disbanding in 1988...

  • Alaska
  • Amplifier
    Amplifier (band)
    Amplifier are a progressive rock band from Manchester, England. The main trio forming the band are singer and guitarist Sel Balamir, bassist Neil Mahony and drummer Matt Brobin. The band has released three albums and two EPs since its inception in 1999. Their self-titled debut album was released in...

  • Anathema
    Anathema (band)
    Anathema are an English band from Liverpool primarily known for their ever evolving sound. Beginning as pioneers of the death/doom metal sub-genre, their later albums have been associated with genres such as alternative rock, progressive rock, art rock, new prog, and post-rock.-History:Anathema...

  • Anthrax
    Anthrax (band)
    Anthrax is an American heavy metal band from New York City, formed in 1981. Founded by guitarists Scott Ian and Danny Lilker, the band has since released ten studio albums and 20 singles, and an EP featuring Public Enemy. The band was one of the most popular of the 1980s thrash metal scene...

  • Apes Pigs and Spacemen
  • Baby Tuckoo
    Baby Tuckoo
    Baby Tuckoo was an English hard rock band, formed in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England in 1982. Their name is taken from the James Joyce novel A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man...

  • Battleaxe
    Battleaxe (band)
    Battleaxe is a heavy metal band from Sunderland, England. As one of the notable bands of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal scene, they started out with the name Warrior and morphed into Battleaxe sometime in early 1980. The band consisted of Dave King , Brian Smith , Steve Hardy , and Ian Thompson...

  • The Beyond
    The Beyond (band)
    The Beyond were a progressive metal band from Derby, England. The band performed under this name between1988 and 1993, then under the name Gorilla from 1995 to 1998.-The Beyond :...

  • Candlemass
    Candlemass
    Candlemass are an influential Swedish doom metal band established in 1984 by Leif Edling , their leader and songwriter. The band is originally from Stockholm. After releasing five full-length albums and touring extensively throughout the 1980s and early 1990s, Candlemass disbanded in 1994, but...

  • Chrome Molly
    Chrome Molly
    Chrome Molly is the first album recorded by Die Monster Die, an alternative rock group consisting of Alice Cohen , Evan Player , Donna Smith ....

  • Cradle of Filth
    Cradle of Filth
    Cradle of Filth are an English extreme metal band, formed in Suffolk in 1991. The band's musical style evolved from black metal to a cleaner and more "produced" amalgam of gothic metal, symphonic black metal, and other extreme metal styles, while their lyrical themes and imagery are heavily...

  • Creation of Death (1991–1992) (Subsidiary Label - Under One Flag)
  • Darkmoon
  • Dispatched
    Dispatched
    Dispatched was a Swedish melodic death metal band from Södertälje formed in 1992.-Biography:Dispatched was formed just before New Year's Eve, 1991 by Daniel Lundberg and Krister Andersson. Jonas Kimbrell and Emanuel Astrom joined the band later that same year...

  • Dead Potatos (2003–2006)
  • Drive She Said
  • Earthshaker
    Earthshaker (band)
    is a Japanese heavy metal band that was formed in 1978 in Osaka. Their earlier music was very similar in style to countrymen Loudness and Anthem, but the band steered toward a poppier sound on later albums and dropped from worldwide view, preferring to record and tour in their home country...

  • Entombed
    Entombed (band)
    Entombed is a Swedish death metal band which formed in 1987 under the name of Nihilist. Though Entombed began their career as an early pioneer of Scandinavian death metal which initially differed itself from its American counterpart with its distinct guitar tone, by the early 1990s their sound had...

  • Exciter
    Exciter (band)
    Exciter is a Canadian speed metal band from Ottawa, Ontario. They are widely considered to be one of the first speed metal bands and a seminal influence of the thrash metal genre. Exciter have sold nearly 2.3 million units in the USA and a total sells at 10 million units worldwide...

  • Exodus
    Exodus (band)
    Exodus is an American thrash metal band formed in 1980 in Richmond, California. Spanning a career of over 30 years, Exodus has gone through numerous lineup changes, two extended hiatuses, and the deaths of two former band members. Guitarist Gary Holt remains the only constant member of the band,...

  • The Exploited
    The Exploited
    The Exploited are a Scottish punk band from the second wave of UK punk, formed in 1979. Originally a street punk band, they transformed into a faster hardcore punk band with a heavy political influence. From about 1987 on they changed into a crossover thrash band...

     (Subsidiary Label - Rough Justice)
  • Freak of Nature
    Freak of Nature (band)
    Freak of Nature was an American Heavy Metal band, formed in 1992 by former White Lion lead singer Mike Tramp. The band was formed after White Lion broke up and was significantly darker and harder than White Lion. The band released three albums and then disbanded in 1995...

