Prime Directive Records is an independent record label based in Balboa, CA. Started in 1997, the label is notable for releasing the debut albums of a number of bands which would go on to success in the hardcore punk

Hardcore punk

Hardcore punk is an underground music genre that originated in the late 1970s, following the mainstream success of punk rock. Hardcore is generally faster, thicker, and heavier than earlier punk rock. The origin of the term "hardcore punk" is uncertain. The Vancouver-based band D.O.A...

 and metalcore

Metalcore

Metalcore is a subgenre of heavy metal combining various elements of extreme metal and hardcore punk. The name is a portmanteau of the names of the two genres. The term took on its current meaning in the mid-1990s, describing bands such as Earth Crisis, Deadguy and Integrity...

 genre.

Bands that have gone on to sign to "bigger" labels as a result of their work on Prime Directive include Throwdown who signed to Indecision Records

Indecision Records

Indecision Records is an independent American hardcore punk record label which was started by Dave Mandel in 1995. It is based in Garden Grove, California. Until around 2001, it was based in nearby Huntington Beach. Both cities are within Orange County...

 and Trustkill Records

Trustkill Records

Trustkill Records was an American record label that started as a hardcore punk fanzine in April 1993. It started releasing hardcore, metal and rock records and merchandise in 1994...

, and Bleeding Through

Bleeding Through

Bleeding Through is an American metalcore band from Orange County, California. Formed in 1999, the band blends influences stemming from modern hardcore punk, symphonic black metal, and melodic death metal...

 who signed to Indecision Records

Indecision Records

Indecision Records is an independent American hardcore punk record label which was started by Dave Mandel in 1995. It is based in Garden Grove, California. Until around 2001, it was based in nearby Huntington Beach. Both cities are within Orange County...

, Trustkill Records

Trustkill Records

Trustkill Records was an American record label that started as a hardcore punk fanzine in April 1993. It started releasing hardcore, metal and rock records and merchandise in 1994...

, and now resides on Rise Records

Rise Records

-History:Rise was founded in 1991 by Craig Ericson in Roseburg, Oregon. He released a small number of 7" records before putting the label on hiatus to attend college. Ericson didn't release anything further until 1999, after moving to Portland, Oregon. He began issuing small-print 7" records, and...

. Recently, they helped relaunch the career of newly reunited metalcore

Metalcore

Metalcore is a subgenre of heavy metal combining various elements of extreme metal and hardcore punk. The name is a portmanteau of the names of the two genres. The term took on its current meaning in the mid-1990s, describing bands such as Earth Crisis, Deadguy and Integrity...

 pioneers Disembodied.

Artists who have appeared on Prime Directive Records

• Adamantium
  Adamantium (band)
  -History:Adamantium formed in 1996 after the demise of the band Collapse. In that year, a demo cassette was recorded and a small local fan base was formed. In 1997, the band released the "Tradition" 7" E.P. on Prime Directive Records / Softcore...
  
  
• Bleeding Through
  Bleeding Through
  Bleeding Through is an American metalcore band from Orange County, California. Formed in 1999, the band blends influences stemming from modern hardcore punk, symphonic black metal, and melodic death metal...
  
  
• Dirty Girls
• Disembodied
• The Grand Elegance
  The Grand Elegance
  The Grand Elegance is an American psychedelic blues band from Long Beach, CA formed in 1997. In 2000, they released a 5 song CD titled "Vicious Circles" on Prime Directive Records. Shortly thereafter bassist Julian Devillier left the band, leaving them as a 4 piece. In 2002 they released a 2...
  
  
• The Mistake
  The Mistake (band)
  The Mistake was a hardcore band from Orange County, California, USA. Formed in 2000 by Javier Van Huss and Erick Pressman, they were originally called Hara Kiri, but changed their name to The Mistake after only a few shows. In 2001 they released a demo. In 2003, after a number of member changes,...
  
  
• Throwdown