The Flenser (also known as Flenser Records) is an American record label founded by Jonathan Tuite in 2010 from San Francisco, California. It describes itself as a "dark music" label and a "dark experimental record label".[1][2]
The Flenser was founded in 2010 by former musician Jonathan Tuite in San Francisco, who originally intended to focus the label on the American black metal scene at the time. However, the scene began to wane in popularity as The Flenser slowly gained prominence, so Tuite expanded the reach of the label to other genres.[9] The label was named after the process of flensing – removing blubber from whales – which Tuite learned about from the novel Moby-Dick.[10]
The Flenser's first release was the album The Forgotten by Palace of Worms.[11]
In March 2019, the label held a two-night showcase in New York City headlined by Have a Nice Life with Planning for Burial, Wreck and Reference, Elizabeth Colour Wheel, Midwife and Consumer.[13][14] Another two-night event occurred in April 2023 featuring Have a Nice Life, Giles Corey, Midwife, and Planning for Burial.[15][16]
There was a planned Flenser showcase for the 2020 edition of the Roadburn Festival in the Netherlands to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the label, but it was canceled following the COVID-19 pandemic.[9] It was scheduled to be Giles Corey's debut live performance in Europe.[17]
In 2020, the label released its first novel, To Sing of Damnation by Virginia author Adam Washington.[8]
In March 2022, the label released Send the Pain Below, a six-song EP featuring multiple bands on the label covering nu metal songs.[18]
The label hosted a showcase at the Oblivion Access festival in Austin, Texas in June 2023 featuring Have a Nice Life, Chat Pile, Planning for Burial, Mamaleek, Bosse de Nage, Drowse, Sprain, Ragana, Amulets, and Agriculture.[19][20]
In 2024, the label will release Your Voice is Not Enough, a Low tribute album dedicated to the late Mimi Parker, the group's drummer, which was organized before her passing.[21][22]
^Flenser, The. "About Us". The Flenser. Retrieved 2023-02-17.
^Lefebvre, Sam (2012-04-27). "Local Metal Label Flenser Is a One-Man Pursuit of Quality Doom". sfweekly.com. Label Sampler. Archived from the original on 2012-05-01.
^Passaro, Fred (May 31, 2013). "Stream: Vestiges / Panopticon Split". Invisible Oranges. Archived from the original on June 22, 2017. Retrieved August 23, 2020.
^Nelson, Michael (2012-11-05). "Bosse-de-Nage – "A Mimesis of Purpose"". stereogum.com.
^Gotrich, Lars (19 April 2013). "Close Your Eyes: Wreck and Reference's Creepy Video". NPR.
^Berlatsky, Noah (21 February 2013). "The Brilliant Black-Metal Album About Plants Wiping Out Humankind". The Atlantic. Archived from the original on 2013-06-09.
^Kelly, Kim (2013-04-17). "Skagos: Anarchic". Pitchfork.
^ abMurphy, Scott. "To Sing of Damnation: Inside the First Full-Length Novel Published by The Flenser – Heavy Blog Is Heavy". www.heavyblogisheavy.com. Retrieved 2021-06-02.
^ ab"Interview: The Flenser's Jonathan Tuite on the Label's 10th Anniversary". New Noise Magazine. Retrieved 2023-02-17.
^Will Reisman. "SF record label you've never heard of a household name". San Francisco Examiner. Retrieved 2023-05-04.
^Flenser, The. "Palace of Worms "The Forgotten" CD". The Flenser. Retrieved 2023-02-17.
^"HAVE A NICE LIFE'S DEATHCONSCIOUSNESS RE-ISSUE COMING 9/16 FROM THE FLENSER". 2014-07-02. Retrieved 2023-02-17.
^Sacher, Andrew. "Have A Nice Life, Planning for Burial, more playing Flenser showcase in NYC". BrooklynVegan. Retrieved 2023-02-17.
^Sacher, Andrew. "2nd Flenser NYC showcase with Have A Nice Life & more added". BrooklynVegan. Retrieved 2023-02-17.
^Hatfield, Amanda. "The Flenser announce NYC showcase with Have a Nice Life, Midwife, Planning for Burial, more". BrooklynVegan. Retrieved 2023-02-17.
^Sacher, Andrew. "Have A Nice Life-headlined Flenser showcase in NYC adds 2nd night". BrooklynVegan. Retrieved 2023-02-17.
^Flenser, The. "Flenser 10 Year Celebration at Roadburn 2020". The Flenser. Retrieved 2023-02-17.
^"Deftones: Hear Wreck and Reference's Flickering Shoegaze Cover of "Change (In the House of Flies)"". Revolver. 2021-08-10. Retrieved 2023-02-17.
^Sacher, Andrew. "Oblivion Access initial 2023 lineup: Godflesh, Tim Hecker, Have A Nice Life, Chat Pile, Ludicra, more". BrooklynVegan. Retrieved 2023-02-17.
^Fragassi, Selena (2023-01-24). "Godflesh, Tim Hecker Headlining Oblivion Access Festival 2023". SPIN. Retrieved 2023-02-17.
^"The Flenser Announces Low Tribute Album 'Your Voice Is Not Enough'". Stereogum. 2023-12-19. Retrieved 2024-01-18.
^LaPierre, Megan. "The Flenser to Release Low Tribute Album with Midwife, Drowse, Have a Nice Life". Exclaim!. Retrieved 2023-12-19.