Last year saw British heavy metal label Peaceville celebrate three decades of existence, a period which has seen them release fine records from the likes of Paradise Lost, Darkthrone and Autopsy, while constantly keeping their pulse on progressions within the metal scene.

The label celebrated the milestone by putting out more excellent music, continuing to nod to the future, while also recognising their history via a limited 7" series and a series of picture discs reissuing classics from the label.

To further celebrate three decades, Peaceville has offered up a sizeable array of goodies for us to give away to one lucky winner. If you want to be in with the chance of winning, all you have to do is send the correct answer to the question below to comps@thequietus.com with the subject line' Peaceville'. Entries close at midday on Thursday (January 25). Peep the all-important competition question below, the full list of prizes below that and a short Q&A with the label's Paul Groundwell at the foot of the page, filling us in on recent and future movements for Peaceville.

What was the title of Paradise Lost's 1990 album debut on Peaceville?

A: Lost Paradise
B: Paradise Lost
C: Paradise Found

Competition prizes

10 Albums on CD (Darkthrone's Arctic Thunder, Katatonia's The Fall Of Hearts, My Dying Bride's Feel the Misery, Autopsy's The Headless Ritual, Pentagram's Curious Volume, Behemoth's Satanica, Bloodbath's The Fathomless Mastery, Akercocke's Renaissance in Extremis, Opeth's The Roundhouse Tapes, Candlemass' Nightfall)
T-shirt w/ exclusive design from Travis Smith
Tote Bag
Slipmat w/ exclusive design from Travis Smith
A Peaceville patch
A copy of Hammy's book Anything for a Peaceville Life

Would you say that the label's focus has shifted in any way from its original form?

Paul Groundwell: Though some of the general focus has evolved as the label grew and as the industry changed, the label's attitude itself has remained quite similar, and has continued to be one of the central considerations – how something fits within the Peaceville ethic and attitude, all while allowing a full amount of creative/artistic freedom, and no trends. As always, Peaceville attitude doesn't mean a restriction to a particular genre though, but all of the bands must have a certain defining quality, and their own type of sound or purpose. Naturally there is now also more consideration towards us keeping the catalogue as a whole ongoing, and vital, too, compared to originally when the label was in its infancy, as there was so little catalogue to speak of at that stage, comparatively.

Peaceville keeps up a very healthy release rate. Does the label take an active approach with A&R?

PG: Certainly always active on the A&R side yes, as to what is out there, but we also take a view to both looking forward as well as not forgetting what came before. Personally I think it is becoming more essential to preserve these gems of metal's rich history; what helped to shape certain sub-genres - Paradise Lost, Darkthrone, Autopsy, Candlemass, Pentagram, etc etc. Without these kinds of bands and releases remaining out there and relevant (and physically obtainable), that spirit gets obscured by new waves of metal which become more diluted of metal and rock's origins, often in search of some clinical and technical perfectionism, with much of the human organic feel and individuality stripped away, so many sound alike with their styles and productions. Only at the end of life are we intended to fit into the box.

What did the label do to mark its 30th anniversary in 2017?

PG: It was more a very productive year overall, nothing overly elaborate or gimmicky - just showing respect to the past while heading full-speed into the future. So we had top new releases by acts like Akercocke, Mork, Fleurety, Autopsy, but also, for example, picture discs celebrating some of the classic titles over the decades, plus a limited 7" series, as a nod to the Peaceville collector's club of the early-mid '90s. And a personal favourite was the Peaceville logo shirts. All these years I’ve been into the label as a fan and then actively, so finally got my hands on one, ha!

What plans lie ahead for Peaceville in 2018 and beyond?

PG: More new releases with some great new signings on the horizon, and if we allow ourselves to stretch the imagination (beyond) just a bit, a Darkthrone world tour, surely!