Darkest Labyrinth

Starwave Records (formerly Darkest Labyrinth and Cure) is a Tokyo based record label, distributor, and web store specializing in gothic and visual kei artists in genres such as Electro-industrial, darkwave, gothic rock, EBM, and industrial metal.

Darkest Labyrinth
Founded2000
FounderKiwamu
Distributor(s)Daiki Sound (JASDAQ: 3350)
GenreGothic rock, EBM, electro-industrial
Country of originJapan
LocationTokyo
Official websitehttp://www.starwaverecords.jp/

First called Cure, Starwave Records started as an Osaka-based project to release works by label-owner Kiwamu's own band BLOOD. The label changed names to Darkest Labyrinth and expanded to distribute music by international Gothic and Post-Industrial artists in Japan. In 2007 the label started to sign other artists, making its first deals with international groups such as Virgins O.R. Pigeons (Greece), Spectrum-X (Italy) and GPKism (Australia). That same year they released their first compilation record "V.A. - Darkest Labyrinth" featuring various tracks from Japan's dark underground music scene.

Darkest Labyrinth reached its heyday in 2009, releasing works by a variety of international and Japanese artists. As of March 2009 Darkest Labyrinth had released 50 titles from the label and distributed 280 titles from other labels for Japanese major distribution.[1]

In 2010, the web store rebranded itself as Starwave Records and opened a new facebook account.[2]

The most successful artist on the label was BLOOD who had sold over 20 000 CDs.[1]

Artists signed

Note: some artists are only signed to Darkest Labyrinth for Japanese releases, while they are signed to other labels for Europe, North America, etc.

Labels distributed

  • Alfa Matrix
  • Aural Music
  • Deadscarlet Records
  • Decadance records
  • SOUND BASE MUSIC
  • THORNTREE RECORDS
  • Subsound Records
  • URGENCE DISK
  • HTD Records

See also

Notes

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