Equal Vision Records is an

independent record label An independent record label (or indie label) is a record label that operates without the funding or distribution of major record labels; they are a type of small and medium-sized enterprise, small- to medium-sized enterprise, or SME. The labels ...

based in

Albany, New York Albany ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the U.S. state of New York (state), New York. It is located on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River. Albany is the oldes ...

. It was founded in the early 1990s by

Ray Cappo Ray Cappo, also known as Raghunath Das, is an American punk rock musician best known as the vocalist for the bands Youth of Today and Shelter (band), Shelter and as founder of the independent record label, independent record labels Revelation Re ...

, the singer for the

punk Punk or punks may refer to: Genres, subculture, and related aspects * Punk rock, a music genre originating in the 1970s associated with various subgenres * Punk subculture, a subculture associated with punk rock, or aspects of the subculture s ...

bands Youth of Today, Shelter, and Better Than a Thousand. Initially, the label existed solely to distribute Shelter and other

Krishna Krishna (; Sanskrit language, Sanskrit: कृष्ण, ) is a major deity in Hinduism. He is worshipped as the eighth avatar of Vishnu and also as the Supreme God (Hinduism), Supreme God in his own right. He is the god of protection, c ...

releases. In 1992, label manager Steve Reddy acquired Equal Vision from Cappo. The focus of the label expanded, bringing a wider variety of bands on board. According to ''Punk News'', the mid-to-late '90s witnessed a renewed emphasis on hardcore efforts at Equal Vision, with notable signings such as One King Down and

Ten Yard Fight Ten Yard Fight was an American straight edge, football-themed band formed in 1995 in Boston. Along with In My Eyes and Floorpunch, they spearheaded the youth crew revival in 1997. Ten Yard Fight's "official" last show was in Boston on Octob ...

. By the end of the '90s, Equal Vision Records (EVR) had built a stable of hardcore and punk bands, adding Bane,

Trial In law, a trial is a coming together of parties to a dispute, to present information (in the form of evidence) in a tribunal, a formal setting with the authority to adjudicate claims or disputes. One form of tribunal is a court. The tribunal, w ...

, Converge, and Saves the Day to its roster in the latter part of the decade.

Sublabels and distribution

In July 2009, EVR established a sub-label named Mantralogy, which features bands that "deliver edgy,

-conscious music." In 2012, EVR artist

Max Bemis Maxim Adam Bemis (; born April 6, 1984) is an American musician, best known as the lead singer and primary songwriter of the rock band Say Anything (band), Say Anything. He sang alongside Chris Conley (musician), Chris Conley in the Supergroup ...

(of ''Say Anything'') created an imprint label named Rory Records, which is distributed by EVR. On June 19, it was announced that Equal Vision Records would form a partnership with Casey Crescenzo of

the Dear Hunter The Dear Hunter is an American progressive rock band originating in Providence, Rhode Island. It began as a side project of Casey Crescenzo when he was a member of The Receiving End of Sirens, before becoming his main band in 2006. The band's s ...

, giving him his own imprint label: Cave & Canary Goods. EVR returned its distribution of physical and digital releases in the U.S. to

RED Distribution RED Music, stylized RED MUSIC, formerly RED Distribution, LLC (Relativity Entertainment Distribution) was a Sony Music, Sony-owned sales and marketing division that merged under The Orchard (company), The Orchard in 2017. RED previously hand ...

as of January 23, 2012, after many years with Alternative Distribution Alliance. In May 2013, EVR inked a partnership with

UNFD UNFD (pronounced as an initialism Help:IPA, /ˈjuːˈenˈefˈdiː/ is an independent record label based in Melbourne, Australia. The label is home to a number of Australian artists including Thornhill (band), Thornhill, Ocean Grove (Austra ...

to manufacture, promote, and distribute EVR releases in Australia and New Zealand. Prior to this partnership, EVR had shared several artists with UNFD for distribution in both regions, including

Say Anything Say Anything may refer to: Film and television * '' Say Anything...'', a 1989 American film by Cameron Crowe * "Say Anything" (''BoJack Horseman''), a television episode Music * Say Anything (band), an American rock band ** ''Say Anything'' (al ...

