X-Nico

11 unusual facts about Shrapnel Records


Blues Bureau International

Blues Bureau is a member of Mike Varney's Shrapnel Label Group, which also includes Shrapnel Records, another guitar oriented label which features shred guitar, hard rock, metal and progressive metal, and Tone Center Records, a jazz oriented label featuring "fusion guitar" as well as a number of jazz tributes.

Dragon's Kiss

Dragon's Kiss is the first studio album by guitarist Marty Friedman, released on August 8, 1988 through Shrapnel Records (United States) and Roadrunner Records (Europe).

Economy picking

A common modern metal style is the use of alternate picking for scales and sweep picking for arpeggios, pioneered by Shrapnel Records artists like Zakk Wylde, Yngwie Malmsteen, Vinnie Moore, Paul Gilbert, Bruce Bouillet, Jason Becker, Marty Friedman and Richie Kotzen

Infra-Blue

Infra-Blue is the second studio album by guitarist Joey Tafolla, released in 1991 through Shrapnel Records.

Mystery of Illusion

Mystery of Illusion is the debut studio album of the American heavy metal band Chastain, released in 1985 through Shrapnel Records.

Out of the Sun

Out of the Sun is the first studio album by guitarist Joey Tafolla, released in 1987 through Shrapnel Records.

Perpetual Burn

Perpetual Burn is the first studio album by guitarist Jason Becker, released in 1988 through Shrapnel Records (United States) and Roadrunner Records (Europe).

Roger Staffelbach

It was there that he met Mike Varney of Shrapnel Records, who showed interest in the band after hearing their demo.

Ruler of the Wasteland

Ruler of the Wasteland is the second studio album of the American heavy metal band Chastain, released in 1986 through Shrapnel Records.

Second Heat

Second Heat is the second studio album by heavy metal band Racer X, released on February 11, 1987 through Shrapnel Records.

Street Lethal

Street Lethal is the first studio album by heavy metal band Racer X, released on January 1, 1986 through Shrapnel Records.


Fifth Angel

The group released a self-titled album in 1986 on Shrapnel Records, which was re-released on Epic Records in 1988.

Greg Howe

After leaving high school and playing the club circuit around the New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania areas with his brother Albert (a singer) for most of the 1980s, Greg Howe officially began his solo career after sending a demo tape to Shrapnel Records in 1987, upon which he was immediately signed by founder Mike Varney.

Nicole Couch

The band recorded their self-titled debut album on Mike Varney's Shrapnel Records in 1989, in which Couch wrote the majority of the songs.

Phantom Blue were the only females to have recorded an album for Mike Varney's Shrapnel Records, having sold their contract to Geffen Records in 1991.

True Obsessions

True Obsessions is the fourth studio album by guitarist Marty Friedman, released on April 17, 1996 through Toshiba EMI (Japan) and October 8, 1996 through Shrapnel Records (United States).