Load Records

Infobox Company
company_name = Load Records
company_
company_type = Record Label
foundation = 1993
location = Providence, Rhode Island
key_people = Ben McOsker, Laura Mullen
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revenue =
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homepage = http://loadrecords.com/
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Load Records is an American noise/experimental independent record label based out of Providence, Rhode Island. "Load Records might possibly be in possession of the world's most challenging record roster," writes Mark Hensch of Thrash Pit. "Rounded out by some of the most uncompromising noise/avant-garde/experimental artists in all of music's sordid underbelly, Load has always prided itself on remaining outside of common taste and maybe even common sense." [cite web | author= Hensch, Mark | year= 2006 | title=Load Records Triple-Shot - Three Birds, One Review Review | work=Thrash Pit| url=http://www.rocknworld.com/thrashpit/reviews/06/LoadRecordsTriple-Shot.shtml | accessmonthday= March 19 |accessyear=2007]

Load Records was started by Ben McOsker in order to put a 7-inch record out for the band Boss Fuel. The label quickly became the most prominent source for noise music coming out of Providence, Rhode Island - loosely functioning in the same way that Sub Pop served grunge out of Seattle in the early '90s. "Ben McOsker got into the business of running a label on a whim," said Stylus Magazine, "and now, after more than ten years of operation, Load Records has become one of the preeminent names in noise music. By signing acts like Lightning Bolt, Sightings and Noxagt, McOsker has expanded the notions of noise and helped bring numerous Providence bands to the ears of discerning listeners." [cite web | author= | year= 2005 | title=The Dreamers of Dreams: Ben McOsker (Load Records) | work=Stylus Magazine| url=http://www.stylusmagazine.com/stypod/archives/99 | accessmonthday= March 19 |accessyear=2007] Some claim McOsker has released some of the most exciting noise/experimental music of the early '00s, including music from Lightning Bolt, Neon Hunk, Metalux, Noxagt, and Friends Forever. [cite web | author= Earles, Andrew | year= 2002 | title=Interview: Ben McOsker, Load Records | work=Pitchfork Magazine| url=http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/feature/31398/Interview_Interview_Ben_McOsker_Load_Records | accessmonthday= March 19 |accessyear=2007] Others have attributed a cookie-cutter aesthetic to the label, mostly in terms of the masks/costumes worn by a number of the bands. [cite web | author= Cooper, Merek | year= 2003 | title=Caution: Heavy Load | work=Discorder Magazine| url=http://www.discorder.ca/oldsite/features/03octloadrec.html | accessmonthday= March 19 |accessyear=2007] However, recent records released by Load have run the gamut from strict noise-based squeal of Prurient and the Yellow Swans. Load also features a number of bands operating in a more metal vein such as Khanate, Ovo, Necronomitron, and the Brainbombs.

The music of Load Records is popularized and reviewed through national zines like Blastitude, Arthur, and Dead Angel.

Notable Load Records bands

* Air Conditioning
* Arab On Radar
* Astoveboat
* Brainbombs
* Burmese
* Coughs
* DJ Scotch Egg
* Excepter
* Fat Day
* Forcefield
* Friends Forever
* Gerty Farish
* Giant Jesus
* Hawd Gankstuh Rappuh MC's
* the Hospitals
* thee Hydrogen Terrors
* Khanate
* Kites
* Kites/Prurient
* Landed
* Lightning Bolt
* Men's Recovery Project
* Metalux
* Mindflayer
* Monotract
* Mr. California and the State Police
* Mystery Brinkman
* Nautical Almanac
* Necronomitron
* Neon Hunk
* Noxagt
* the Ohsees (aka OCS)
* Olneyville Sound System
* Pink and Brown
* Pleasurehorse
* Prurient
* the Scissor Girls
* Sightings
* Silver Daggers
* Six Finger Satellite
* Swordheaven
* Total Shutdown
* the USAISAMONSTER
* Ultralyd
* Vincebus Eruptum
* John Von Ryan
* Vaz
* the White Mice
* Wizardzz

ee also

*Load Records catalog
*List of record labels

External links

* [http://www.loadrecords.com/ Official website]

Notes