Trustkill Records
Encyclopedia
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
. In 2010, the president of Trustkill, Josh Grabelle, formed a new label called Bullet Tooth Records.
, which is under the Universal Music Group
umbrella. Trustkill is also distributed by SPV (Europe), Shock (Australia), JVC/Howling Bull (Japan), David Gresham (South Africa), and Liberation (Brazil).
In 2009, independent hardcore label Think Fast! Records signed a worldwide distribution deal with Trustkill Records. Later in 2009, No Sleep Records also signed a worldwide distribution deal with Trustkill.
In 2010 president/A&R Josh Grabelle left Trustkill Records and started a new label called Bullet Tooth Records. The label's distributor still holds the rights to all of the albums released through the label and will still continue to print Trustkill releases and use the Trustkill logo. Since it's unlikely that their distributor will continue to sign new bands and print new releases, Trustkill is considered to be a defunct label. Many of the bands that were signed to the label at this time were re-signed to Bullet Tooth including Memphis May Fire
and Most Precious Blood.
Vincent Minervino, Eighteen Visions'
James Hart
, and This Is Hell's Travis Reilly.
began releasing negative comments about Trustkill including "I hate Trustkill and its owner. Hahahaha. He's not the reason we broke up but I (we) do hate him." The band claimed to be $20,000 in debt due to Trustkill's President, Josh Grabelle, and also claimed that Trustkill "ripped off the band" by removing songs from their final album Magnetic North
without discussing it with the band first. The album was recorded, mastered, and ready to be released when the songs were removed by Trustkill. Hopesfall later released a downloadable file containing b-sides and demos from Magnetic North. In an interview on Ryan's Rock Show, drummer Jason Trabue stated that Grabelle added Hopesfall to Warped Tour
in 2005, then two weeks into the tour, Grabelle stopped paying for the bus. The band had to take out a loan to pay the driver and get home. In the same interview, Trabue stated that Grabelle "pretty much owed every band on that label money."
In response to these issues, Grabelle stated that, "[Trabue] does not speak a shred of truth... I heard those guys got into some pretty hardcore drugs... and they are just miserable."
suggested to Trustkill that they would like to release a reissue of their 2006 release The Truth
but the idea was rejected for various reasons. In 2008, Trustkill reissued The Truth with bonus tracks and a bonus DVD of which the band had no knowledge of. Bleeding Through believes that the reissue is a "fast and overt attempt to pay some bills." Bleeding Through also had issues with Trustkill and their new album Declaration
. Trustkill violated the band's contract by letting them enter the studio in March 2008 and only funding less than 25% of the recording costs; the rest was paid via loans from the lead singer's father and the band's management. Bleeding Through commented on the current state of the label, "Trustkill no longer employs his sales guy, his art director or his publicist. 'Trustkill' is now Josh and one employee in his basement, as far as we can tell."
. Nearly a year after the release, the band felt it was necessary to "air out years of dirty laundry with Josh Grabelle of Trustkill Records," or publicly release their feelings about the label. On March 31, 2008, Trustkill breached the band's contract, and as of July 2008 despite sending the label a notice of breach, nothing was resolved. The label owes Throwdown "tens of thousands of dollars in unpaid royalties for CDs sold" and has a history of not paying the band their royalties on time. The band expressed that the start of their contract with Trustkill was "very positive," however numerous issues over the years changed their minds. They had to drop off of several Warped Tour dates in 2006 when Trustkill failed to pay the bus driver on time, and also failed to make payments on time while recording Venom and Tears.
President Josh Grabelle dismissed the band's concerns by continuously saying that Throwdown "was never happy with anything [I] do." The band left the label with hopes that Trustkill could fix itself and stated, "we hope that by making this situation public, Josh will be motivated to get his business in order and set things right with Throwdown and everyone else who has been burned by the increasingly difficult situation."
were once signed to Trustkill and later Grabelle's Bullet Tooth. The band's song "The Victim" that appears on 2011's The Hollow
talks about "much darker times" during their time signed to Trustkill Records. "The Victim" includes the lines "If I could go back/do it all again/you know that I wouldn't sign my life away". Before introducing the song the band has called Trustkill a "shitty label" and have said that they are now proud to be apart of Rise Records
.
