Album Rating: 3.0

Sadly, this is also true... *sigh*

Album Rating: 4.0

I dunno for your first big release it's good to have a label to help build a fanbase, from stuff I've read you're best getting a 1 album deal to get a name for yourself through the label's links (do not under any circumstances give up and merch rights though) and then you can build from there on your own.

Album Rating: 3.0

Yeah that's true I guess, but the internet is the ultimate meritocracy and if you're good enough people are likely to notice. The only people who really need hype machines are made-to-order pop divas looking for a gimmick. I'm sure that having label funding comes in handy when it comes to recording costs, but even that is being mitigated by improving quality of DIY production.

Album Rating: 4.0

Physical distribution is also a major benefit of labels. Example is Sockweb, they've already recorded their album and are strictly a studio project (no touring) but they signed to Monolith cos they wanted the distribution deal (and the guitarist has had loads of experience with labels before so knew how to deal with the offers they got). The Defiled (who until now were unsigned but have played a bunch of major festivals and tours in the UK) are another example of a band that are gonna benefit from distribution from Nuclear Blast as Grave Times is only available at shows now (1888 I'm not sure). So if you want more of a physical presence then a label's a good way to go

Album Rating: 3.0

Labels are definitely good for physical presence, but whether or not the hassle of dealing with a label is worth the physical presence is the question. I suppose smaller labels know what's up and support their bands much better than larger labels though. And has been stated earlier, labels like Basick and Sumerian seem to be doing a pretty good job.