Under One Flag Explained

Under One Flag
Parent:Music for Nations (which was parented by Zomba Music Group)
Defunct:1994
Distributor:Zomba Music Group
Genre:Heavy metal, speed metal, thrash metal, death metal
Country:United Kingdom
Location:London

Under One Flag was a British record label from London, which aimed at a heavy metal audience, particularly a thrash metal audience. They were best known for re-releasing classic heavy metal albums, from the likes of Venom and Dark Angel, as well as some original releases from both bands and other heavy metal bands. Releases on vinyl by Under One Flag are sometimes still much desired collector's items.

Rise and fall

Under One Flag operated as a subsidiary label for Music for Nations, which later took over all Under One Flag's releases and most of the bands they signed. Music For Nations in turn is a subsidiary label of Zomba Music Group. The first official release Under One Flag published was "The Force", from English band Onslaught, in 1986. In this era the CD was making a shift entry in the music world. However, Under One Flag also kept on publishing heavy metal releases on vinyl and even cassette, besides on CD. They also published a number of compilation albums, under the name of "Speed Kills…", followed by any term that would relate to a then popular metal song.

In the meanwhile, they also released the third and fourth album of Swedish black metal band Bathory, which secured their status more and more. This enabled them to sign bands from the likes of Nuclear Assault and Forbidden. Under One Flag bought the rights to a number of previously released thrash metal albums, among which a significant part of the catalogue of Combat Records. They also re-released the compilation of Death’s .

In the early 1990s, the popularity of heavy metal rose to a new level. Cult bands reached bigger audiences in the mainstream and parent label Music For Nations took over all activities and pulled the plug on Under One Flag. The last album published by Under One Flag was ‘’Progress of Decadence’’ from Overdose, in 1994.[1] A total number of 232 releases were published by Under One Flag[2] with a span of thirty one titles.