formed a new group called The March. In a Myspace blog, the band posted lyrics to one of their first demos; a song titled "Harlots, Thieves, & Fakes." In the blog, a lyric line was capitalized as follows: "When TRUST is KILLed you'll only have yourself to blame." The band has not commented on the meaning of the song, but from the rest of the lyrics it can be inferred that they are referring to label president Josh Grabelle.
blasted label president Josh Grabelle in a 2011 interview, saying "I also regret ever having anything to do with Josh Grabelle; but I know karma is very real and will catch up with him (if it hasn't already)."
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
record label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
that started as a 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...
fanzine
Fanzine
A fanzine is a nonprofessional and nonofficial publication produced by fans of a particular cultural phenomenon for the pleasure of others who share their interest...
in April 1993. It started releasing hardcore, metal and rock records and merchandise in 1994
1994 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1994.-January–February:*January 25 – Alice in Chains release their Jar of Flies album which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, becoming the first ever EP to do so....
. In 2010, the president of Trustkill, Josh Grabelle, formed a new label called Bullet Tooth Records.
Distribution
On January 9, 2007, Trustkill signed a deal for exclusive distribution in North America with FontanaFontana Records
Fontana Records is a record label which was started in the 1950s as a subsidiary of the Dutch Philips Records; when Philips restructured its music operations it dropped Fontana in favor of Vertigo Records. In the seventies PolyGram acquired the dormant label....
, which is under the Universal Music Group
Universal Music Group
Universal Music Group is an American music group, the largest of the "big four" record companies by its commanding market share and its multitude of global operations...
umbrella. Trustkill is also distributed by SPV (Europe), Shock (Australia), JVC/Howling Bull (Japan), David Gresham (South Africa), and Liberation (Brazil).
In 2009, independent hardcore label Think Fast! Records signed a worldwide distribution deal with Trustkill Records. Later in 2009, No Sleep Records also signed a worldwide distribution deal with Trustkill.
In 2010 president/A&R Josh Grabelle left Trustkill Records and started a new label called Bullet Tooth Records. The label's distributor still holds the rights to all of the albums released through the label and will still continue to print Trustkill releases and use the Trustkill logo. Since it's unlikely that their distributor will continue to sign new bands and print new releases, Trustkill is considered to be a defunct label. Many of the bands that were signed to the label at this time were re-signed to Bullet Tooth including Memphis May Fire
Memphis May Fire
Memphis May Fire is an American post-hardcore band currently based in Texas. Since its formation, the band has released two EPs and two full-length albums. Their music has been compared to Underoath and He Is Legend...
and Most Precious Blood.
Controversies
Several bands signed to the label experienced problems, as detailed below. However, some members of bands formerly signed to Trustkill are still friends with label president Josh Grabelle, such as Roses Are Red'sRoses Are Red (band)
Roses Are Red was an alternative rock band formed in Rochester, New York. The band was signed to Trustkill Records.-Biography:...
Vincent Minervino, Eighteen Visions'
Eighteen Visions
Eighteen Visions was an American metalcore band from Orange County, California, United States. Formed in October of 1995, the group was one of the first practitioners involved in the metalcore genre...
James Hart
James Stephen Hart
James Stephen Hart is the lead singer of the band Burn Halo and was the lead singer and founding member of the rock band Eighteen Visions.-Eighteen Visions:...
, and This Is Hell's Travis Reilly.
Hopesfall
After their breakup at the beginning of 2008, HopesfallHopesfall
Hopesfall was a post-hardcore band from Charlotte, North Carolina formed in 1998. They were signed to Trustkill Records. The band broke up in 2008 after all members, with the exception of singer Jay Forrest, decided to leave the band.-Biography:...
began releasing negative comments about Trustkill including "I hate Trustkill and its owner. Hahahaha. He's not the reason we broke up but I (we) do hate him." The band claimed to be $20,000 in debt due to Trustkill's President, Josh Grabelle, and also claimed that Trustkill "ripped off the band" by removing songs from their final album Magnetic North
Magnetic North (Hopesfall album)
Magnetic North is the fourth full-length album released by the hardcore band Hopesfall. Josh Brigham, one of the guitarists and the only founding member remaining during the recording of the album, has said: "Our music has always been spacey and heavy, and we use those roots, combined with our love...
