Longtime friends, contemporaries and creative collaborators Leo Valeri of Brand of Sacrifice and Ryan O’Leary of Fit For A King have announced the launch of their newest passion project, Papercut Recordings.
Forged with an emphasis on conducting business in a way that is both transparent and artist-first, Papercut combines first-hand expertise with the kind of work ethic that can only come from a touring musician.
“If there’s one thing we’ve seen enough of, it’s seeing new talent get steamrolled,” say Valeri and O’Leary. “Our mission is to return creative control and power to the people who earned it—the artists. We provide fair, transparent funding paired with real-world expertise from people who are metal musicians themselves, living and breathing the scene alongside you. It’s about partnership, respect, and building something authentic together.”
Among the first artists enlisted to legitimize Papercut, Blackshape is a burgeoning post-metal, math rock amalgam from Utah. Earning acclaim for their cerebral brand of heft, the band's 2021 self-titled release offered a promising indication of a unit that had only just scratched the surface.
Additionally, Papercut has acquired Floridian metalcore/post-hardcore collective, LIMBS. Delivering compelling heft at a rapid clip, the band's 2025 output has already furnished 3 well-received EPs in Fading Fast, Oxygen and Votal. Championing a DIY ethic, the independently released series underscores the band's creative depth - pushing the envelope both artistically and professionally.
