There are lots of labels that stand because the mark of high quality in excessive metallic. We’ve lined many of those at Decibel, as they are often relied on as “you realize it’s going to be good.” However there are additionally some which can be interesting for a further purpose, in that you just’re by no means completely positive what the label goes to throw at you. Sentient Damage Laboratories, primarily based out of Oakland, California, is a type of shops.
Whereas some labels roughly concentrate on loss of life metallic or black metallic or vintage-themed doom metallic, Sentient Damage appears to visitors in all species of extremity and obscurity. Though a number of the bands on the roster have achieved a devoted following in very specialised circles (Hell being a superb instance), the label’s mastermind, M., isn’t right here to recruit a set of distinguished designated hitters. Quite the opposite, he stays dedicated to giving lesser-known or completely unknown bands a voice.
And that’s why we needed to study extra.
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Thanks for speaking with us! For individuals who may not know, are you able to inform us about how Sentient Damage Laboratories received began?
I’ve been a musician most of my life and, other than enjoying in bands and coping with labels myself, through the years I’ve additionally been a music blogger and document collector. Document amassing and writing about music all the time tickled my creativeness about how it could be to have a label of my very own and describe my very own releases, in addition to how I’d run the label, what the releases would sound and appear like, and what the vibe and aesthetic could be like. I used to be impressed by labels like Chilly Meat Trade, Aurora Borealis, HydraHead, Osmose, Youth Assault, Profane Existence, Chilly Spring, Earache and so on, and had this playful thought in my head for years. Round 2012, I began releasing cassettes for the bands of shut buddies, and it snowballed from there. For me, having a label is similar to being in a band. You may get very artistic with it and it’s an important technique of expression and divulgation.
What would you say is the core imaginative and prescient of the label? Your roster spans all kinds of extremity, however would you say there’s a typical thread that brings all of it collectively?
I sometimes attempt to work for bands and artists which can be underappreciated or underrated, typically unsigned, or at their first launch with a label. As a decades-long music blogger and collector, the invention of bands I’d by no means heard of throughout the folds of the underground was all the time an thrilling second, so I attempt to deliver that pleasure to others now by means of the label, whereas making an attempt to make it proper for individuals who deserve it. The imaginative and prescient and mission is discovery of nice expertise hidden beneath the floor of the varied genres I like, to make it proper for them and for many who are keen about discovery, primarily in excessive metallic, punk, and industrial, but additionally with adjoining areas of curiosity of mine like darkwave, goth and post-punk, noise, darkish ambient, and experimental music of assorted kinds. I additionally make an effort to launch artists from international locations from the southern and jap hemisphere, from creating international locations, or who’re simply under-represented globally.
One launch I bear in mind actually having fun with was that album from Vulvanic in 2023. How did you come into contact with them?
Their demo handed beneath my nostril throughout considered one of my many music scouring classes, it could have been from a Youtube channel I’m subscribed to. I assumed their two demos have been superior so I contacted them through e-mail to see in the event that they wished to reissue them as a vinyl comp. The discharge turned out nice, and I agree, they’re an distinctive band from a rustic that doesn’t get the popularity it ought to.
Working a document label, particularly in a distinct segment space like metallic, can’t be a simple feat. What would you say have been your major challenges?
The truth that nothing I do is basically for revenue. If that was the objective, I’d be releasing boilerplate commercial-value stuff, which I’ve no real interest in. So the hours of labor for little to no monetary return and dealing a non-music-related full time job to deal with my household isn’t all the time simple, however that is what my dedication and sacrifice is for the larger that means it holds to me.
Wanting ahead, what are some upcoming releases you’d like Decibel readers to look out for?
Gawthrop, the perfect sludge/doom band from far east Asia since Corrupted, far and broad. And the brand new Uranium album, which can certainly create some extent of no return for underground excessive music. In addition to a brand new EP from Diabolic Oath, which continues the expansion of their musicianship and mastership. There are much more however for numerous apparent causes they have to stay beneath wraps 🙂
It’s simple to get jaded and burned out when music turns into a part of your on a regular basis working life. Lastly, what retains you enthusiastic about this music?
The label simply provides me this very distinctive and significant sense of self expression and goal, understanding that I’m serving to musicians and making folks completely satisfied, being it the bands or all of the individuals who love to find new music and who’re keen about and devoted to our beloved underground. I do all of this for them, hoping to encourage, inspire, and convey happiness to their lives by means of the magic and pleasure of music, simply as different labels did for me in my youth. Simply making an attempt to offer again and put all of the inspiration I obtained through the years again to work so it’s not wasted or hoarded, however so all of it goes again into the world.
