David Ellefson, bassist/co-founder of Megadeth and founder/label head of EMP Label Group, announced a deal to reform the highly influential punk/thrash metal label Combat Records.

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Throughout the mid- to late-1980s, Combat was home to bands such as Exodus, Circle Jerks, Death, Dark Angel, and Agnostic Front. The label  also gave Megadeth their very first record deal.

Ellefson revealed that he has worked for more than a year to acquire the rights to the Combat Records name, and that he is "so excited and honored to be able to revive such an iconic brand that was so instrumental to [his] history."

"Even though we signed to Capitol after Killing Is My Business, Combat's logo was on all the Megadeth releases through Countdown To Extinction," Ellefson added.  "It truly was/is one of the most iconic Metal labels of all time, even being home to some of the other artists who would end up on the EMP roster, like Helstar."

Although the reborn Combat Records will not retain ownership of the original label's past catalogue, Ellefson made it clear the label will focus on a mixture of releases from new and classic artists. The first batch of Combat releases is forthcoming in 2018, and will include music by Raven, Helstar, Dead By Wednesday, and Wrath.

"The same independent spirit that drove Combat in those early days, is truly the same spirit that drives what we do with EMP," Ellefson concluded. "We are honored to launch another amazing conduit to support new and established Metal artists, with great respect to the legacy of the past."

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