Tooth & Nail Records is a record label founded by Brandon Ebel in

California California () is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States that lies on the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. It borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and shares Mexico–United States border, an ...

in November 1993. The label later moved to

Seattle Seattle ( ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Washington and in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. With a population of 780,995 in 2024, it is the 18th-most populous city in the United States. The city is the cou ...

where it is today.

History

Brandon Ebel and Michael Knott conceived the label as a joint venture, before Knott backed out. Prior to forming Tooth & Nail, Ebel worked for

Frontline Records Frontline Records was a Christian rock record label, founded in 1986 by James Kempner in Santa Ana, California. The label focused primarily on modern rock, rap, dance-pop and hip-hop. The label closed in the early 1990s, and then resurfaced in ...

. Tooth & Nail's first album released was Wish for Eden's ''Pet the Fish.'' In 2002, the label bought out Takehold Records. In 2013, Brandon Ebel sold the Tooth & Nail music catalog to

Capitol Christian Music Group Capitol Christian Music Group (Capitol CMG) (formerly known as EMI Christian Music Group) is an American music group that, since 2013, is under the ownership of Universal Music Group. Based in Nashville, Tennessee, the label is in the Christian ...

(formerly EMI Christian Music Group) and bought back the 50% stake in Tooth & Nail formerly owned by EMI, making it an independent record label. It retained rights to all future releases with a new distributor,

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 ...

Overview

Eight Tooth & Nail-affiliated albums have been

RIAA The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) is a trade organization that represents the music recording industry in the United States. Its members consist of record labels and distributors that the RIAA says "create, manufacture, and/o ...

-certified as gold for sales of 500,000 or more copies. The label had one of its greatest successes when Underoath's '' Define the Great Line'' debuted at No. 2 on the ''Billboard'' 200 in 2006. NPR described the label as having "altered the course of the Christian rock industry by launching and legitimizing the careers of MxPx, The O.C. Supertones and Underoath."

RIAA gold certifications

Nominations and awards

Structure

Tooth & Nail has multiple current and former imprints: * Solid State Records distributes

metal A metal () is a material that, when polished or fractured, shows a lustrous appearance, and conducts electrical resistivity and conductivity, electricity and thermal conductivity, heat relatively well. These properties are all associated wit ...

and hardcore albums While it is primarily a Christian label, it has signed several bands with

Christian A Christian () is a person who follows or adheres to Christianity, a Monotheism, monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus in Christianity, Jesus Christ. Christians form the largest religious community in the wo ...

members which don't label themselves as Christian bands, including Stretch Arm Strong,

Gwen Stacy Gwendolyne Maxine "Gwen" Stacy is a character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics, usually as a supporting character in those featuring Spider-Man (Peter Parker). A college student and the daughter of George Stacy, Georg ...

, He Is Legend, the Famine, Training for Utopia, and the Agony Scene. * BEC (Brandon Ebel Company) Recordings, a

Christian rock Christian rock is a form of rock music that features lyrics focusing on matters of Christian faith, often with an emphasis on Jesus in Christianity, Jesus. This music is typically performed by Christians, Christian individuals. The extent to whi ...

record label "Big Three" music labels A record label or record company is a brand or trademark of Sound recording and reproduction, music recordings and music videos, or the company that owns it. Sometimes, a record label is also a Music publisher, ...

that was formed in 1997 in partnership with EMI Christian Music Group. * Plastiq Musiq (founded by Ronnie Martin of Joy Electric) primarily signed

electronic music Electronic music broadly is a group of music genres that employ electronic musical instruments, circuitry-based music technology and software, or general-purpose electronics (such as personal computers) in its creation. It includes both music ...

artists. Their collaboration with Tooth & Nail ended in 2001.

Notable artists

Tooth & Nail Records

;Current * Copeland * Emery * John Van Deusen * My Epic * Slick Shoes * Tyson Motsenbocker * Watashi Wa source: ;Former * Aaron Sprinkle * Abandoned Pools *

Acceptance Acceptance in psychology is a person's recognition and assent to the finality of a situation without attempting to change or protest it. This plays out at both the individual and societal level as people experience change. Types of acceptanc ...

* Ace Troubleshooter *

The Almost The Almost is an American Rock music, rock band from Clearwater, Florida, fronted by Underoath drummer and vocalist Aaron Gillespie. Formed in 2005 as a solo project by Gillespie, the band currently includes guitarist Jay Vilardi, bassist Jon Tho ...

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, ...

* Anchor & Braille *

And Then There Were None ''And Then There Were None'' is a mystery fiction, mystery novel by the English writer Agatha Christie, who described it as the most difficult of her books to write. It was first published in the United Kingdom by the Collins Crime Club on 6 N ...

