Slope Records

Slope Records
Founded	2015 (2015)
Founder	Thomas Lopez
Genre	Punk
Country of origin	U.S.
Location	Sunnyslope, Arizona
Official website	sloperecords.com

Slope Records is an independent record label based in Phoenix, Arizona, founded in 2015 by Thomas Lopez. The label specializes in releasing punk rock, garage rock, and underground music on vinyl formats, alongside a catalog of reissues and archival releases. In 2026, the company expanded its operations into literary publishing with the launch of its book imprint, Slope Press.

History

Founded in Phoenix in 2015 by Thomas Lopez, Slope Records was established to document and reissue foundational Arizona punk music while developing a recording roster of contemporary regional and national underground artists.

“Slope” refers to Sunnyslope, Arizona where the label's home offices are located. Sunnyslope is now part of central Phoenix, but was once the north edge of town. Part of the mission of Slope Records was to bring attention to the burgeoning Phoenix music scene through the re-release of classic Arizona punk rock bands as well as new releases by both Arizona and national acts.

In 2016, Slope Records funded and released the debut self-titled four-track seven-inch vinyl EP by Brooklyn punk band Surfbort (catalog number SLOPE04). The release marked a key tastemaker milestone for the label, capturing the group's early raw sound prior to their wider national and international recognition, including subsequent signings with Julian Casablancas' Cult Records and Fat Possum Records, collaborations with designer labels such as Gucci, and tours alongside major acts like The Chats, Amyl and the Sniffers, and Bikini Kill.

Slope Records released Product of America by Exterminators on Election Day 2016, which was, at the time, the biggest release on the label. Exterminators are a Phoenix punk rock super group featuring Dan “Johnny Macho” Clark on vocals (Victory Acres, Feederz), Doug “Buzzy Murder” Clark on guitar (Mighty Sphincter), Don Bolles on drums (Germs, 45 Grave), and Cris Kirkwood (Meat Puppets) on bass. Other releases include work by Fuckemos, Nip Drivers, Mighty Sphincter, Surfbort, and Red Squares among others.

First wave Phoenix punk rock band Feederz signed with Slope Records in early February 2017. Frank Discussion, Clear Bob (Dan Clark/Johnny Macho from Exterminators), and DH Peligro (Dead Kennedys) reunited to create their socially and politically charged brand of Dadaist punk. Their initial Slope Records’ release was scheduled to come out in April 2017 featuring controversial cover art by Mike Fisher depicting United States President Donald Trump dressed as Adolf Hitler.

In September 2016, Slope Records began a relationship with skateboard legend and punk rock singer, Duane Peters. Since then, Peter's signed on with Slope and the label has released three 7” EPs by Peters. The first release from March 2017 featured Peters’ early 80s band, Political Crap, and contains three songs originally recorded for the 1981 compilation record, Who Cares (American Standard).

In March 2017, Slope Records began recording a full-length record with Moonlight Magic, a Phoenix-based exotica ensemble led by musician, archivist, and Masonic author Jaime Paul Lamb. The project featured percussion and collaborative contributions from longtime Phoenix underground figure and percussionist Eddy Detroit, marking one of his final recorded studio collaborations prior to his death in June 2021. The album, titled Phoenixotica, was released on vinyl by Slope Records in 2018.

Also released in April 2017, Phoenix, Arizona's The Father Figures who features a former member of Jody Foster's Army (JFA) as well as a member of North Side Kings and The Freeze joined Slope Records and the label released Heavy Lifting, which is the Post-skate punk bands’ fourth full-length record. “Like Fragile Porcelain Mice or Season to Risk, The Father Figures create music at once dissonant and melodically catchy. “USS Destroyer” is especially ear-wormy thanks to a shouted chorus. “Nigerian Prince Charming” is a modern update and mash-up between the Minutemen's “Take 5, D” and Nada Surf's “Popular,” melding a scam e-mail with political rhetoric and stop-and-go structure.”

During the summer of 2017, Slope Records released the TV’s OK EP by Austin, Texas band, The Cocky Bitches. The trio features Paul Leary of the Butthole Surfers as well as Sam McCandless of Cold and singer The Baroness.