Catalogue

Artist Title (Format) Year Serial number
Acid Drinkers Strip Tease (CD, Album) 1992 CDFLAG 76
Acid Drinkers Dirty Money Dirty Tricks (LP, Album) 1991 FLAG 59
Acid Drinkers Dirty Money, Dirty Tricks (CD, Album) 1991 CD FLAG 59
Acid Drinkers Are You A Rebel? (LP, Album) 1990 FLAG 45
Acid Drinkers Are You A Rebel? (CD, Album) 1990 CD FLAG 45
Acid Reign The Worst of Acid Reign (LP, Comp + 7") 1991 FLAG 60
Acid Reign The Worst of Acid Reign (CD) 1991 CD FLAG 60
Acid Reign Obnoxious (Album) (3 versions) 1990 FLAG 39
Acid Reign Obnoxious (LP, Album) 1990 FLAG 39
Acid Reign Obnoxious (LP, TP) 1990 FLAG 39
Acid Reign Obnoxious (Cass) 1990 FLAG 39
Acid Reign Obnoxious (CD, Album) 1990 CD FLAG 39
Acid Reign Hangin' On The Telephone (Cass, EP) 1989 T FLAG 109
Acid Reign The Fear (Cass) 1989 TFLAG 31
Acid Reign Hangin' On The Telephone (7", Single) 1989 FLAG 109
Acid Reign The Fear (Album) (2 versions) 1989 FLAG 31
Acid Reign The Fear (LP, Album) 1989 FLAG 31
Acid Reign The Fear / Moshkinstein (CD, Album) 1989 CD FLAG 31
Acid Reign Hangin' On The Telephone (12", EP) 1989 12 FLAG 109
Acid Reign Humanoia (EP) (2 versions) 1989 10 FLAG 106
Acid Reign Humanoia (10", EP) 1989 10 FLAG 106
Acid Reign Humanoia (10", EP) 1989 10 FLAG 106
Acid Reign Moshkinstein (12", MiniAlbum) 1988 M FLAG 20
Acid Reign Moshkinstein (12", EP) 1988 88561-8230-1
Agony The First Defiance (LP, Album) 1988 FLAG 19
Agony The First Defiance (CD, Album) 1988 CD FLAG 19
Agony The First Defiance (LP, Album) 1988 88561-8229-1
Agony The First Defiance (LP, Album) 1988 100871
Apocalypse Apocalypse (Cass, Album) 1988 T FLAG 23
Apocalypse Apocalypse (LP, Album) 1988 FLAG 23
Apocalypse Apocalypse (CD, Album) 1988 CD FLAG 23
Bad Moon Rising Blood (CD, Album) 1993 CDFLAG 79
Bad Moon Rising Bad Moon Rising (CD, Album) 1993 CDFLAG 78
Bathory The Return...... (LP, Album) FLAG 9
Bathory Bathory (LP, Album) FLAG 8
Bathory Blood Fire Death (CD, Album) 1990 MCD 1063
Bathory Blood Fire Death (Cass, Album) 1988 T FLAG 26
Bathory Blood Fire Death (LP, Album, Pic) 1988 FLAG 26P
Bathory Blood Fire Death (LP, Album, Gat) 1988 FLAG 26
Bathory Blood Fire Death (CD, Album) 1988 CDFLAG 26
Bathory Blood Fire Death (LP, Album) 1988 102261
Bathory Under The Sign of the Black Mark (Cass, Album) 1987 T FLAG 11
Bathory Under The Sign of the Black Mark (LP, Album) 1987 FLAG 11
Bathory Under The Sign of the Black Mark (LP, Album) 1987 2370
Blind Illusion The Sane Asylum (LP, Album) 1988 FLAG 18
Blind Illusion The Sane Asylum (CD, Album) 1988 CD FLAG 18
Blind Illusion The Sane Asylum (LP, Album) 1988 88561-8226-1
Blind Illusion The Sane Asylum (LP) 1988 100812
Blind Illusion The Sane Asylum (CD, Album) 1988 25DP 5346
C.I.A. In The Red (CD, Album) CD FLAG 40
C.I.A. Attitude (LP) 1992 FLAG 68
C.I.A. Attitude (CD, Album) 1992 CDFLAG 68
C.I.A. In The Red (LP, Album) 1990 FLAG 40
Cerebral Fix Death Erotica (Cass, Album) 1992 TFLAG75
Cerebral Fix Death Erotica (LP) 1992 FLAG75
Cerebral Fix Death Erotica (CD, Album) 1992 CD FLAG 75
Creation of Death Purify Your Soul (LP, Album) 1991 Flag 62
Creation of Death Purify Your Soul (CD) 1991 CDFLAG 62
Dark Angel Decade of Chaos – The Best Of (Cass, Comp) 1992 TMFLAG 70