without discussing it with the band first. The album was recorded, mastered, and ready to be released when the songs were removed by Trustkill. Hopesfall later released a downloadable file containing b-sides and demos from Magnetic North. In an interview on Ryan's Rock Show, drummer Jason Trabue stated that Grabelle added Hopesfall to Warped Tour
Warped Tour
The Warped Tour is a touring music and extreme sports festival. The tour is held in venues such as parking lots or fields upon which the stages and other structures are erected. The BMX/skateboarding shoe manufacturer Vans, among others, has sponsored the tour every year since 1995, and it is...
in 2005, then two weeks into the tour, Grabelle stopped paying for the bus. The band had to take out a loan to pay the driver and get home. In the same interview, Trabue stated that Grabelle "pretty much owed every band on that label money."
In response to these issues, Grabelle stated that, "[Trabue] does not speak a shred of truth... I heard those guys got into some pretty hardcore drugs... and they are just miserable."
Bleeding Through
In 2007, Bleeding ThroughBleeding 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...
suggested to Trustkill that they would like to release a reissue of their 2006 release The Truth
The Truth (Bleeding Through album)
The Truth is the fourth album by American metalcore band Bleeding Through, as well as their second album released through Trustkill Records. The album was released on January 10, 2006, produced by Rob Caggiano, lead guitarist of Anthrax....
but the idea was rejected for various reasons. In 2008, Trustkill reissued The Truth with bonus tracks and a bonus DVD of which the band had no knowledge of. Bleeding Through believes that the reissue is a "fast and overt attempt to pay some bills." Bleeding Through also had issues with Trustkill and their new album Declaration
Declaration (Bleeding Through album)
Declaration is the fifth album by American metalcore band Bleeding Through. The song's titles are named after different states and cities. Frontman Brandan Schieppati commented, "There are definitely places when we're traveling where every time we go there, we're like, 'Fuck, why do we have to be...
. Trustkill violated the band's contract by letting them enter the studio in March 2008 and only funding less than 25% of the recording costs; the rest was paid via loans from the lead singer's father and the band's management. Bleeding Through commented on the current state of the label, "Trustkill no longer employs his sales guy, his art director or his publicist. 'Trustkill' is now Josh and one employee in his basement, as far as we can tell."
Throwdown
Throwdown ended their three album contract with Trustkill Records in 2007 with their release of Venom and TearsVenom and Tears
Venom & Tears is the fifth album by the Orange County, California-based band, Throwdown. It was released on August 7, 2007. As an indication of the band's increasing visibility, the album was featured in Best Buy's weekly circular prior to its release...
. Nearly a year after the release, the band felt it was necessary to "air out years of dirty laundry with Josh Grabelle of Trustkill Records," or publicly release their feelings about the label. On March 31, 2008, Trustkill breached the band's contract, and as of July 2008 despite sending the label a notice of breach, nothing was resolved. The label owes Throwdown "tens of thousands of dollars in unpaid royalties for CDs sold" and has a history of not paying the band their royalties on time. The band expressed that the start of their contract with Trustkill was "very positive," however numerous issues over the years changed their minds. They had to drop off of several Warped Tour dates in 2006 when Trustkill failed to pay the bus driver on time, and also failed to make payments on time while recording Venom and Tears.
President Josh Grabelle dismissed the band's concerns by continuously saying that Throwdown "was never happy with anything [I] do." The band left the label with hopes that Trustkill could fix itself and stated, "we hope that by making this situation public, Josh will be motivated to get his business in order and set things right with Throwdown and everyone else who has been burned by the increasingly difficult situation."
