[1] Nuclear Blast was formed in 1987 after founder Markus Staiger traveled throughout the United States for four weeks and saw a gig of his favorite band BL'AST!.

The label's first release was a vinyl compilation called Senseless Death (NB 001) featuring US hardcore bands like Attitude, Sacred Denial, Impulse Manslaughter and others.

[2] In 2004, Finnish symphonic metal band Nightwish released Once on Nuclear Blast, which rocketed to the top of the charts in multiple countries, including Finland, Germany, Norway, Greece, Sweden, Austria, and more.

[3][4] During the 2000s and 2010s, Nuclear Blast signed many veteran thrash metal bands including Slayer,[5] Exodus,[6] Testament,[7] Anthrax,[8] Kreator,[9] Overkill,[10] Sepultura,[11] Destruction,[12] Tankard,[13] Death Angel,[14] and Heathen.

[17] On 23 August 2022, the video game Saints Row was released, which features an in-game radio station that includes Nuclear Blast artists.