Dark Angel Decade of Chaos – The Best Of (LP, Comp) 1992 MFLAG 70
Dark Angel Decade of Chaos – The Best Of (CD, Comp, RM) 1992 CDMFLAG 70
Dark Angel Time Does Not Heal (2xLP, Album, Gat) 1991 FLAG 54DM
Dark Angel Time Does Not Heal (CD, Album) 1991 CD FLAG 54
Dark Angel Live Scars (LP, Album) 1990 M FLAG 42
Dark Angel Live Scars (CD) 1990 CDMFLAG 42
Dark Angel Leave Scars (LP, Album) 1989 FLAG 30
Dark Angel Leave Scars (CD, Album) 1988 CD FLAG 30
Dark Angel Darkness Descends (LP, Album) 1986 FLAG 6
Dark Angel Darkness Descends (LP, Album) 1986 2356
Death Fate (Cass, Comp) 1992 TMFLAG 71
Death Fate (LP, Comp) 1992 M FLAG 71
Death Fate (CD, Comp) 1992 CDMFLAG 71
Death Spiritual Healing (Cass, Alb) 1990 T FLAG 38
Death Spiritual Healing (LP, Pic, Album) 1990 FLAG 38 P
Death Spiritual Healing (LP, Album) 1990 FLAG 38
Death Spiritual Healing (CD, Album) 1990 CD FLAG 38
Death Leprosy (Cass, Album) 1988 TFLAG24
Death Leprosy (LP, Album, Pic) 1988 FLAG 24P
Death Leprosy (LP, Album) 1988 FLAG 24
Death Leprosy (CD, Album) 1988 CDFLAG24
Death Scream Bloody Gore (LP, Album) 1987 FLAG 12
Death Scream Bloody Gore (CD, Album) 1987 CD FLAG 12
Death Scream Bloody Gore (LP, Album) 1987 2372
Death Angel The Ultra-Violence (LP, Album) 1987 FLAG 14
Dethrone Let The Day Begin (Album) (2 versions) 1989 FLAG 41
Dethrone Let The Day Begin (LP, Album) 1989 FLAG 41
Dethrone Let The Day Begin (LP, W/Lbl) 1989 FLAG 41
Dethrone Let The Day Begin (CD, Album) 1989 CD FLAG 41
Detritus Perpetual Defiance (Cass, Album) 1990 T FLAG 55
Detritus Perpetual Defiance (LP, Album) 1990 FLAG 55
Detritus Perpetual Defiance (CD, Album) 1990 CD FLAG 55
Devastation Signs of Life (LP, Album) 1989 none
Devastation Signs of Life (LP, Album) 1989 FLAG 44
Devastation Signs of Life (CD, Album) 1989 CDFLAG 44
Dragon Scream of Death (LP, Album) 1991 FLAG 58
Dragon Scream of Death (CD, Album) 1991 CDFLAG 58
Dragon Fallen Angel (LP, Album) 1990 FLAG 48
Dragon Fallen Angel (CD, Album) 1990 CDFLAG 48
English Dogs Where Legend Began (LP) 1987 2355
English Dogs Where Legend Began (LP, Gat) 1986 FLAG4
English Dogs Metalmorphosis (2 versions) 1986 12 FLAG 101
Faith Or Fear Punishment Area (LP) 1989 FLAG 34
Faith Or Fear Punishment Area (CD, Album) 1989 CD FLAG 34
Forbidden Point of No Return (LP, Comp) 1992 MFLAG 73
Forbidden Twisted into Form (LP, Album) 1990 FLAG 43
Forbidden Twisted into Form (CD, Album) 1990 CD FLAG 43
Forbidden Raw Evil – Live at the Dynamo (12") 1989 12 FLAG 108
Forbidden Forbidden Evil (Album) (2 versions) 1988 FLAG 27
Forbidden Forbidden Evil (LP, Album) 1988 FLAG 27
Forbidden Forbidden Evil (LP) 1988 Flag 27
Forbidden Forbidden Evil (CD, Album) 1988 CD FLAG 27
Forbidden Forbidden Evil (LP, Album) 1988 102551
GBH A Fridge Too Far (LP) 1990 ?
Genitorturers 120 Days of Genitorture (CD, Album) 1993 CD FLAG 81
Hexx Quest For Sanity (12", EP) 1988 M FLAG 22
Holy Terror Mind Wars (Cass, Album) 1988 T FLAG 25
Holy Terror Mind Wars (LP, Album) 1988 FLAG 25
Holy Terror Mind Wars (CD, Album) 1988 CD FLAG 25
Holy Terror Terror And Submission (LP) 1987 FLAG 10
Holy Terror Terror And Submission (CD, Album, Unofficial) 1987 CD FLAG 10
Holy Terror Terror And Submission (LP, Album) 1987 2371
Mortal Sin Every Dog Has Day (LP, Album) 1991 FLAG 61