Memphis May Fire
Memphis May FireMemphis May Fire
Memphis May Fire is an American post-hardcore band currently based in Texas. Since its formation, the band has released two EPs and two full-length albums. Their music has been compared to Underoath and He Is Legend...
were once signed to Trustkill and later Grabelle's Bullet Tooth. The band's song "The Victim" that appears on 2011's The Hollow
The Hollow (album)
The Hollow is the second full-length album by American metalcore band Memphis May Fire. The album was released on April 26, 2011, through Rise Records...
talks about "much darker times" during their time signed to Trustkill Records. "The Victim" includes the lines "If I could go back/do it all again/you know that I wouldn't sign my life away". Before introducing the song the band has called Trustkill a "shitty label" and have said that they are now proud to be apart of 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...
.
It Dies Today
In late 2010, Nick Brooks and Mike Hatalak of It Dies TodayIt Dies Today
It Dies Today is a metalcore band that formed in Buffalo, New York during September, 2001.- History :It Dies Today formed in August 2001. The group was established in Buffalo, New York by vocalist Nicholas Brooks, guitarist Chris Cappelli and guitarist Steve Lemke...
formed a new group called The March. In a Myspace blog, the band posted lyrics to one of their first demos; a song titled "Harlots, Thieves, & Fakes." In the blog, a lyric line was capitalized as follows: "When TRUST is KILLed you'll only have yourself to blame." The band has not commented on the meaning of the song, but from the rest of the lyrics it can be inferred that they are referring to label president Josh Grabelle.
Terror
Todd Jones, formerly of the hardcore band TerrorTerror (band)
Terror is a hardcore punk band from Los Angeles, California. Their second album One with the Underdogs sold over 40,000 copies. They have also been on tours throughout Europe , Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Korea, Mexico and South America...
blasted label president Josh Grabelle in a 2011 interview, saying "I also regret ever having anything to do with Josh Grabelle; but I know karma is very real and will catch up with him (if it hasn't already)."
Trustkill bands
- Adversary (2008–2010)
- Another Victim
- ArmsBendBackArmsBendBackArmsBendBack is an American band formed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The band was signed to Trustkill Records until it dissolved in 2010. ArmsBendBack's sound can be loosely defined as alternative rock, but the band takes cues from several genres, including hardcore, metalcore, and...
(2003–2010) - Awaken Demons (2009–2010)
- BEDlight for BlueEYESBEDlight for BlueEYESBedlight for Blue Eyes was an alternative rock band from Berkeley Heights, New Jersey signed to Trustkill Records. Their debut album, The Dawn, was released in August 2005; the album reached #45 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart. In 2005 guitarist Justin Ortiz left the band to pursue folk...
(2004–2009) - Bleeding ThroughBleeding ThroughBleeding 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...
(2003–2009) - Brother's Keeper
- Bullet for My ValentineBullet for My ValentineBullet for My Valentine are a Welsh heavy metal band from Bridgend, formed in 1998. The band is composed of Matt Tuck , Michael Paget , Jason James , and Michael Thomas . They were formed under the name Jeff Killed John and started their music career by covering songs by Metallica and Nirvana...
- Burn It Down
- Campfire
- Cast Iron HikeCast Iron Hike-History:Cast Iron Hike was formed after the breakup of Worcester hardcore band Backbone, and featured that group's drummer and guitarist . They began by playing shows on the East Coast before releasing material in the mid and late 1990s in rapid succession, including EPs on Big Wheel Recreation...
- City Sleeps (2007–2010)
- Crash RomeoCrash Romeo-History:Crash Romeo was formed by members who had previously played together in the band Centsless. Members of the band Bedlight for Blue Eyes suggested the band to their label Trustkill Records, who signed the group late in 2005. Their debut appeared on the label the following year, produced by...
(2005–2010) - Deception of a Ghost (2010)
- Despair
- Disembodied
- Eighteen VisionsEighteen VisionsEighteen Visions was an American metalcore band from Orange County, California, United States. Formed in October of 1995, the group was one of the first practitioners involved in the metalcore genre...
(1999–2004) - Endeavor
- Fight Paris
- FightstarFightstarFightstar are an English alternative rock band from London. They formed in 2003 and their lineup comprises lead vocalist, guitarist and keyboardist Charlie Simpson, guitarist and vocalist Alex Westaway, bass guitarist Dan Haigh and drummer Omar Abidi...
