Iodine Recordings Relaunch With Signature Title Reissues and New Bands

Iodine Recordings Relaunch by New Noise Magazine
By Frankie Torok, New Noise Magazine - August 3, 2021

Influential punk/hardcore label Iodine Recordings has relaunched after a 17-year break, releasing reissues of their signature records, as well as adding new bands to their roster.

Founder Casey Iodine has rebooted the label after closing it down in 2004 and traveling the world, only to realize there was something missing in his life – Iodine Recordings.

Casey Iodine says:

“The label grew faster than any of us had expected with numerous new signings and releases in our final year. The music industry was rapidly changing with the emergence of digital music sharing and our sales dwindled to a trickle — even though our bands were very popular and mostly playing sold-out shows. I made the decision to close the label rather than continue digging a deeper hole that we didn’t see a way out of. I never liked the way things ended, and not a week has gone by over the last 18 years that I didn’t think about how I wished things went differently.

Iodine was always known for its diversity of sound as we released albums from different genres and no two records were alike. The brand always reflected my personal music taste, and I believe that is what set Iodine apart from other labels. We’ve always been known for the quality of our releases, and I hope to keep that reputation going strong.”

Signature titles to be reissued include the 20th anniversary remaster of Jeromes Dream’s Presents, out September 24. New signings include Audio Karate, Onelinedrawing, The Darling Fire, Ritual Earth, and more to come. The Darling Fire will premiere their cover of Fugazi’s “Reclamation” at Punk Rock Theory on August 6.

Iodine adds:

“I was always looking for a reason to bring the label back and get some of those final releases the attention they deserved. It started with There Were Wires, who reached out looking to reissue their final release Somnambulists, which was originally released in the final weeks before the label shutdown. Originally my intention was to re-issue Iodine’s back catalog or releases from that era of friends’ bands, but I was overwhelmed by the warm reception the label received when I announced its return. I quickly reconnected with a lot of artists that I worked with over the years and found myself in numerous discussions for signing new artists to work with on the label for new releases.”

Influenced by labels like Sub Pop and Dischord, Iodine seamlessly developed a brand that was respected for its quality rather than adhering to a specific genre. The label eventually functioned as a breeding ground for the best new artists who eventually went on to upstream and to do big things: Smoke or Fire signed to Fat Wreck Chords, Orange Island put out releases on both Rise Records and Triple Crown, Gregor Samsa moved to Kora Records, and There Were Wires went on to form the bands Doomriders and Disappearer.

Additionally, the label team booked shows, managed tours, and helped build and foster a community. This was most prevalent each year when they hosted the annual music festival, dubbed “Iodine Fest.”

Ultimately, Iodine was more than a label — it represented a scene. Casey’s decision to revitalize the label and reissue many of the catalog’s out-of-print titles spurred an overwhelmingly positive response from fans and the industry, which led to new signings and contract negotiations, and thus, Iodine Recordings was officially back in business.

Iodine plans to remain a small and focused operation with a singular mission and one that has not changed since its inception in 1996 — releasing the best of the best in indie music and always putting fans first.

Words by: Frankie Torok
Premiered on: New Noise Magazine - August 3, 2021
Photo by: Casandra Marie Photo