Mortal Sin Every Dog Has Day (Album) (2 versions) 1991 CDFLAG 61
Mortal Sin Every Dog Has Day (CD, Album) 1991 CDFLAG 61
Mortal Sin Every Dog Has Day (CD, Album, Boo) 1991 CDFLAG 61
Nuclear Assault Out of Order (Cass, Album) 1991 TFLAG 64
Nuclear Assault Out of Order (LP, Album) 1991 Flag 64
Nuclear Assault Out of Order (CD, Album) 1991 CD FLAG 64
Nuclear Assault Handle With Care (LP, Album) 1989 FLAG 35
Nuclear Assault Handle With Care (CD, Album) 1989 CD FLAG 35
Nuclear Assault Survive (Cass, Album) 1988 TFLAG21
Nuclear Assault Fight To Be Free (Cass, EP) 1988 T12Flag 105
Nuclear Assault Fight To Be Free (12", EP, Ltd, Pos) 1988 PB 12 FLAG 105
Nuclear Assault Survive (LP, Album, Pic) 1988 FLAG 21 P
Nuclear Assault Survive (LP, Album) 1988 FLAG21
Nuclear Assault Survive (CD, Album) 1988 CD FLAG 21
Nuclear Assault Fight To Be Free (CD, EP) 1988 CD 12FLAG 105
Nuclear Assault Good Times, Bad Times (12") 1988 12 FLAG 107
Nuclear Assault Fight To Be Free (EP) (2 versions) 1988 12FLAG 105
Nuclear Assault Fight To Be Free (12", EP, Ltd, Pos) 1988 12FLAG 105
Nuclear Assault Fight To Be Free (12", EP) 1988 12 Flag 105
Nuclear Assault The Plague (12", MiniAlbum) 1987 M FLAG 13
Nuclear Assault Game Over (CD) 1987 CD FLAG 5
Nuclear Assault The Plague (12", MiniAlbum) 1987 2382
Nuclear Assault Game Over (LP, Album) 1986 FLAG 5
Nuclear Assault Brain Death (12") 1986 12 FLAG 102
Onslaught Power From Hell (CD, Album, RE) 1993 PCCY-00480
Onslaught Let There Be Rock (12", Pic) 1987 P12FLAG 103
Onslaught Let There Be Rock (7", Promo, S/Sided) 1987 FLAG 103 ADJ
Onslaught Power From Hell (LP, Album, RE) 1987 88561-8173-1
Onslaught Let There Be Rock (12") 1987 12FLAG 103
Onslaught The Force (Cass, Alb) 1986 T FLAG 1
Onslaught Power From Hell (LP, Album, RE) 1986 FLAG 7
Onslaught The Force (LP, Album) 1986 FLAG 1
Onslaught The Force (CD, Album) 1986 CD FLAG 1
Overdose Progress of Decadence (CD, Album) 1994 CDFLAG 83
Overkill !Fuck You! (12") 1987 12 FLAG 104
Possessed The Eyes of Horror (12", EP) 1987 M FLAG 16
Possessed Beyond The Gates / The Eyes of Horror (Comp) (2 versions) 1987 CD FLAG 3
Possessed Beyond The Gates / The Eyes of Horror (CD, Comp) 1987 CD FLAG 3
Possessed Beyond The Gates / The Eyes of Horror (CD, Comp, RE) 1988 CD FLAG 3
Possessed Beyond The Gates (Album) (2 versions) 1986 FLAG 3
Possessed Beyond The Gates (LP, Album) 1987 FLAG 3
Possessed Beyond The Gates (LP, Album, Gat) 1986 FLAG 3
Praying Mantis Predator in Disguise (CD, Album) 1993 CDFLAG 77
Raven Nothing Exceeds Like Excess (LP, Album) 1988 FLAG 28
Raven Nothing Exceeds Like Excess (CD, Album) 1988 CDFLAG 28
Raven Nothing Exceeds Like Excess (LP, Album) 1988 102351
Re-Animator That Was Then... This Is Now (Album) (2 versions) 1992 FLAG 67
Re-Animator That Was Then... This Is Now (LP, Album) 1992 FLAG 67
Re-Animator That Was Then... This Is Now (CD, Album) 1992 FLAG 67
Re-Animator Laughing (LP) 1991 FLAG 53
Re-Animator Laughing (CD, Album) 1991 CDFLAG 53
Re-Animator Condemned To Eternity/Deny Reality (CD, Comp) 1990 MCD 1065-2
Re-Animator Condemned To Eternity (LP, Album) 1990 FLAG 37
Re-Animator Condemned To Eternity/Deny Reality (CD, Comp) 1990 CSCS 5261
Re-Animator Condemned To Eternity/Deny Reality (CD, Comp) 1990 CD FLAG 37
