Well that is no secret, MB has done that for years. Still it does give better distribution and no matter how it really is most people will still see it as something positive. The average metal listener will take more notice now. And I'm sure having a name like that behind the band doesn't hurt. I can help but to wonder if that played a part of the decision in While Heaven Wept knowing about the soon signing with Nuclear Blast, perhaps it did not but I'm sure it was not a strike against the band. So same situation with a Metal Blade band.