Deathwish Inc. is an American independent record label conceived by Jacob Bannon of Converge and Tre McCarthy in 2000."Label Profile: Deathwish Inc.". Alternative Press 299 (June 2013), p. 37. Their first release was Deeper the Wound, a split album between Converge and Japanese band Hellchild on April 23, 2001. Deathwish established itself quickly, working with a diverse group of bands and eventually becoming one of the most respected and innovative labels in contemporary hardcore punk and aggressive music in general.
After having previously worked with RED Distribution, in March 2016, Deathwish signed a global deal with Alternative Distribution Alliance (ADA), an independent distribution label under Warner Music Group that has also partnered with other punk labels including Epitaph Records, Rise Records, and Run for Cover Records.
Deathwish, Inc. has also expanded into releasing exclusive archived prints from various artists, which include Jacob Bannon.
Related labels
In 1999, Linas Garsys and Tru Pray founded the hardcore punk independent record label Malfunction Records. Deathwish merged with Malfunction in August 2007, and originally announced that the two labels would still exist as separate entities with Malfunction acting as an imprint label and Deathwish's staff operating both businesses. However, one of Malfunction's last releases was Bitter Ends' 2008 self-titled EP. Deathwish still distributes some of Malfunction's back catalog.
In 2012, Jeremy Bolm of Touché Amoré formed his own imprint label under Deathwish dubbed Secret Voice.
In 2014, Jami Morgan of Code Orange along with Pat Kindlon of Self Defense Family formed their own imprint under Deathwish titled Harm Reduction Records.
The label in the past has operated an imprint label Icarus Records, for more experimental and ambient sounding bands, though it has been dormant for many years and only released albums from two artists.
In 2009, Deathwish expanded into independent music distribution offering exclusive and featured distribution of other record labels. Currently, Deathwish distributes many labels including: Closed Casket Activities, ConCult (Converge self-released titles), Iodine Recordings, Discos Huelga, Grave Mistake Records, Nonbeliever, React! Records, Painkiller Records, Perfect Victim Records, Six Feet Under Records, State of Mind Recordings, and Vitriol Records.
Deathwish Fest For two nights in July 2014, Deathwish hosted back-to-back concerts in Massachusetts featuring current and formerly signed bands of the label. Both nights featured headliners Converge and Trap Them, the first show had Modern Life is War, Doomriders, Cult Leader, Self Defense Family and Harm Wülf as openers; while the second night had Young and in the Way, Code Orange, Oathbreaker, New Lows and Chrome Over Brass (Alex Garcia-Rivera of Give Up the Ghost, Bloodhorse) as openers. The label also stated that this is the first of a series of events. In May/June, the Deathwish Fest toured Europe for a 7-day gig featuring Converge, Trap Them, Harm's Way and Young and in the Way.
Former MMA sponsorship Deathwish began sponsoring several mixed martial arts UFC fighters in 2008. Among the label's sponsored fighters includes: Dan "The Outlaw" Hardy, Joe "J-Lau" Lauzon, Dan "The Upgrade" Lauzon, Toby "Tigerheart" Grear and several local Boston grapplers. Bannon is also a licensed MMA judge, and designed some of the fighters' clothing. Deathwish's sponsorship of MMA declined in the early 2010s and all references to this subject have been removed from its official website.
Label discography
As of January 2025, Deathwish Inc's discography includes over 240 releases from over 120 different bands (including non-Deathwish artists featured on split releases). Its main discography most prominently features 25 releases from Converge, 13 from Self Defense Family (End of a Year) and 11 from Blacklisted.
In March 2014, Deathwish uploaded its entire catalog onto the music streaming/purchasing service, Bandcamp.
Current artists
Bitter End Blacklisted Bossk Burn Cold Cave Cold World Converge Cult Leader (featuring three members of Gaza) Doomriders Frail Body Glare Gouge Away Greet Death HarborLights HeavenlyBLue The Hope Conspiracy Loma Prieta Mad Honey Modern Life Is War Oathbreaker Planes Mistaken for Stars Process Black State Faults Wear Your Wounds
Former artists
100 Demons 108 AC4 Acid Tiger A Life Once Lost American Nightmare/Give Up the Ghost Birds in Row The Blinding Light Boysetsfire Breather Resist Burning Love Carpathian The Carrier Ceremony Chrome Over Brass (Alex Garcia-Rivera) Code Orange (formerly Code Orange Kids) Coliseum Cursed Damage Deafheaven Death Index Death of Lovers The Dedication Embrace Today Extreme Noise Terror First Blood Frameworks The Great Deceiver Harm's Way Harm Wülf (George Hirsch of Blacklisted) Heiress Hellchild Holyghost Horror Show I Hate You Integrity Irons Jacob Bannon Jesuseater Killing the Dream Knives Out Life Long Tragedy Lies (featuring members of The Hope Conspiracy and Skin Like Iron) Living Eyes Narrows New Lows The Power and The Glory The Promise Pulling Teeth Punch Razor Crusade Reach the Sky Ringworm Rise and Fall Rot In Hell Quentin Sauvé (Q. of Birds in Row) So Be It Self Defense Family Shipwreck A.D. Some Girls Starkweather The Suicide File Super Unison (featuring Meghan O'Neil from Punch) Terror Touché Amoré Trap Them United Nations Victims Whips/Chains White Jazz (featuring three members of Rise and Fall) Wovenhand Young and in the Way
Related labels artists
Malfunction artists (1999–2008)
American Nightmare Barfight Cast Aside Ceremony Four Walls Falling Internal Affairs Learn Meltdown Moment of Youth Piece by Piece Rag Men Reign Supreme Right On Shitfit Time Flies TouchXDown Trash Talk Wheelbite Worn Thin
Icarus artists (2003–2005) Halfacre Gunroom Switchblade
Secret Voice artists (2012–present) Dangers Drug Church Hesitation Wounds Infant Island Newmoon Single Mothers Sonagi Andrew Thomson Warm Thoughts (formally Dad Punchers)
Harm Reduction artists (2014–present) Axis Drown Purge Resistance Wire Steel Nation Detain Unit 731 Threat 2 Society
References
External links
Deathwish Inc. at Bandcamp (also: Deathwish Live Series, Malfunction, Secret Voice and Harm Reduction)