nuclear Family

A brief history of the last three decades of heavy

1987

Markus Staiger founds Nuclear Blast in his hometown of Donzdorf. The first record released on the label is the compilation Senseless Death.

1990

Albums by death metal bands Atrocity, Master and Incubus sell more than 30,000 copies each.

1991

Meshuggah’s debut album, Contradictions Collapse, is released. The band remain on Nuclear Blast to this day.

1995

Gorefest’s Erase becomes the first Nuclear Blast album to enter the German charts, reaching Number 82.

1996

In Flames’ breakthrough second album, The Jester Race, is released.

1997

Hammerfall become the label’s first power metal success story when their debut album, Glory To The Brave, reaches the German Top 40.

2002

Meshuggah become the first Nuclear Blast band to break into the US Top 200, when Nothing reaches Number 165.

2004

Nightwish’s Once becomes the biggest-selling album released by Nuclear Blast. Dimmu Borgir become the first black metal band to play on the US Ozzfest tour, helping to properly establish the label as a force on the US metal scene.

2008

Testament release their acclaimed comeback album, The Formation Of Damnation, adding weight to a thrash revival that also includes NB labelmates Exodus, Overkill and Death Angel.

2012

Nuclear Blast recruit several former executives from the recently downsized Roadrunner Records, including A&R guru Monte Conner and UK MD Mark Palmer.

2013

The label dips its toes into the world of retro rock with Devil Man, the second EP from Swedish psych-rockers Blues Pills.

2014

Nuclear Blast release Suicide Silence’s You Can’t Stop Me – the first album since the death of frontman Mitch Lucker.

2015

Slayer’s Repentless debuts at Number 4 in the Billboard Chart – Nuclear Blast’s highest charting album in the US.

2016

Offshoot Sharptone Records is launched as a home for rock and alternative music. Its roster includes Miss May I, Don Broco and Emmure.

2017

Nuclear Blast celebrates its 30th birthday.