Heavy metal label Nuclear Blast Records has officially announced plans to leave the social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter). The label shared the news via a brief statement issued yesterday, June 13th, confirming they will deactivate their account within 48 hours.
While Nuclear Blast did not specify a reason for the move, their decision places them among a growing number of artists, companies, and individuals who have recently parted ways with the platform. With over 213,000 followers on X, the label’s departure marks another significant exit in the ongoing exodus prompted by changes in the platform’s direction under the ownership of Elon Musk.
Since Musk’s acquisition, X has drawn widespread criticism over issues ranging from perceived leniency on hate speech to ties—real or rumored—to the current U.S. administration. Some public figures, like GUNS N’ ROSES guitarist Slash, have cited serious concerns over account security. Slash left the platform in April after experiencing repeated hacking incidents.
For Nuclear Blast, whose influential roster has included iconic names such as MESHUGGAH, SLAYER, IN GLAMES, MACHINE HEAD, and more, this move comes amid a broader conversation about their recent controversies. The label has faced backlash in recent years for signing artists with turbulent pasts, such as AS I LAY DYING and Marilyn Manson. Both have faced significant public scrutiny—Manson for multiple allegations of abuse, and AS I LAY DYING’s Tim Lambesis for his 2014 conviction in a murder-for-hire plot targeting his ex-wife.
Despite their impending departure from X, Nuclear Blast assured fans that they will maintain a presence on several other platforms, including Instagram, TikTok, Bluesky, Facebook, YouTube, and Spotify.
Reeder, the visionary behind Metal Addicts, has transformed his lifelong passion for metal into a thriving online community for metal aficionados. As a fervent devotee of black metal, Reeder is captivated by its dark, atmospheric, and often unorthodox soundscapes.