  • Godflesh
    Godflesh
    Godflesh are an English industrial metal band from Birmingham, England. Originally known as Fall of Because, they formed in 1988 by Justin K. Broadrick and G.C. Green and disbanded in 2002. Godflesh's innovative music is widely regarded as a foundational influence on industrial metal and post-metal...

  • Hed PE
  • Hellion
    Hellion (band)
    Hellion is a heavy metal band, which was formed during 1982 in Los Angeles, California. The first line-up included Ann Boleyn , Ray Schenck , Sean Kelley and Peyton Tuthill . With a different line-up they continue on today....

  • Helstar
    Helstar
    Helstar is a heavy metal band from Houston, Texas, formed in 1982.-History:Helstar began with a basic metal style in 1983 with 2 demos, followed by their first studio album in 1984 titled Burning Star for Combat Records, making them label mates with Megadeth and Exodus. Struggles within the band...

  • InMe
    InMe
    InMe are an English alternative metal band from Brentwood, Essex, who were formed in 1996. To date they have released four studio albums – Overgrown Eden ; White Butterfly ; Daydream Anonymous and Herald Moth and a greatest hits compilation album, Phoenix: The Very Best of InMe...

  • Legs Diamond
    Legs Diamond (band)
    Legs Diamond are a rock and roll band that has often been called "The American Deep Purple". They formed in Los Angeles, California in the mid 1970s and released their self-titled debut album for Mercury Records in 1977...

  • Lost Horizon
    Lost Horizon (band)
    Lost Horizon are a power metal / progressive metal band from Gothenburg, Sweden. They went under the name Highlander from 1990 until 1994 before the band was put on hold. Reformed in the late nineties, briefly under the same name, before changing it to Lost Horizon...

  • Loudness
    Loudness (band)
    is a Japan-based heavy metal band formed in 1981 by guitarist Akira Takasaki and drummer Munetaka Higuchi. They were the first Japanese heavy metal act signed to a major label in the United States, releasing twenty-three studio albums...

  • Manowar
  • Eric Martin
  • Meanstreak
  • Megadeth
    Megadeth
    Megadeth is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California which was formed in 1983 by guitarist/vocalist Dave Mustaine, bassist Dave Ellefson and guitarist Greg Handevidt, following Mustaine's expulsion from Metallica. The band has since released 13 studio albums, three live albums, two...

  • Mercyful Fate
    Mercyful Fate
    Mercyful Fate was a Danish heavy metal band from Copenhagen. Initially active from 1981 to 1985, they reunited in 1992. The band went on hiatus again in 2000, when frontman King Diamond decided to continue his solo career...

  • Metallica
    Metallica
    Metallica is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1981 when James Hetfield responded to an advertisement that drummer Lars Ulrich had posted in a local newspaper. The current line-up features long-time lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo ...

  • Mike Tramp
    Mike Tramp
    Mike Tramp is a Danish singer and songwriter who is best known for his work with the hard rock bands White Lion and Freak of Nature...

  • Mindfunk
  • Nuclear Assault
    Nuclear Assault
    Nuclear Assault is an American thrash metal/crossover thrash band formed in 1984.-History:After the release of Anthrax's debut album Fistful of Metal, bass player Danny Lilker, a founding member of the group, was fired by the band...

  • Opeth
    Opeth
    Opeth is a Swedish heavy metal band from Stockholm, formed in 1990. Though the group has been through several personnel changes, singer, guitarist, and songwriter Mikael Åkerfeldt has remained Opeth's driving force throughout the years...

  • Paradise Lost
    Paradise Lost (band)
    Paradise Lost are a heavy metal band that formed in 1988 in Halifax, England.-History:Their first three full-length albums are examples of the death/doom style, although the latter two incorporated some melodic and gothic elements...

  • Q5
  • Ratt
    Ratt
    Ratt is an American heavy metal band that had significant commercial success in the 1980s. The band is best known for songs such as "Round and Round," "Wanted Man," "Lay It Down," "You're in Love", "Slip of the Lip", "Back For More", "Dance", "Body Talk", "I Want a Woman", and "Way Cool Jr." Ratt...

  • The Rods
    The Rods
    The Rods is an American heavy metal band formed by David "Rock" Feinstein , Garry Bordonaro and Carl Canedy ....

  • Rogue Male
    Rogue Male (band)
    -1980s:Rogue Male was the brainchild of Northern Ireland born singer/guitarist Jim Lyttle, who had previously been in the seminal Northern Irish punk band Pretty Boy Floyd and The Gems. Moving to London in the early 1980s he decided to put together a band that would mix punk styles and aggression...