* AP2 * Artifex Pereo * As Cities Burn * The Blamed *

Bleach Bleach is the generic name for any chemical product that is used industrially or domestically to remove color from (i.e. to whiten) fabric or fiber (in a process called bleaching) or to disinfect after cleaning. It often refers specifically t ...

* Blenderhead * Blessed by a Broken Heart *

Blindside Blindside, Blind Side or The Blind Side may refer to: Books * ''The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game'', a 2006 book about American football by Michael Lewis Films and television * Blindside (film), ''Blindside'' (film), a 1986 film starring Harvey ...

* Bloodshed * Bon Voyage * Born Blind *

Brave Saint Saturn Brave Saint Saturn (stylized as braveSaintSaturn, brave saint saturn or BS2) is a Christian rock band formed in Denver, Colorado in 1999. The band is a side-project of members of Five Iron Frenzy started by Reese Roper. The band calls their mus ...

* The Brothers Martin *

Capital Lights Capital Lights was an American Christian rock, Christian pop rock band from Tulsa, Oklahoma. Formed in 2002 as Aftereight (stylized afterEIGHT), the band changed its name after signing to Tooth & Nail Records in 2008. The group initially disba ...

* CHATTERbOX * Children 18:3 *

The Classic Crime The Classic Crime is an American rock band from Seattle, Washington, formed in 2004. The band's current lineup consists of Matt MacDonald (vocals, guitar), Alan Clark (bass), Robert "Cheeze" Negrin (guitar), and Paul "Skip" Erickson (drums, ...

* Craig's Brother * Crash Rickshaw * The Crucified * Damien Jurado * Danielson * Dead Poetic * The Deadlines * Death Therapy * The Deluxtone Rockets * The Dingees * Disciple * Discover America *

Dogwood ''Cornus'' is a genus of about 30–60 species of woody plants in the family Cornaceae, commonly known as dogwoods or cornels, which can generally be distinguished by their blossoms, berries, and distinctive bark. Most are deciduous ...

* A Dream Too Late * Everdown * Falling Up * Family Force 5 * Far-Less * Fighting Jacks * Fine China * FM Static * Focal Point * Focused *

The Fold The Fold is an American indie rock band from Chicago, Illinois, United States. The Fold formed in 2002, and promptly began work on their album '' This Too Shall Pass'' for Tooth & Nail Records. They have released four full-length studio albums ...

* For Love Not Lisa * Frodus * Further Seems Forever * Ghoti Hook * Aaron Gillespie * Halo Friendlies * Hangnail * Havalina *

Hawk Nelson Hawk Nelson was a Canadian Christian pop-punk band from Peterborough, Ontario. Formed in 2000, the band has released eight studio albums. Bassist/backing vocalist Daniel Biro was the band's only founding member to remain throughout their entire ...

* Hearts Like Lions *

Holland Holland is a geographical regionG. Geerts & H. Heestermans, 1981, ''Groot Woordenboek der Nederlandse Taal. Deel I'', Van Dale Lexicografie, Utrecht, p 1105 and former provinces of the Netherlands, province on the western coast of the Netherland ...

* Hyland * The Huntingtons * I Am Empire * Icon for Hire * Ivoryline * Jonezetta * Joy Electric * The Juliana Theory * Kings Kaleidoscope * Klank * The Letter Black * The Lonely Hearts * Love & Death * Lucerin Blue * Luxury * Mae * Mantric * Matt & Toby *

mewithoutYou MewithoutYou, usually stylized as mewithoutYou, was an American rock band from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The band consisted of Aaron Weiss (vocals), Michael Weiss and Brandon Beaver (guitars), Greg Jehanian (bass guitar), and Rickie Mazzott ...

* Mike Knott * Morella's Forest * Mortal *

MxPx MxPx () is an American punk rock band from Bremerton, Washington, formed in 1992 as Magnified Plaid. As of 2016, current members include Mike Herrera (bass guitar, lead vocals), Yuri Ruley (drums, percussion), Tom Wisniewski (lead guitar, backi ...

* Neon Horse * New Empire * Nine Lashes * Ninety Pound Wuss * Number One Gun * The O.C. Supertones * Overcome * Pedro the Lion ( David Bazan) *

Plankeye Plankeye (also spelled PlankEye and Plank Eye)1 was an American Christian rock band that formed in 1991 in Orange County, California, Orange County, California. The band's name is derived from Gospel of Matthew, Matthew 7:3 in the New Testament: ...

* P.O.D. *

Poor Old Lu Poor Old Lu was a pioneering Christian alternative rock band based in the American Northwest. The band experimented with a variety of sounds and genres, particularly grunge, funk and psychedelic rock. The band consisted of Scott Hunter (vocals), ...

