The No Label Needed Contest & Series is a collaboration between Metal Insider and Scion to give one unsigned artist an entire DIY music industry education and launch a release without the help of a label. We’ll be posting features and updates on the contest & series periodically on Metal Insider. Find out more about No Label Needed here.

Darkest Hour guitarist Mike Schleibaum is among the artists, managers, agents and writers on our judging panel. While we can’t reveal his vote until March 9, he wanted to take a minute to make sure you take a minute and vote for your favorite No Label Needed finalist.

I’ve rocked as both an unsigned and signed artist and can tell you both have their distinct advantages and hurtles to overcome. Having seen what has happened to the music industry in the past 15 years I can tell you anything is possible. Getting a band off the ground can be pretty brutal, so every little bit helps. That’s why I was so excited when I was asked to be on the panel of guest judges for this contest. It’s awesome to be able to help bands out directly, and what’s really awesome about this contest is, so can you.

Recording with Machine, a website redesign, merch re-imagined, radio, press campaigns, some sick gear, and hanging with Shadows Fall and Ben from Dillinger Escape Plan are all fucking bad ass things! Why not take the time to listen to these bands and give a few of them a shot?

Although I encourage everyone to check out all the bands these are my personal top five (in no specific order) [Ed. note - we chose not to reveal Schleibaum's votes at this time. Check back next month to see some opinions on the finalists from our judges]. I would love to see any of these bands be able to tap into the resources of this contest. The chance to make an EP with a real producer is the grand prize to me, who knows what sick tunes wait to be created? So check these bands out…because in the end there can only be one winner!

Public voting for the No Label Needed Contest & Series presented by Scion runs through March 8. Visit the No Label Needed microsite to listen to the finalists and cast your vote!

Photo Credit: Matt Bell