  • Rox
    Rox
    Rox or ROX may refer to the following:* Rox , an album by California punk band Supernova* Rox , London-based singer* Rox * Roxithromycin, with trade name ROX...

  • Sarcófago
    Sarcófago
    Sarcófago was an influential Brazilian extreme metal band. They were fronted by Sepultura's original singer, Wagner Lamounier, and Geraldo Minelli. They have been described as Brazil's most controversial metal band....

     (1985–1986)
  • Savatage
    Savatage
    Savatage is an American heavy metal band founded by the brothers Jon and Criss Oliva in 1978 at Astro Skate in Tarpon Springs, Florida.-Early days :...

  • Sirrah
    Sirrah (band)
    Sirrah was a progressive gothic metal band from Southwestern Poland. They formed in 1992, released two albums, and disbanded in 1999 due to financial issues. Their music includes elements from death metal, doom metal, and later industrial metal...

     (1995–1999)
  • Spiritual Beggars
    Spiritual Beggars
    Spiritual Beggars is a hard rock/stoner metal band from Halmstad, Sweden, formed by Michael Amott, who is known from Arch Enemy, Carcass and Carnage.- Biography :...

  • Jack Starr
    Jack Starr
    Jack Starr was an outsider musician who recorded in 1960s Texas and whose recordings have been released by Norton Records. A comprehensive compilation of his work has recently been repressed as the "Born Petrified" LP...

  • Sugarcreek
  • Surgin
  • Thrasher
  • Tigertailz
    Tigertailz
    Tigertailz are a glam metal band hailing from Cardiff, Wales. They are most famous for their 1990 album, Bezerk, which made the Top 40 in the UK Albums Chart, and spawned a couple of successful singles...

     (1990–2005)
  • TKO
    TKO (band)
    TKO was a hard rock/heavy metal band from Seattle, Washington. The group's leader and only consistent member was singer Brad Sinsel. TKO lasted from approximately 1977-2001....

  • Tyketto
    Tyketto
    Tyketto is a New York City based hard rock band. The group was put together in 1987 by former Waysted vocalist Danny Vaughn ; Brooke St. James , Jimi Kennedy , and Michael Clayton completed the lineup....

  • Turbo (1990–1991) (Subsidiary Label - Under One Flag)
  • Robin Trower
    Robin Trower
    Robin Leonard Trower , known professionally as Robin Trower, is an English rock guitarist who achieved success with Procol Harum during the 1960s, and then again as the bandleader of his own power trio.-Biography:...

  • Twelfth Night
    Twelfth Night (band)
    Twelfth Night are an English neo-progressive rock band of the 1980s, reformed in 2007.-Formation:The seeds of Twelfth Night were sown when guitarist Andy Revell and drummer Brian Devoil joined forces on 23 February 1978 to win a talent competition at Reading University. The road crew included Geoff...

  • Tygers of Pan Tang
    Tygers Of Pan Tang
    Tygers of Pan Tang are a heavy metal band, formed in 1978 and originating from Whitley Bay, England. They are a notable band of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal movement...

  • Venom
    Venom (band)
    Venom are an English heavy metal band that formed in 1979 in Newcastle upon Tyne. Coming to prominence towards the end of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, Venom's first two albums—Welcome to Hell and Black Metal —are considered a major influence on thrash metal and extreme metal in general...

     (1989–1992) (Subsidiary Label - Under One Flag)
  • Virgin Steele
    Virgin Steele
    Virgin Steele is a heavy metal band from New York, originally formed in 1981.The band released a few career highlights albums...

  • W.A.S.P.
  • Wolf Spider
    Wolf spider
    Wolf spiders are members of the family Lycosidae, from the Ancient Greek word "" meaning "wolf". They are robust and agile hunters with good eyesight. They live mostly solitary lives and hunt alone. Some are opportunistic hunters pouncing upon prey as they find it or even chasing it over short...

     (1990–1991) (Subsidiary Label - Under One Flag)
  • Waysted
    Waysted
    Waysted are a heavy metal band formed by UFO bassist Pete Way and Scottish rocker Fin Muir in 1983. Recruiting Frank Noon , Ronnie Kayfield and Paul Raymond, Waysted signed to Chrysalis Records and released Vices in 1983....

  • Wendy O. Williams
    Wendy O. Williams
    Wendy Orlean Williams , better known as Wendy O. Williams, was the lead singer for the American punk band the Plasmatics, as well as a solo artist...

  • XisLoaded
    X Is Loaded
    X Is Loaded were a four piece rock band from Bath, Somerset, England.-Members:* Jake Robertson - lead vocals, backing guitar* Martino - lead guitar* Alex Cole - bass* Jamie O'Gorman - drums-As Tenner:...


External links

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