* Project 86 * Puller * Queens Club * Roadside Monument * Rocky Loves Emily * Run Kid Run * Ruth * Sainthood Reps * Search the City * Secret and Whisper * The Send * Sent by Ravens * Seventh Day Slumber *

Showbread Showbread (), in the King James Version shewbread, in a Biblical or Jewish context, refers to the cakes or loaves of bread which were always present, on a specially-dedicated table, in the Temple in Jerusalem as an offering to God. An alternativ ...

* Side Walk Slam * Since October * Spoken * Squad Five-O * Starflyer 59 * Stavesacre *

Strongarm The StrongARM is a family of computer microprocessors developed by Digital Equipment Corporation and manufactured in the late 1990s which implemented the ARM v4 instruction set architecture. It was later acquired by Intel in 1997 from DEC's o ...

* Swimming with Dolphins * Sullivan * Terminal * Thousand Foot Krutch * Twothirtyeight * We Are the City * The Welcome Wagon * Unashamed * The Undecided * Underoath * Value Pac * Velour 100 * Waking Ashland * Watashi Wa * The Wedding * Write This Down * XXI

BEC Recordings

;Current * 7eventh Time Down * David Dunn * Disciple * Fearless BND * Jordan St. Cyr * Kutless * Lion of Judah * Rhett Walker * Tasha Layton *

The Young Escape The Young Escape (styled "THE YOUNG ESCAPE", "the young escape" , or TYE) is a Christian electronic pop band from Southern California, composed of siblings Ryan, McKenna, Kyrsten, and Luke Johns. The band signed to Capitol Christian Music Group ...

;Former * Aaron Gillespie * Ace Troubleshooter * Adam Cappa * Adie * All Things New * Among the Thirsty * An Epic No Less * Ashes Remain * Jessa Anderson * Bon Voyage * Freddie Bruno *

Cadet A cadet is a student or trainee within various organisations, primarily in military contexts where individuals undergo training to become commissioned officers. However, several civilian organisations, including civil aviation groups, maritime ...

Jeremy Camp Jeremy Thomas Camp (born January 12, 1978) is an American Contemporary Christian music, contemporary Christian singer and songwriter from Lafayette, Indiana. He has released eleven albums, four of them RIAA certification, RIAA-certified as Music ...

Citizens Citizenship is a membership and allegiance to a sovereign state. Though citizenship is often conflated with nationality in today's English-speaking world, international law does not usually use the term ''citizenship'' to refer to nationality; ...

* The Cross Movement * Deepspace5 * The Dingees * The Echoing Green * Everman * Falling Up * Flight 180 * Fold Zandura *

Ghost Ship A ghost ship, also known as a phantom ship, is a ship, vessel with no living crew aboard; it may be a fictional ghostly vessel, such as the ''Flying Dutchman'', or a physical Flotsam, jetsam, lagan and derelict, derelict found adrift with its cre ...

* The Glorious Unseen * Hangnail *

* iLL Harmonics * Kings Kaleidoscope *

KJ-52 Jonah Kirsten Sorrentino (born June 26, 1975), better known by his stage name KJ-52, is a Christian rapper from Tampa, Florida. The "KJ" part of his name refers to his old rap alias, "King J. Mac",

* Dustin Kensrue * Joy Electric * The O.C. Supertones *

Phillip LaRue Phillip LaRue (born October 9, 1981) is an American singer, songwriter, artist and producer from Nashville, Tennessee. He has released four studio albums with his band LaRue, formed by his sister Natalie LaRue and himself, and two studio albu ...

* Jadon Lavik * Lost Dogs * LPG * Mainstay * Manafest * Andrew Marcus * Mars Ill * Sarah Masen * Matty Mullins * The Museum * New Breed * Nine Lashes * Bebo Norman * Peace 586 * Peace of Mind * Pivitplex *

* Project 86 *

Propaganda Propaganda is communication that is primarily used to influence or persuade an audience to further an agenda, which may not be objective and may be selectively presenting facts to encourage a particular synthesis or perception, or using loaded l ...

* Rapture Ruckus * Jaymes Reunion * .rod laver * Ryan Stevenson * Seven Places * Sev Statik * Seventh Day Slumber (active, currently with Rockfest Records) * ShineBright * Shuree * Smalltown Poets * Ryan Stevenson * Jon Micah Sumrall * Sup the Chemist * Chris Taylor * Telecast * Tunnel Rats * Ultrabeat * Value Pac * Adam Watts * Josh White * Sherri Youngward

Solid State Records

;Current * Becoming the Archetype * The Devil Wears Prada * Extol *

Fit for a King ''Fit for a King'' is a 1937 American comedy film starring Joe E. Brown and directed by Edward Sedgwick. Plot Newspaper reporter "Scoop (term), Scoops" is sent out on assignment, to investigate the failed assassination attempts on Archduke Jul ...

