Metal Snowball Records

Metal Snowball Records is an independent record label based in the United States. Its catalog page, last updated March 5, 2026, presents a small, tightly focused roster of releases, most of them connected to singer-guitarist John Hovorka and his various bands and projects. The label's catalog numbers run in the MSR series, with examples including MSR004, MSR009, MSR010 and MSR011, alongside at least one release carrying a different prefix, BPR303. The label's best-documented releases are by John Hovorka and the Dawn of Mechanized Farming, whose self-titled album (MSR004) was recorded in August 2003, produced by Joe Kelly and engineered by Kol Marshall, and released in 2004. The record is described as New York rock and roll, with a six-song, 22:39-minute running time. Another Hovorka project, HOVORKA, issued "Empire State" (MSR009), recorded in 1988–1989 and released in 2008, a ten-song, 38:30-minute album featuring Tom McCrum on drums and Michan Walker on bass. More recent entries include MSR010, "Peace Bridge" by John Hovorka, and MSR011, "Runs + Drives" by John Hovorka and the Dawn of Mechanized Farming. The catalog also reaches beyond Hovorka's own work. BPR303 is an album by The 2x4's, recorded in 1980 and released in 2007, with a lineup including John Hovorka, Tom Martel and Steve Donnelly. This suggests the label functions partly as an outlet for archival and historical New York-area rock recordings as well as new material. Metal Snowball Records operates on a small, direct-to-listener scale. Its catalog page lists CD prices, typically around $8.00 to $10.00, plus a flat $4.00 shipping charge to the United States. The label does not appear to have major-label distribution, and public information about its ownership, founding date and headquarters is limited. Wikidata classifies it simply as a record label. Its identity is therefore best understood through its catalog: a niche independent imprint preserving and releasing rock music associated with John Hovorka and his circle.

Metal Snowball Records is a small independent American record label. Public documentation of its corporate history is sparse; Wikidata records it only as a record label, and its own catalog page is the main source of information about its releases. What can be established is that the label has issued a series of CDs under the MSR catalog prefix, with at least one release under a BPR prefix, and that its catalog is closely tied to the work of singer-guitarist John Hovorka. The label's catalog includes both new recordings and older archival material. MSR004, John Hovorka and the Dawn of Mechanized Farming, was recorded in August 2003, produced by Joe Kelly and engineered by Kol Marshall, and released in 2004. The album is described as New York rock and roll, with six songs and a running time of 22:39. Its lineup included John Hovorka on vocals and guitars, Marc Bendian on bass guitar, backing vocals and guitar, Colin Devine on drums, Joe Kelly on percussion and keyboards, Bill Lutz on guitar and backing vocals. MSR009, HOVORKA - Empire State, reaches further back. It was recorded in 1988–1989 and released in 2008. The album features John Hovorka on vocals and guitars, Tom McCrum on drums and backing vocals, and Michan Walker on bass guitar, with Broz Brosnan playing bass guitar on "Tragedy" and "Party Sheets." It contains ten songs and runs 38:30 minutes, including tracks such as "Empire State," "Might Get Shot," "Let's Make Steel," "Tragedy," "Power Drunk," "Party Sheets," "22 Hours," "I Wish It Would Rain," "One Man Rides" and "Thievin' Lyin'." More recent releases listed on the catalog page include MSR010, "Peace Bridge" by John Hovorka, and MSR011, "Runs + Drives" by John Hovorka and the Dawn of Mechanized Farming. The catalog also includes BPR303, The 2x4's Album, recorded in 1980 and released in 2007, with a lineup including John Hovorka, Tom Martel and Steve Donnelly. This pattern suggests the label serves as a vehicle for releasing both current and historical recordings from the New York rock scene around Hovorka. The catalog page, last updated March 5, 2026, lists CDs at prices such as $8.00 and $10.00, with a $4.00 shipping charge to the United States. This direct-sales approach is typical of small independent labels. No founding date, headquarters location, ownership structure or executive team is disclosed in the available evidence, so those details remain unknown.

• MSR004, John Hovorka and the Dawn of Mechanized Farming, recorded in August 2003.

• MSR004 released in 2004.

• BPR303, The 2x4's Album, recorded in 1980 and released in 2007.

• MSR009, HOVORKA - Empire State, recorded 1988–1989 and released in 2008.

• Catalog page last updated March 5, 2026, listing MSR010 and MSR011 among current and upcoming releases.

Small independent American record label focused on New York rock and roll, including archival recordings associated with John Hovorka.

• MSR004 John Hovorka and the Dawn of Mechanized Farming

  Album recorded August 2003, released 2004; six songs, 22:39 minutes; New York rock and roll.

• MSR009 HOVORKA - Empire State

  Album recorded 1988–1989, released 2008; ten songs, 38:30 minutes.

• MSR010 Peace Bridge by John Hovorka

  CD listed at $8.00.

• MSR011 Runs + Drives by John Hovorka and the Dawn of Mechanized Farming

  CD listed at $10.00.

• BPR303 The 2x4's Album

  Album recorded 1980, released 2007.

1. 1Metal Snowball Records Catalogmetalsnowball.com
2. 2Metal Snowball Recordswikidata.org