HOLOCAUST Reject 'Sellout' Accusations

Long-running New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM) pioneers HOLOCAUST — perhaps best known for penning the track "The Small Hours", which was later covered by METALLICA on their "The $5.98 E.P. - Garage Days Re-Revisited" EP — have responded to "sell-out" accusations leveled at them by the readers of this site.

In a posting to the group's official web site, HOLOCAUST drummer Ron Levine writes, "Just came across a remark on the Blabbermouth site in response to our recent reissue news. The statement, in its entirety, reads as follows: 'So much for HOLOCAUST not being sellouts...'

"It had occurred to me that others might equate our relationship with Sanctuary Records as selling out. Have we?

"For the members of the band, HOLOCAUST has been a financially losing proposition for 25 years. It only ever been profitable as a result of royalties from METALLICA's cover of 'The Small Hours'. Collectively, the members have sunk thousands of dollars (including all of the aforementioned 'profits' and much more) into the band in the last two-and-a-half years alone.

"After spending over two decades on independent and self-run labels, our most recent label — Edgy Records — licensed distribution rights of our back catalogue to Sanctuary for five years. We receive many requests from folks around the world who seek our (often difficult-to-find) releases, and we're pleased that these reissues will help fulfill their requests. Furthermore, we hope that the remaining releases will also be reissued in response to the demand that exists. Please do not think, however, that sales of the new reissues will begin to help us recoup the money we have spent on promoting ourselves. Like the others, I have personally taken nothing but losses since joining the band — and continue to do so on a regular basis, with no presumption of recovery — because I believe in what we do.

"If we have sold out, we have certainly done a pathetic job at it."