, We Came as Romans, and House vs. Hurricane. Velocity Records was originally established in 2009 as a subsidiary of

Rise Records Rise Records is an American record label currently based in Beaverton, Oregon, mainly focusing on alternative rock, heavy metal, and punk rock music artists. History Rise was founded in 1991 by Craig Ericson in Nevada City, California. He relea ...

. It was relaunched in 2016 as a partner of Equal Vision Records. In May 16, 2025, Hail the Sun vocalist Donovan Melero announced on social media that his record label, kill iconic records, are in a partnership deal with Equal Vision Records along with the announcement of their new signed artist Dwellings.

Artists

Current

Anberlin Anberlin is an American alternative rock band formed in Winter Haven, Florida, in 2002. Since the beginning of 2007, the band consists of lead vocalist Stephen Christian, guitarists Joseph Milligan and Christian McAlhaney, bassist Deon Rexroat, ...

* Anthony Raneri * Armor for Sleep * As Cities Burn * Concrete Castles * Dead American *

The Dear Hunter The Dear Hunter is an American progressive rock band originating in Providence, Rhode Island. It began as a side project of Casey Crescenzo when he was a member of The Receiving End of Sirens, before becoming his main band in 2006. The band's s ...

(Cave & Canary Goods) * Donovan Melero * Destroy Rebuild Until God Shows * Fairweather * Hail the Sun *

Hopesfall Hopesfall is an American post-hardcore band from Charlotte, North Carolina, Charlotte, North Carolina, formed in 1998. They are currently signed to Equal Vision Records. The band dissolved in 2008 after all members, with the exception of singer ...

Hot Water Music Hot Water Music is an American punk rock band formed in October 1994 and based in Gainesville, Florida. Since their formation, the group has consisted of Chuck Ragan and Chris Wollard on shared lead vocals and guitars, bass guitarist Jason B ...

* House Parties * The Juliana Theory * Mae * Museum Mouth (EVR/Rory Records) * Night Verses (Graphic Nature) * No Devotion * The Number Twelve Looks Like You * Shallow PoolsSHALLOW POOLS SIGN TO EVR AND RELEASE NEW SINGLE, "SAY WHAT YOU WANT"
/ref> * Silent Drive *

Texas in July Texas in July is an American metalcore band from Ephrata, Pennsylvania, formed in 2006. They released an EP, ''Salt of the Earth'', and their debut full-length album, ''I Am'', also produced by Slovak, through CI Records. After signing with ...

* Thomas Erak & The Ouroboros * The Vaughns

kill iconic records

* Ahh-ceh * Dwellings * Lobby Boxer * Mella * Moondough * Resilia

Velocity Records

* And So I Watch You from Afar *

Eve 6 Eve 6, stylized as EVE 6 or EVƎ 6, is an American rock band formed in 1995 in Southern California, best known for its hit singles " Inside Out" and " Here's to the Night". It disbanded in 2004, returned for numerous tours in 2007 with a new l ...

* If I Die First *

Nemophila ''Nemophila'' is a genus found in the flowering plant family Boraginaceae. Most of the species in ''Nemophila'' contain the phrase "baby blue eyes" in their common names. ''N. menziesii'' has the common name of "baby blue eyes". ''N. parviflora ...

* Craig Owens * Scary Kids Scaring Kids * Secrets * Terror *

Thursday Thursday is the day of the week between Wednesday and Friday. According to the ISO 8601 international standard, it is the fourth day of the week. In countries which adopt the "Sunday-first" convention, it is the fifth day of the week. Name Th ...

Former

Mantralogy bands

* Gaura Vani & As Kindred Spirits * Jahnavi Harrison

References

External links

*
Mantralogy site

Punk News
{{Authority control Equal Vision Records Record labels established in 2008 2008 establishments in New York (state) Record labels based in New York (state) Companies based in Albany, New York American independent record labels Punk record labels Alternative rock record labels Hardcore record labels Post-hardcore record labels Experimental music record labels