Shrapnel was one first labels to promote REAL Heavy Metal in the States and their number of classic records in their early days speak for themselves. Unfortunately, raw and uncompromising, balls-out HM didn't seem to be what Mr. Varney & co held closest at heart. By the second half of the 80's, Shrapnel were slowly starting to phaze out the classic Metal acts in favour of guitar wan.. sorry, "virituosos" and by the end of the decade you could hardly call them a pure Metal label at all. To set a more consistant stop to this list than mere personal tastes, I've included everything up until their very last (?) "traditional " Metal-release (SH-1047). This was also around the time when they stopped releasing their albums on vinyl in the states. Roadrunner licensed their titles on vinyl in Europe for a few more years though. This list at Forgotten Steel provided the basis for this page and goes a few titles further, but I'm sure you can find even more complete discogs out there. Shrapnel are still active and should have around 200 titles in their catalog by now. Check their home page for more info.
Cover Cat# Artist Title Format Year (comment) SH-1001 V/A U.S. Metal LP 1981 More info here. SH-1002 V/A U.S. Metal vol. II LP 1982 More info here. SH-1003 Wild Dogs s/t LP 1983   SH-1004 Exciter Heavy Metal Maniac LP 1983   SH-1005 The Rods In The Raw LP 1983   SH-1006 V/A U.S. Metal vol. III LP 1983 More info here. SH-1007 Steeler s/t LP 1983   SH-1008 Culprit Guilty As Charged LP 1983   SH-1009 Hawaii One Nation Underground LP 1983   SH-1010 Le Mans On The Streets LP 1983   SH-1011 Randy Hansen Astral Projection - Live LP 1983   SH-1012 Wild Dogs Man's Best Friend LP 1984   SH-1013 V/A U.S. Metal vol. IV LP 1984 More info here. SH-1014 Keel Lay Down The Law LP 1984 SH-1015 Griffin Flight Of The Griffin LP 1984 SH-1016 Hexx No Escape LP 1984   SH-1017 Trauma Scratch And Scream LP 1984   SH-1018 Chastain Mystery Of Illusion LP 1985   SH-1019 London Non Stop Rock LP 1985   SH-1020 Vicious Rumors Soldiers Of The Night LP 1986   SH-1021 Tony Macalpine Edge Of Insanity LP 1986   SH-1022 Fifth Angel s/t LP 1986   SH-1023 Racer X Street Lethal LP 1986   SH-1024 Chastain Ruler Of The Wasteland LP 1986   SH-1025 Hexx Under The Spell LP 1986   SH-1026 Ravage Wrecking Ball LP 1986   SH-1027 Vinnie More Mind's Eye LP 1986   SH-1028 M.A.R.S. Project: Driver LP 1986   SH-1029 Dr Mastermind s/t LP 1986   SH-1030 Joey Tafolla Out Of The Sun LP 1987   SH-1031 Cacophony Speed Metal Symphony LP 1987   SH-1032 Racer X Second Heat LP 1988   SH-1033 Vicious Rumors Digital Dictator LP 1988   SH-1034 Apocrypha The Forgotten Scroll LP 1988   SH-1035 Marty Friedman Dragon's Kiss LP/CD 1988 SH-1036 Jason Becker Perpetual Burn LP 1988   SH-1037 Greg Howe s/t LP 1988   SH-1038 Racer X Extreme Volume - Live LP/CD 1988 SH-1039 Apocrypha The Eyes Of Time LP 1988   SH-1040 Cacophony Go Off! LP/CD 1988   SH-1041 V/A Fretboard Frenzy LP/CD 1989 Featuring: Cacophony, Greg Howe, Jason Becker, Racer X, Apocrypha, Marty Friedman, Joey Tafolla and Dr. Mastermind. SH-1042 Richie Kotzen s/t LP/CD 1989 SH-1043 Phantom Blue s/t LP 1989   SH-1044 Howe II High Gear LP/CD 1989   SH-1045 Michael Lee Firkins s/t LP/CD 1990   SH-1046 Richie Kotzen Fever Dream CD 1990   SH-1047 Apocrypha Area 54 CD 1990
Compiled by Johnny Meert. Additional info by DaN Edman and Avenger.
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