In December 2017, Slope Records released two new 7” EPs from the US Bombs. The first of which is a tribute to The Clash with Peters and company providing their rendition of Clash favorites, “Death Or Glory” and “Straight To Hell.” The second EP features two brand new US Bombs songs, “Hollywood Gong Show” and “Midnight Run.” The US Bombs plan to tour extensively in 2018.

Phoenix, Arizona via Cape Cod, Massachusetts punks The Freeze signed to Slope Records in 2018 as well with a brand-new record planned for early 2019. Along with The Father Figures, The Freeze represented Slope Records at the 2018 Punk Rock Bowling Festival as well.

In July 2018, the U.S. Bombs put the finishing touches on Road Case, which was their first full-length album in well over a decade. This was also the first LP for the Bombs on Slope Records and was released on November 23, 2018. The band will begin touring to support the record in December 2018 and continue on the road with the first leg of touring featuring Total Chaos as the support act.

The Cocky Bitches also released a full-length LP on^[ambiguous] Slope Records in November 2018, as well. Mercy is the first LP by the band and was well received. “This is some high grade, weirdo, psych punk with some touches of lysergic blues of the highest order. In a way, it harkens back to Leary’s former band, but in a good way. It’s not a mere copy. He’s just taken the music that’s in his blood and, along with his collaborators, has created some inspired, twisted shit which is likely to put a smile on the face of anybody who likes their rock music way outside the box”.^{[excessive quote]}

During the late spring of 2019, Slope Records launched a new facet to their services by providing tour buses for bands, Anti-Nowhere League, The Dickies, Conflict, and The Exploited have all toured on the buses during 2019. The Linecutters supported Conflict on their brief US tour that culminated with a show at Punk Rock Bowling in Las Vegas.

Slope Records provided The Dickies with a tour bus for the first leg of their 2019 tour with The Queers, as well, celebrating the release of their first Slope Records 7” which featured a cover of the Cheap Trick song, “I Dig Go-Go Girls” featuring Monkey from The Adicts on side A and The Dickies own “The Dreaded Pigasaurus” as the B side. The release was joined in Slope Records summer release slate by Los Angeles, California's Dead77 with their Slope debut, Astray, and The Linecutters’ Knuckledragger EP.

Following the release of their full-length LP, ‘Hate Your Life,’ The Besmirchers set out for a two-show leg of the Anti Nowhere League's three US shows in 2019, which culminated in an arena performance at the Banc Stadium in Los Angeles. The Banc Stadium lineup consisted of Cro-Mags, ANWL, The Distillers, Rise Against, and the original lineup of The Misfits. The Besmirchers and ANWL had organized a longer 2020 tour, which was derailed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent shutdown measures. The tour was scheduled to kick off at Punk Rock Bowling featuring The Professionals, who formed following the dissolution of The Sex Pistols by founding members Steve Jones and Paul Cook. Unfortunately, this tour was also sidelined by pandemic shutdowns on live music venues and gatherings.

On Friday 13 December 2019, TSOL's ‘Ghost Train’ EP became the LA Punks first release on Slope Records. A culmination of brooding goth, punk, and new wave blend anchored by lead singer Jack Grisham, ‘Ghost Train,’ continues their SoCal Punk legacy. TSOL's roots are in the late 70's LA Punk Scene. Pressed on translucent blue vinyl, ‘Ghost Train’ is informed by TSOL's roots while bringing their sound into the 21st century.

Slope Press

In 2026, Slope Records expanded into book publishing with the founding of Slope Press. The imprint was established to publish literature, photography, and cultural histories focusing on punk subculture, independent art, and underground movements. The imprint's forthcoming debut title, Anti Anti Anti: The Birth of Phoenix Punk (1977–1980) by Thomas Lopez, is scheduled for publication in 2027.

Associated bands

Discography

Gallery

• 
  US Bombs: Clash Tribute
• 
  US Bombs: Hollywood Gong Show
• 
  Duane Peters, 2017
• 
  Political Crap, Slow Death, 1980

References

External links

• Official website
• Slope Press