Universal Warning Records
Universal Warning Records is a record label and video production company located in the greater Philadelphia area. Universal Warning produces and releases independent music from local and national bands, as well as produces music videos, live concerts for DVD and digital transmission as well as music documentaries, primarily from the indie, punk, and hardcore genres.
| Universal Warning Records | |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2001 |
| Founder | Tim Martinkovich, Clint Weiler, Mike Varga |
| Distributor(s) | Hostile City Industries |
| Genre | Indie, punk, rock, hardcore |
| Country of origin | U.S. |
| Location | Royersford, Pennsylvania |
| Official website | www |
History
The label was established in the Spring of 2000 by founders Tim Martinkovich, Mike Varga, and Clint Weiler. The three met while studying at Kutztown University. The label was created as a foundation for the partners' punk-alternative band The Covert Agency and to promote area acts that the partners appreciated.
After releasing a compilation of regional Pennsylvanian bands entitled The Warning Compilation during the founders last year in Kutztown, Martinkovitch moved the label and started their first office in Denver Colorado in Summer 2001. Universal Warning Records went on to release full lengths of several Colorado bands such as ManAlive! and Against Tomorrow's Sky. Later that year the label branched out and began signing artists as far south as Louisiana, where Victim of Modern Age ruled the Lafayette scene.
In the Spring of 2008, Weiler left his position as publicist for the label to pursue free lance work and business ventures including a bobble head company called Aggronautix.
Since its foundation in 2000, Universal Warning Records has had offices in Denver, Colorado, Richmond, Virginia and Royersford, Pennsylvania
To date, the label has released 19 CDs, 4 records, and 4 DVDs and filmed nearly 100 live shows including Earth Crisis and Sick of it All.
In May 2011, Universal Warning Records had its 10-year anniversary and the upstart of two new label imprints Fast Break Entertainment and Candy Colored Dragon.
Industry relationships
- Universal Warning Records got their start releasing music by working with Ryan Fennical and his Marshalls Creek area recording studio.
- The label has had a close relationship with popular Philadelphia indie rockers The Jazz June and their subsequent incarnation Snakes & Music, having released albums and DVDs by the band.
- Universal Warning Records media has been distributed by Initial Records, Revelation Records, Lumberjack Distribution, Revolver, Very, Choke, Music Video Distributors, Carrot Top, and Hostile City Distribution.
- Founder Mike Varga also owned Grata Video and produced or worked on videos and DVDs for Andrew W.K., DEVO, Dr. Dog and The Queers
Discography
| Catalog number | Release date | Band | Album title | Classification | Medium | Genre |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UWR001 | 05.12.2001 | Covert Agency | "Orange" EP | CD | Rock/Punk/Alternative | |
| UWR002 | 08.28.2001 | Various Artists | The Warning Compilation | Full-length compilation | CD | Various |
| UWR003 | 09.18.2001 | Forget About Tomorrow | And Then There's June | EP | CD | Punk-Alternative |
| UWR004 | 11.13.2001 | Manalive! | Robotic Youth | EP | CD | Punk |
| UWR005 | 04.23.2002 | Covert Agency | "Brown" EP | EP | CD | Punk-Alternative |
| UWR006 | 06.04.2002 | Manalive! | Heart Hands And Mind | Full Length | CD | Crust Punk |
| UWR007 | 08.06.2002 | Against Tomorrow’s Sky | Jump The Hedges First | Full Length | CD | Rock, Alternative |
| UWR008 | 08.27.2002 | Victim of Modern Age | Victim of Modern Age | EP | CD | “Math Rock”, Indie Rock |
| UWR009 | 11.19.2002 | Sadaharu | Punishment in Hi-Fi | EP | CD | Jazz-Metal |
| UWR010 | 05.20.2003 | Snakes & Music | Truisms | Full Length | CD | Alternative, Indie |
| UWR011 | 09.23.2003 | Victim of Modern Age | Channels Like Capillaries | Full Length | CD | “Math Rock”, Indie Rock |
| UWR012 | 06.14.2005 | The Red Tops | Left For Dead | CD | Full Length | Metal, Hardcore |
| UWR013 | 11.15.2005 | Geography | Life In Binary | Full Length | CD | Math Rock, Indie Rock |
| UWR014 | 03.12.2005 | Sadaharu | New and Alternate Careers in Dance | Feature Length | DVD | Jazz-Metal |
| UWR016 | 05.19.2005 | Murphy’s Law | Up With Us, Down With Them | Feature Length | DVD | Hardcore |
| UWR017 | 03.14.2006 | Snakes & Music | Isabelle | Full Length | CD | Indie |
| UWR018 | 11.14.2006 | Fifty Caliber Kiss | Armor Class Invincible | Full Length | CD | Metal |
| UWR019 | 12.05.2006 | Holiday Body Bag | Dead Leaves | EP | CD | Punk, Hardcore |
| UWR020 | 03.20.2007 | Wisdom In Chains | Die For Us Live | Feature | DVD | Hardcore |
| UWR021 | 06.12.2007 | The Jazz June | The Scars to Prove it | CD/DVD Live Combo | CD/DVD | Indie Rock |
| UWR022 | 07.22.2008 | House of Fire | S/T | CD | Indie | |
| UWR023 | 09.23.2008 | Watching the Moon | Perception Is Bent | CD | Indie | |
| UWR024 | 07.21.2009 | Wisdom in Chains | S/T | CD | Hardcore | |
| UWR025 | 07.21.2009 | Wisdom in Chains | S/T | Vinyl | Hardcore | |
| UWR026 | 11.30.2010 | Unite.Resist. | S/T | CD | Hardcore | |
| UWR027 | 01.25.2011 | The Queers | Live In Philly 06' | Vinyl | Punk |
Music videos
- Victim of Modern Age: Instruct to Destruct
- Holiday Bodybag: Dead Leaves
- American Speedway: Ship of Fools
- Fifty Caliber Kiss: Hide the Razor
- Wisdom In Chains: Back To The Ocean
- Wisdom In Chains: Chasing The Dragon
Media released on other labels
Sick of it All “New York vs London” (released as a CD/DVD combo w/ Based on a True Story (Sick of It All album) Century Media