Perhaps one of the biggest surprises in music reviews for me this year was Typhoidmary’s Death Trans back in October. Genre-wise, everything about it suggested it wasn’t going to be my cup of tea, but realigning myself, I delved deeper into its emotive and distressing ambiance, and found fondness in its exquisitely dark portrayals, as it progressed thrash metal, gave it a newfound edge of sentiment.
It was released by Gloucester-based unprejudiced universal rock, metal, punk and folk label ScreamLite Records. And now they’ve sent us news of a colossal compilation album which will drop on their Bandcamp page as soon as Big Ben hits midnight on New Year’s Eve, likely making it the first new release of 2021. Better say a few words about it now, then. Constructing words into comprehendible sentences is tricky enough for me at the best of times, let alone New Year’s Eve.
While it’s going to be one long runaway review to critique it track by track, being it’s a mahoosive 65 tracks strong, it’s worth mentioning some key facts about New Hero Sounds. Most importantly this album will be a varied range of the genres and styles on offer at Scream Lite, and their friends, being as it’s 50% made up of artists signed to the label, and the other half independently contributed from upcoming artists under parallel genres. Thus, making it the perfect sampler to open you up to the world of contemporary punk, nu-metal and folk-punk. Though, there’s much more on offer here and certainly too much to pigeonhole.
PLUS, as well as introducing you to a truckload of upcoming talent, there’s a worthy cause it fundraises for. ScreamLite Records’ Director Chris Bowen said, “we’ve all had a tough year, and we decided we should give something back to the frontline NHS staff that have been tirelessly working this year to keep us safe and well.” New Hero Sounds is a charity album in aid of the NHS Charities Together, and all artists have contributed freely.
Broadminded with one eye focused on variability is what you’re going to need to take this one on, even my eclectic self was bowed by the assortment on offer here. MadaMercy gets as trip hoppy as Morcheeba, yet is a rare genre on offer. In addition to an aforementioned Typhoidmary track, ScreamLite’s roster offers nu-metal and punk, such as Stolen Dead Music, or Burning Memories, which can be in your face at times, but at others smoother, like the Clay Gods and Foxpalmer, both of which I enjoyed. Taking the rough with the smooth there’s something for everyone with a taste for indie; which is nice.
Giving credit to upfront festival boom of Venture, the flamenco folk style of Cut Throat Francis, acoustic rockabilly of Joshua Kinghorn, and the delicate angelic vocals of Forgotten Garden. There’s eighties electronica indie with Conal Kelly, post-punk with Jack Lois Cooper, and Gypsy Pistoleros are described as “flameco sleaze glam” revealing multi-genre in just one tune. But, there’s too much to sum this compilation up easily; a Now That’s What I Call Music for misfits, but for a good cause too.
Here’s the track listing with links, then, so you can make up your own mind and follow the ones you like…..once you’ve sampled them from this crazy and full compilation, which is coming on New Year’s Even, here, remember?!
https://screamliterecords.bandcamp.com/album/various-artists-new-hero-sounds
1. Jonah Matranga: Everyday Angels (OG Home Demo)
Written, Performed & Recorded at home by Jonah Matranga
http://www.jonahmatranga.com https://jonahmatranga.bandcamp.com/
2. Spice & The Readies: Sway A Little Closer
Written & Performed by Tom Spice, Becky Doyle, Tomasz Williams & Jack Quance
Recorded at University Of Gloucestershire
https://www.facebook.com/tomspicemusic
3. Clayton Blizzard: Sad Music Is Uplifting
Written & Performed by Clayton Blizzard
Taken from One, Two, Three, Home
https://claytonblizzard.bandcamp.com/
4. Chris Webb: Blind
Written by Chris Webb
Performed by Chris Webb & Jack Cookson
Taken from Bungalow
http://www.chriswebbmusic.co.uk http://www.chriswebb.bandcamp.com
5. Venture: This One’s For You
Written & Performed by Lucy Burrows, Miles Burrows, Thom Mutch, Josh Fairhurst & Mike
Hargreaves
Recorded at Jaraf House Studios & Released by ScreamLite Records SCLRRCDS003
Taken from This One’s For You
https://www.facebook.com/VentureMusicOfficial
https://screamliterecords.bandcamp.com/track/venture-this-ones-for-you
6. 1 In Five: Evolve
Written & Performed by 1 In Five
Taken from Evolve
https://www.1infive.com/ https://1infive.bandcamp.com/
7. Grandmother Corn: Brighton Mule Blues EXCLUSIVE
Written & Performed by Grandmother Corn
Recorded at Haukivuori, Finland
https://www.facebook.com/grandmothercorn/ https://grandmothercorn.bandcamp.com/
8. Alien Stash Tin: The Man In The Tin Foil Hat
