Record Label Spotlight: Metropolis Records
Flashback Friday: The Fixx
April 2, 2021
What to know about YouTube playlist pitching, and before shooting your next music video
April 6, 2021
Over the last 20 years, HIP Video Promo has enjoyed working with some of the most outstanding and iconic record companies within the music industry. Every Tuesday, we’ll go down memory lane and talk about some of our favorite record labels we’ve worked with in the past. On this Record Label Tuesday, we’re continuing with the incredible Metropolis Records.
Metropolis Records is an independent record label founded in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1993 by Dave Heckman. They specialize in synthpop, gothic rock, and punk rock. Since 1995, Metropolis has been imperative in promoting underground electronic music in the U.S. They’ve also worked closely with many European acts.
Throughout the years, Metropolis has had its share of amazingly talented artists, and we’ve had the pleasure of being able to work with some of them here at HIP Video Promo. One artist we’ve had the pleasure of working with is the fantastic Electric Six.
In September of 2008, HIP Video Promo had the honor of working with Electric Six with their video for “Formula 409”. Every video they’ve released has its own twist to it, so HIP was extremely excited to pair up with them. The clip starts calm, which almost feels a little off, but it picks up after the first 10 seconds go by. Throughout the clip, we see people in suits and Dino masks putting young guys in the back of a van. They all end up at some bizarre testing center, and when they try to escape, they just get roped back in again. It’s crazy, weird, and definitely entertaining.
We also worked with Juno Reactor for the first time back in September of 2008. HIP Video Promo promoted his video for “Inca Steppa” the lead single off his God & Monsters album. Director Ben Watkins takes us on a dizzying new adventure in this video. Throughout the video, we see dancers in native dress, and everyone is rocking an impressive mask or face paint. From the stage to the mountain tops, you can feel the power this song holds. We worked with Juno Reactor again ten years later, in June of 2018, on his “Let’s Turn On” video. It’s another out-of-this-world video. Instead of being native-looking, this video is a neon-colored intergalactic universe. Dancers are dressed in glow-up suits, and lightsabers weave in time with the music. It’s certainly a video unlike anything else.
Another Metropolis artist HIP has worked with is Julien-K. In February 2009, we worked with them on their video for “Kick The Bass” off their Death To Analog album. This video takes place at a luxurious and lush-looking LA party. It’s a dangerous game of smoke and mirrors where everyone is ready for the kill. If you look close enough, you can spot some familiar faces: Linkin Park’s late lead singer and Julien-K’s executive producer Chester Bennington and his beautiful wife make an appearance fit for royalty. It’s the perfect grungy visual for this kick-ass song.
Next up on our Metropolis artist list is Alison Moyet. In June 2013, HIP promoted her video for “When I Was Your Girl” the lead single off her The Minutes album. In the video, we’re greeted by a younger version of Alison as she walks along a foggy pathway. As we go below the deck, we see the grown version of Alison watching from a distance and singing her heart out. She acts almost as a protector to her younger self, making for a very powerful video.
More recently, we worked with Front Line Assembly; in February 2019, we promoted their video for “Rock Me Amadeus”. This song was just one out of 12 tracks on their impressive nineteenth studio album. In this video, director Jason Alacrity takes us back to the vibrant 80s. Three box TVs stand on top of each other as flashing images of Jimmy Urine go by. He’s decked all out in a black button-up with a skinny pink tie and sunglasses to match. In between these shots, we see some nods to some classic 80s TV Shows like Bay Watch and Miami Vice. It’s the ultimate blast from the past, and we can’t get enough off of it.
We also worked with She Past Away in June 2019 on their video for “Disko Anksiyete”. From the very clip, you instantly get that eerie feeling. Once the music kicks in, the eerie feeling is lifted, and all that’s left is pure fascination. We enter into a mysterious and unnerving nightclub, where every attendant is in some altered state. We follow a pair of photographers as they capture grainy footage of this otherworldly place; the further we venture in with them, the harder it is to leave.
Most recently, we worked with the German band KMFDM in September 2019 to promote their “Paradise” video. The video for Paradise holds absolutely nothing back when it comes to honest. Throughout the video, we see clips of wars, protests, shootings, and other forms of inhumane actions. It’s one of those videos you want to look away from and turn off altogether. That’s exactly the purpose of the video; these images are not meant to be sugar-coated and need to be brought to light no matter how scary it might be. If it’s not, these things will never change.
To this day, Metropolis still functions as an independent record label, and its roster continues to grow on an international level. In addition to signing artists and bands, they also function as a distribution company. You can purchase albums, merch, and concert tickets directly through their website, where they’ll also keep you up-to-date on their artists and new releases. In its 27 years, Metropolis has produced some of the most badass bands within the music industry, and now they seem to be taking it over.
Written by HIP Marketing Assistant Rebecca Karaman.