* Haste the Day * Miss May I * Norma Jean * Oh, Sleeper * The Ongoing Concept *

Phinehas According to the Hebrew Bible, Phinehas (also spelled Phineas, ; , ''Phinees'', ) was a priest during the Exodus. The grandson of Aaron and son of Eleazar, the High Priests (), he distinguished himself as a youth at Shittim with his zeal again ...

* Wolves at the Gate ;Former

Active former artists

Advent Advent is a season observed in most Christian denominations as a time of waiting and preparation for both the celebration of Jesus's birth at Christmas and the return of Christ at the Second Coming. It begins on the fourth Sunday before Chri ...

* The Agony Scene * As Cities Burn * As They Sleep * August Burns Red * Azusa * Beloved *

* Death Therapy * Demon Hunter * Destroy the Runner * Emery * Few Left Standing * Forevermore * He Is Legend * Life in Your Way * Living Sacrifice * Mantric * MyChildren MyBride * My Heart to Fear * Once Nothing * Silent Planet *

* Soul Embraced * Stretch Arm Strong * Trenches * Underoath * Zao

Disbanded

* 3rd Root * Bloodshed (members went on to join The O.C. Supertones and Project 86) * Born Blind (members also in No Innocent Victim) * The Chariot (members in '68 and I Am Terrified) * Cry of the Afflicted * The Death Campaign (members also in Officer Negative) * Embodyment (members went on to form The Famine) * Eso-Charis (vocalist

Cory Brandan Putman Cory Brandan Putman (born April 11, 1976) is an American singer who has been the lead vocalist for the metalcore band Norma Jean since 2004. Career Brandan is a former member of bands Eso-Charis, Living Sacrifice, The Handshake Murders, ...

now fronts Norma Jean, bassist Arthur Green and drummer Matthew Putman went on to join Living Sacrifice) * The Famine (members also in Embodyment and

Society's Finest Society's Finest is an American metalcore band from Dallas, Texas. Their first full-length album, ''The Journey...So Far'', was released on Solid State Records in May 2000. Due to member changes and personal matters the band took a break from ...

) * Focal Point (guitarist Ryan Clark went on to join Training for Utopia and is now in Demon Hunter) *

(members also in Once Nothing) * Inhale Exhale (members also in Narcissus and

Relient K Relient K () is an American Rock music, rock band formed in 1998 in Canton, Ohio by Matt Thiessen, Matt Hoopes, and Brian Pittman during their third year in high school and time at Malone University in Canton. The band is named after guitarist ...

) * Luti-Kriss (went on to form Norma Jean) * Officer Negative (members also formed The Death Campaign) * Overcome (members in Some Dark Hallow and Sanhedrin) * Selfmindead (members now in

Benea Reach Benea Reach was a Norwegian progressive metal band based in Oslo. The band was nominated for a Spellemannsprisen Award in the metal category, and at one time included noted guitarist Christer Espevoll of progressive metal band Extol. History ...

) * Sever Your Ties * Still Breathing *

(members went on to form Further Seems Forever) * Training for Utopia (members went on to form Demon Hunter) * Twelve Gauge Valentine (members went on to join, Alesana, Swamp Basstard, and The Greenery) *

Warlord Warlords are individuals who exercise military, Economy, economic, and Politics, political control over a region, often one State collapse, without a strong central or national government, typically through informal control over Militia, local ...

(members went on to Pilgrims and Roadside Monument)

On hiatus or inactive

* The Ascendicate (guitarist Ryan Helm went on to Demon Hunter, and start Damien Deadson) * Dead Poetic (drummer Jesse Sprinkle currently working solo) * Everdown (Urban Achiever Records) * Figure Four (two members are currently with Comeback Kid) * Lengsel (members now in Mantric) * No Innocent Victim (members working for Facedown Records) *

Spitfire The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was used by the Royal Air Force and other Allied countries before, during, and after World War II. It was the only British fighter produced continuously throughout the ...

(Goodfellow Records; two members in Sunndrug) * The Overseer (members in Project 86 and Wolves at the Gate) * The Showdown (band), The Showdown (three members in Demon Hunter, one member in Still Remains) * To Speak of Wolves (one member in Oh Sleeper)

References

External links

*
Solid State Records
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tooth and Nail Records Companies based in Seattle Record labels established in 1993 Alternative rock record labels American record labels Christian record labels Punk record labels Universal Music Group Mass media in Seattle 1993 establishments in California