Re-Animator Deny Reality (LP, MiniAlbum) 1989 M FLAG 32
Re-Animator Deny Reality (LP, MiniAlbum) 1989 103011
Ripping Corpse Dreaming with the Dead (LP, Album) 1991 FLAG 57
Ripping Corpse Dreaming with the Dead (CD, Album) 1991 CDFLAG 57
Sacrilege Turn Back Trilobite (LP, Gat) 1989 FLAG 29
Sacrilege Turn Back Trilobite (CD, Album) 1989 CD FLAG 29
Sacrilege Within The Prophecy (12", Album, W/Lbl) 1987 FLAG 15
Sacrilege Within The Prophecy (LP, Album) 1987 FLAG 15
Sarcofago The Laws of Scourge (Cass, Album) 1992 MASS 0008
Sarcofago The Laws of Scourge (CD, Album) 1992 CDFLAG 66
Sarcófago The Laws of Scourge (Cass, Album) 1992 TMNF 66
Sarcófago The Laws of Scourge (LP, Album) 1992 FLAG 66
Sarcófago Rotting (Cass, MiniAlbum) 1989 TFLAG52
Sarcófago Rotting (MiniAlbum) (2 versions) 1989 FLAG 52
Sarcófago Rotting (12", MiniAlbum) 1989 FLAG 52
Sarcófago Rotting (CD, MiniAlbum) 1989 CDFLAG 52
Sarcófago Rotting (12", MiniAlbum, Promo, W/Lbl) 1991 FLAG 52
Seventh Angel Lament for the Weary (Vinyl, Album) 1992 FLAG 65
Seventh Angel Lament for the Weary (CD, Album) 1992 CDFLAG 65
Seventh Angel The Torment (Cass, Album) 1990 TFLAG 51
Seventh Angel The Torment (LP, Album) 1990 FLAG 51
Seventh Angel The Torment (CD, Album) 1990 CDFLAG 51
Turbo Dead End (LP, Album) 1990 FLAG 47
Turbo Dead End (CD, Album) 1990 CDFLAG 47
Various Speed Kills 6 – Violence of the Slams (2xLP, Comp) 1992 FLAG 69
Various Speed Kills 6: Violence of the Slams (CD, Comp) 1992 CD FLAG 69
Various Speed Kills 5: Head Crushing Metal (Cass, Comp) 1990 TFLAG 46
Various Speed Kills 5 Head Crushing Metal (2xLP, Comp) 1990 FLAG 46
Various Speed Kills 5: Head Crushing Metal (CD, Comp) 1990 CD FLAG 46
Various Speed Kills...But Who's Dying? (2xLP, Comp) 1989 FLAG 33
Various Speed Kills...But Who's Dying? (CD, Comp) 1989 CD FLAG 33
Various Speed Kills III – A Catalogue of Destruction (LP) 1987 FLAG 17
Various Speed Kills II – The Mayhem Continues... (LP) 1986 FLAG 2
Venom The Waste Lands (LP, Album) 1992 FLAG 72
Venom The Waste Lands (CD, Album) 1992 CD FLAG 72
Venom Temples of Ice (LP) 1991 FLAG 56
Venom Temples of Ice (CD, Album) 1991 CDFLAG 56
Venom ... Tear Your Soul Apart (12", EP) 1990 MFLAG 50-
Venom ... Tear Your Soul Apart (CD, EP) 1990 CDMFLAG 50
Venom Prime Evil (Cass, Album) 1989 TFLAG 36
Venom Prime Evil (LP, Album, Pic, Ltd) 1989 FLAG 36P-
Venom Prime Evil (Album) (3 versions) 1989 FLAG 36
Venom Prime Evil (LP, Album) 1989 FLAG 36
Venom Prime Evil (LP, Album) 1990 FLAG 36-
Venom Prime Evil (LP, Album, TP) 1989 FLAG 36
Venom Prime Evil (Album) (2 versions) 1989 CD FLAG 36
Venom Prime Evil (CD, Album) 1992 CD FLAG 36
Venom Prime Evil (CD, Album) 1989 CD FLAG 36
Venom Prime Evil (Cass, Album) 1989 104614
Venom Prime Evil (LP, Album) 1989 104611
Wolf Spider Drifting in the Sullen Sea (LP, Album) 1991 FLAG 63
Wolf Spider Drifting in the Sullen Sea (CD, Album) 1991 CDFLAG 063
Wolf Spider Kingdom of Paranoia (LP, Album) 1990 FLAG 49
Wolf Spider Kingdom of Paranoia (CD, Album) 1990 CDFLAG 49

See also

Notes and References

  1. http://www.metal-archives.com/labels/Under_One_Flag/199 Under One Flag
  2. http://www.discogs.com/label/Under%2BOne%2BFlag?page=1&genre=All&limit=500&sort=date%2Cdesc Under One Flag