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Combat Records
Combat Records
Parent company	Sony; Koch; EMP
Founded	1982
Distributor(s)	Important/Relativity/AMPED/SPV
Genre	Heavy metal
Country of origin	U.S.
Location	New York City

Combat Records was an American independent record label founded in 1982 and based in New York City.

The label was made specifically for heavy metal and punk rock acts. Notable artists include: Megadeth, Circle Jerks, Nuclear Assault, OZ, Death, Dead Brain Cells, Possessed, Crumbsuckers, Agnostic Front, Agent Steel, Dark Angel, Heathen, Zoetrope, Ludichrist and Exodus. In 2017, it was announced that Combat was being relaunched by Megadeth bassist David Ellefson and Thom Hazaert as a new label imprint under their EMP Label Group.^[1]

History

Combat Records was the in-house heavy metal label for the independent powerhouse distributor Important Record Distributors.^[2] Important had several United States offices promoting and selling Combat's releases. Important Records was also home to Megaforce Records in the mid-1980s^[3] and produced Metallica's Kill 'Em All and Ride the Lightning (prior to Metallica's transfer to Elektra Records), Anthrax's Fistful of Metal and many other early Megaforce releases.^[4]

In mid-1986, the label Noise Records signed a deal with Combat to distribute records in the US. Noise represented the bands Voivod, Celtic Frost, Helloween, Tankard, and Running Wild).^[5] Neat also signed with Combat, bringing Venom and Raven to the US. In contrast, Metal Blade brought Slayer and Trouble.^[6] Usually releases were issued in joint venture with the Combat logo.

The label signed thrash metal band Megadeth to a contract in November 1984. The band released their first album Killing Is My Business... and Business Is Good! in 1985. Capitol Records signed Megadeth in 1985, obtaining the rights from Combat to Peace Sells... but Who's Buying?, Megadeth's second album. The Combat logo appeared on the back of every Megadeth album on Capitol up through 1992's Countdown to Extinction. Killing Is My Business... and Business Is Good! is one of the highest selling albums released by Combat Records with more than 200,000 copies sold.

The label had distribution deals with Music for Nations and Under One Flag for European releases of their catalog.

Purchase of the company

Combat Records was later taken over by Relativity Records. Owned by Sony Music, Relativity allowed Combat to exist for a brief period, before shutting it down. Later, Sony would discontinue Relativity Records as well. Sony Music Entertainment continues to retain rights to the majority of the label's catalog.

Rebirth

Combat Records briefly reformed in 2005, as an imprint under Koch Records, releasing records from Look What I Did, Horse the Band, and At All Cost.^[7]

Sony Music Entertainment released most of the original Combat catalog digitally for the first time in 2015. The releases were marketed through the relaunched Music For Nations label.

In 2017, it was announced that Megadeth bassist David Ellefson and Thom Hazaert were relaunching Combat as an imprint of EMP Label Group, who have released albums from Soulfly guitarist Marc Rizzo, Wrath, Dead By Wednesday, Hatchet, Sword, and more. On New Year's Day 2018, Ellefson announced that Throw the Goat was the first new band to be signed. In 2019, Ellefson and Hazaert's Combat Records, released joint venture reissues of several classic Combat catalog titles with Century Media Records, including releases by Exodus, Possessed, and Dark Angel. Tech Death Metal End-Time Illusion released Anamnesis Genesis in late 2023 under Combat and Mindsnap Music.

Former artists

Videos

Combat formed a video label in 1985.^[8] It released one title, Combat Tour Live: The Ultimate Revenge, later that year.^[9]

References

^ "David Ellefson's EMP Label Group Brings Back Combat Records". XS ROCK. XS ROCK. Archived from the original on December 31, 2019. Retrieved November 27, 2017.
^ Moleski, Linda (August 24, 1985). "Important Records Rediscovers Relativity". Billboard. p. 70. Retrieved January 18, 2015. Shortly after its formation in 1983, Relativity was put on hold because the company decided it would be more beneficial to "drop dance" and start a specialty label for heavy metal... As a result ... the money generated by Combat 'paved the way for us to start signing other [types of] bands.'
^ Important Record Distributors; Megaforce Records; Combat Records (December 8, 1984). "advertisement". Billboard. p. RB16. Retrieved January 15, 2015.
^ Waller, Don (January 29, 2000). "Secrets of RED's Success". Billboard. p. R-2. Retrieved January 15, 2015. The Billboard Salute to RED.{{cite magazine}}: CS1 maint: postscript (link)
^ Moleski, Linda (June 7, 1986). "Grass Route". Billboard. p. 43. Retrieved January 15, 2015.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l Combat Records (April 27, 1985). "Bang Your Head 'Til You're Dead". Billboard. p. HM-5. Retrieved January 15, 2015(advertisement).{{cite magazine}}: CS1 maint: postscript (link)
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g Titus, Christa (October 22, 2005). "Venerable Metal Label Again Ready for Combat". Billboard. p. 22. Retrieved January 15, 2015.
^ "Home Video ....newsline..." Billboard. April 6, 1985. p. 32. Retrieved January 15, 2015.
^ "New Releases: Home Video". Billboard. October 19, 1985. p. 29. Retrieved January 15, 2015.