(2007–2010) - First BloodFirst Blood (band)First Blood are a hardcore band from San Francisco, CA. Their Trustkill Records debut album is titled Killafornia. Four years later they released Silence Is Betryal on Bullet Tooth Records.-Background:...
(2006–2010) - The Great American Beast (2009–2010)
- The Great DeceiverThe Great Deceiver (band)The Great Deceiver is a band featuring former At The Gates Frontman Tomas Lindberg. Their music is a mixture of hardcore and metal.-Current line-up:* Tomas Lindberg * Matti Lundell * Johan Österberg * Ulf Scott...
- Harvest
- HopesfallHopesfallHopesfall was a post-hardcore band from Charlotte, North Carolina formed in 1998. They were signed to Trustkill Records. The band broke up in 2008 after all members, with the exception of singer Jay Forrest, decided to leave the band.-Biography:...
(2002–2007) - Idle Hands
- It Dies TodayIt Dies TodayIt Dies Today is a metalcore band that formed in Buffalo, New York during September, 2001.- History :It Dies Today formed in August 2001. The group was established in Buffalo, New York by vocalist Nicholas Brooks, guitarist Chris Cappelli and guitarist Steve Lemke...
(2004–2010) - Kid Liberty (2009–2010)
- Memphis May FireMemphis May FireMemphis May Fire is an American post-hardcore band currently based in Texas. Since its formation, the band has released two EPs and two full-length albums. Their music has been compared to Underoath and He Is Legend...
(2007–2010) - Most Precious Blood (2001–2010)
- NoraNora (band)Nora is a metalcore band from Highland Park, New Jersey. The band took its name from Nora Diniro, a character from the film Pump Up the Volume.Formed in 1996, the band debuted on Ferret Music and moved to Trustkill Records in 1999...
(1999–2010) - One Nature
- Open HandOpen HandOpen Hand is a Californian indie rock band. The band was formed in Hollywood in 1999 by guitarist/vocalist Justin Isham, bassist Michael Anastasi and drummer Alex Rodriguez. They released two EPs on its own American Propaganda label, Radio Days and Evolutions...
(2002–2010) - Outbreak (2009–2010)
- Picturesque
- Poison the WellPoison the Well (band)Poison the Well was an experimental hardcore band from Miami/Ft. Lauderdale, Florida who were last signed to Ferret Music. Guitarist Ryan Primack and drummer Chris Hornbrook were the only remaining members of the band who were involved since their inception, although vocalist Jeffrey Moreira was...
(1999–2003) - Psycho Enhancer
- RacetraitorRacetraitorRacetraitor was an American political straight edge hardcore punk band from Chicago, Illinois.The band was known for calling audience members "crackers" and for espousing radical beliefs influenced by black nationalism, third worldism and other anti-colonial ideologies...
- Roses Are RedRoses Are Red (band)Roses Are Red was an alternative rock band formed in Rochester, New York. The band was signed to Trustkill Records.-Biography:...
- SeventyEightDays
- Shai HuludShai Hulud (band)Shai Hulud is an American hardcore punk band with progressive metal influences, originally formed in Pompano Beach, Florida, the band later moved up to Poughkeepsie, New York....
- Shenoem
- Sick City (2007–2010)
- Soldiers (2007–2010)
- Spark Lights The Friction
- StoneRider (2007–2010)
- TerrorTerror (band)Terror is a hardcore punk band from Los Angeles, California. Their second album One with the Underdogs sold over 40,000 copies. They have also been on tours throughout Europe , Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Korea, Mexico and South America...
- This Is Hell (2005–2009)
- Throwdown (2003–2008)
- Too Pure to Die (2007–2009)
- Turmoil
- VentanA (2009–2010)
- Victory in Numbers (2009–2010)
- Walls of Jericho (1999–2009)
External links
- Trustkill Records at DiscogsDiscogsDiscogs, short for discographies, is a website and database of information about audio recordings, including commercial releases, promotional releases, and bootleg or off-label releases. The Discogs servers, currently hosted under the domain name discogs.com, are owned by Zink Media, Inc., and are...
- Interview w/ Trustkill President, Josh Grabelle (2002)
- Bullet Tooth Records official website