The Ajna Offensive

The Ajna Offensive
Founded 1992
Founder Tyler Davis, Stephen O'Malley
Genre Extreme metal, experimental
Country of origin United States
Location Jacksonville, Oregon
Official website www.theajnaoffensive.com

The Ajna Offensive is an American independent record label which releases extreme metal, experimental music and neofolk records, and books related to occultism, ritual work, magic theory and meta-history.[1] The proprietor of the label is Tyler Davis, who had worked with Stephen O'Malley on the black metal fanzine Descent.[2] Later O'Malley was involved with the creation of The Ajna Offensive record label.

Ajna is a Sanskrit word which means "command". The Ajna is also the third eye of occult tradition.

History

The Ajna Offensive label evolved in 1992 out of the "Warloch" label then managed by Davis.[3] Davis and O'Malley first met after Davis sent O'Malley a very excitable letter upon reading the first issue of Descent. They met and got along famously. Tyler offered all of his energy to Descent, while Stephen offered his energies towards The Ajna Offensive record label for a while.[1] In reviewing metal bands for the magazine, Davis felt that black metal had not yet reached its potential. One time, he and O'Malley listened to a trunk of 150 demos and gave only a handful of them good reviews in Descent.[3]

The first album released from the label was Plecid, which was decidedly not a metal album.[1]

According to Stylus Magazine, The Ajna Offensive appears to be an aesthetically steered label, from the color and layout of the website to the bands it chooses to brand and unleash. As a result, it's impossible to delineate the label as being this or that.[3]

Estimated annual sales of The Ajna Offensive is 86,000 copies. The label's Standard Industrial Classification code is 7389 and its North American Industry Classification System code is 561990.[4]

Artists

  • Silbernacht
  • Strict
  • Symphonia Sacrosancta Phasmatvm
  • Taint
  • Teitanblood
  • Tiermes
  • Tormentor
  • Ultra
  • Villains
  • Volupså
  • Watain
  • Weapon
  • Wolfskin

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Riddick, Mike (August 10, 2009). "Label Profile: The Ajna Offensive". Metal Maniacs. Retrieved November 22, 2010.
  2. Currin, Grayson (July 27, 2009). "Sunn O))) interview". Pitchfork. Retrieved November 22, 2010.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 Voegtlin, Stewart (September 13, 2006). "Left Hand Path #002: Fine Daggers". Stylus Magazine. Retrieved November 23, 2010.
  4. "Company Profile: The Ajna Offensive". Manta. Retrieved November 22, 2010.

External links