Veteran heavy metal label Nuclear Blast Records has announced its departure from the social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter). The label made the announcement via a brief statement on June 13th, confirming that its account—followed by over 213,000 users—will be deactivated within 48 hours.
Though Nuclear Blast did not provide a specific reason for the move, the decision reflects a broader trend: a wave of artists, companies, and public figures have been abandoning X in recent months. The platform, which has undergone a significant transformation under the ownership of Elon Musk, has faced mounting criticism for issues ranging from content moderation policies to security concerns.
One such example is Guns N’ Roses guitarist Slash, who left the platform in April following multiple hacking incidents. His exit followed a growing chorus of users concerned about what they view as Musk’s hands-off approach to moderation and his controversial political associations.
For Nuclear Blast—a cornerstone of the metal scene with a legacy roster that includes Slayer, Meshuggah, Machine Head, In Flames, and more—the move away from X comes at a time of introspection and shifting public perception. In recent years, the label has weathered backlash for signing artists with contentious histories, such as As I Lay Dying (whose frontman Tim Lambesis served prison time for a murder-for-hire plot) and Marilyn Manson, who faces ongoing allegations of abuse.
Despite its impending exit from X, Nuclear Blast made it clear that fans will still be able to connect with the label on various other platforms, including Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, YouTube, Bluesky, and Spotify. The label continues to remain active across these channels, sharing news, music, and updates from its wide array of artists.
Writer and extreme metal devotee, Ialdagorth has spent over a decade covering the darkest corners of heavy music. A black metal lifer, he spends his free time wandering the Carpathian Mountains, likely humming blast beats to the trees.
