Getting to know the Metal Scrap Records label: significant releases

Metal Scrap Records is a Ukrainian metal label that has been releasing foreign and Ukrainian artists since the early 1990s. Anatoliy Kondyuk, the owner of Metal Scrap Records, told us more about the label. 

What is Metal Scrap Records

I founded the company in 1993. First, there was Metal Scrap fanzine, and in 1994, the first music collection was out on a cassette tape. In total, the label has dropped about 180 releases and collaborated with a huge number of artists during 27 years. Most of the bands we've released over the years could never achieve what they've got with our help. Our mission is to support Ukrainian bands (as well as foreign), promote them in the international market, and generally support metal as a genre.

We also have two sublabels. Total Metal Records is focused on thrash, power, heavy, and progressive metal. And Another Side Records works with black and doom metal, grindcore, and alternative. 

Format

We don’t have restrictions or limits on genres. The main rule is to work within metal or any other heavy music. Although there can be exceptions.
The same goes for the format. We deliver music to listeners in different ways: on CDs, vinyl, or digitally.

Artworks

No requirements here. Performers know better how the cover should look like. This is their own music and lyrics, and no one can feel it more precisely. I don't think anyone should tell a musician what music to make and what album cover to create. This is creativity that needs to be appreciated and respected. It’s not a product made to order. Metal and pop are different in this aspect.

Of course, if the band asks for help with their album cover, we’ll find an artist to implement the project. However, bands usually come with ready-made projects.

Pros and cons of releasing foreign artists

Except for music collections, we’ve released artists from many countries: Ukraine, Belarus, Russia, Poland, Hungary, Switzerland, Italy, Greece, Israel, Ireland, UK, Australia, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Moldova, Taiwan, Croatia, Germany, Canada, Serbia...

Ukraine is increasingly respected in the international music market, and this is possible because we also contributed a piece of our work. As for me, I consider this piece quite significant, because I can see the results as well as hear feedback when communicating with business partners from around the world. And this is a great inspiration to keep working.

Discography 

Currently, the latest releases are two singles by the Kharkiv band, GromadaH.

It’s hard to distinguish the best ones. All artists are compelling in their own way. And it would be wrong to compare different styles or genres. Everyone has their own listeners. I like everyone, and listeners can choose what they love the most. 

Ukrainian releases

The discography of Metal Scrap Records contains a lot of Ukrainian artists. Neformat suggests listening to the following albums:

Ex Animo — Neverday (2016)

In 2016, veterans of the Ukrainian gothic doom metal scene released their second full-length album. It premiered simultaneously in Ukraine and Japan. Metal Scrap Records notes the aggressive yet melodic sound, dark atmosphere, and thoughtful lyrics. The band’s sources of inspiration are Anathema, Moonspell, The Gathering, Black Sun Aeon, October Tide, Swallow The Sun, and Paradise Lost.

Aeternus Prophet — Виключення Недомінантного Матеріалу (2016) (Aeternus Prophet — Exclusion Of Non-Dominated Material)

The second full-length album, where the band from Fastiv combines black metal with death metal and demonstrates quality growth in general compared to the debut LP. And this is one of those rare cases when we can enjoy lyrics written in Ukrainian. The album works well for fans of Novembers Doom, Rotting Christ, Sceptic Flesh, Belphegor, and Behemoth.

Dimicandum — The Legacy Of Gaia (2012)

The debut full-length release of the band from Kyiv, as the label notes, skillfully combines elements of various genres: the melodic side of melodic death metal, slowness and vibe of doom and gothic metal, drive of thrash and heavy metal. The band is currently working on a new album.

Penetrum — Instrument Of Delusion (2018) 

Again, the debut LP of the melodic death metal band from Kyiv. The release was mainly influenced by the Finnish school of melodic death metal with its fast and melodic riffs. However, the band also incorporates elements of other metal subgenres. The label recommends the release to fans of Kalmah, Norther, Children Of Bodom, Insomnium, Ensiferum, Wintersun, Gates Of Ishtar, Immortal Souls, Hypocrisy, Kataklysm, etc. 

Sectorial — Erase And Reborn The Humanity (2012)

This is the debut work of the band where you can hear blackened thrash metal and grindcore. Many listeners prefer this one to "VYR". the recent full-length release. In Erase And Reborn The Humanity, listeners can enjoy at least two iconic elements of Sectorial's works: ethnic musical instruments and Ukrainian lyrics. 

Plans

It’s not even funny to plan anything during the epidemic. However, we still want to go on a European tour again — Ukraine is on the tour list too. We’ve already rescheduled it twice because of COVID-19, and if the situation doesn’t change for the better, we’ll probably reschedule the tour for a later date.

The best support from bands is to work on their new materials and projects. And the best support from listeners will be to buy music made by these bands either on digital platforms or analog media.  

Metal Scrap Records in social media:

https://metalscraprecords.com
https://twitter.com/metalscraprec
https://www.facebook.com/MetalScrapRecords/
https://www.youtube.com/user/metalscraprecords
https://metalscraprecords.bandcamp.com/
https://www.instagram.com/metalscraprecords/

https://www.totalmetalshop.com

Read more articles about labels here — https://www.neformat.com.ua/en/rubrika/znayomstvo-z-leyblom