Written & Performed by Jon Wisbey, Jon Gould, AJ Pearse & Bruce Morgan
Taken from Bonfire Of The Sanities EP
Recorded at Attic Attack Studios, Bristol
https://www.facebook.com/alienstashtin https://alienstashtin1.bandcamp.com/
9. Anhfren: Nefoedd Un Uffern Lall
Written & Performed by Anhfren
Published by Rhys Mwyn Publishing
Released on Anhfren Records, 1985
10. Stolen Dead Music: Raison D’Etre
Written & Performed by Jimi Trimmer, Issak Patterson, Lewis Patterson & Keith Halpenny
Recorded at Heart Studios, Gateshead & Released by ScreamLite Records SCLRRCDS011
Taken from Raison D’Etre
https://www.facebook.com/realStolenDeadMusic
https://screamliterecords.bandcamp.com/album/stolen-dead-music-raison-detre
11. GagReflex: Facedown
Written & Performed by Stuart Hawkins & Seb Goffe
Taken from What We Owe To Each Other
https://www.facebook.com/gagreflexmusic https://gagreflex.bandcamp.com/
12. Grief Ritual: Dysphoria
Written & Performed by Grief Ritual
Taken from Moments Of Suffering
https://www.facebook.com/griefritual https://griefritualmusic.bandcamp.com/
13. Panic Switch: Lethal Intent
Written & Performed by Panic Switch
Taken from Lethal Intent
https://panicswitchofficial.com/ https://www.facebook.com/officialpanicswitch
14. Alkanes: Death Or Glory
Written & Performed by Alkanes
Taken from Death Or Glory
https://www.facebook.com/Alkanesband
15. Lemonade Kid: Deep Velvet Red EXCLUSIVE
Written by Dom Lack, Performed by Dom Lack & Jarrod Jones
Recorded in Shrewsbury & Rushden
https://www.facebook.com/LemonadeKidMusic https://lemonadekid.bandcamp.com/
16. Timid Deer: The Shallows
Written by Naomi Henstridge & Tim Milne, Performed by Naomi Henstridge, Tim Milne, Tom Laws,
Matt Jackson & Jason Allen
Taken from Melodies Of The Nocturnal Pt. 1
https://www.facebook.com/TimidDeerBand https://timiddeer.bandcamp.com/
17. Forgotten Garden: Broken Pieces (Natural Mix) EXCLUSIVE
Written & Performed by Danny Elliot & Ines Dias Rebelo
Recorded at Braeriach Studios, Grantown On Spey
https://www.facebook.com/ForgottenGardenBand
https://screamliterecords.bandcamp.com/album/forgotten-garden-broken-pieces
18. Jack Louis Cooper: Bite Too Big
Written & Performed by Jack Louis Cooper
Taken from A Slow But Sure Corner
https://www.facebook.com/jacklouiscoopermusic
19. Roger Gomez: I Will Call Heaven Home
Written & Performed by Roger Gomez
Taken from Behind Cloud Nine
Recorded at Soundfield Studios, Perth, Australia
https://www.facebook.com/rogergomezmusic
20. The Twitchers: Nothing In Particular
Written & Recorded by The Twitchers
Recorded at White Beart Studios, Manchester
https://www.facebook.com/TheTwitchers
21. Mr. Bewlay: Her Name Is Juniper
Written & Performed by Mr. Bewlay
Taken from Her Name Is Juniper
https://www.facebook.com/mrbewlay
22. MadaMercy: Animosity
Written & Performed by MadaMercy
23. Down Not Out: Wild
Written & Performed by Jo Oliver, Char Lewis, James Maxwell & Ryan Stewart
Recorded at Sound Shack Studios, Cheltenham & Release by ScreamLite Records SCLRPEP006
Taken from Worse For Wear
https://downnotout.co.uk/ https://screamliterecords.bandcamp.com/album/down-not-out-worsefor-wear
24. Lightblue: Far Gone
Written & Performed by Lightblue
Recorded at The Ranch Production House, Southampton
Taken from Paradise Lost
https://www.facebook.com/lightbluecru
25. Curse You Damn Kids: Breadline
Written & Performed by Chris Bowen, Annie Kelleher, Hallam Crafer, Jenny Ollerenshaw & Ross
Ollerenshaw
Recorded at Dockside Studios, Bristol & Released by ScreamLite Records SCLRPEP001
Taken from Sorta Like An Epiphany
https://screamliterecords.bandcamp.com/album/curse-you-damn-kids-sorta-like-an-epiphany
26. Blacklist: The Replacer
Written & Performed by Saul Blease, Elliott Tottle & Joe Webb
Recorded at Factory Studios, Bristol
Taken from
https://www.facebook.com/blacklistukband
27. Homer Junior: Short Term, No Anchor
Written & Performed by Jack Higgins, Thomas Muddle & Sam Roberts
Taken from Short Term, No Anchor
https://www.facebook.com/homerjrband https://homerjrband.bandcamp.com/
28. Franklin Mint: Greta’s Sweater
Written & Performed by Franklin Mint
Taken from Bristle
https://www.facebook.com/franklinmintband https://franklinmint.bandcamp.com/
29. Me & Munich: Toxic Wings
Written & Performed by Jan Petersen, Marco Bøgehøj & John Nicholas Marx O’Sullivan
Recorded at Output Lydstudie, Denmark & Released by ScreamLite Records SCLRREP005
Taken from Knives Of The Sun EP
https://www.facebook.com/meandmunichband
https://screamliterecords.bandcamp.com/album/me-munich-knives-of-the-sun
30. Midnight In England: Two Hands
Written & Performed by James Chuster, Sam Caswell-Midwinter, Daniel Lowen-Grey & Sam Morgan
Taken from Real Cinema
https://www.facebook.com/MidnightinEngland
31. Borrowed Body & Abstract Man: Smokescreen EXCLUSIVE
Written by Niall Hill & Tom Johnstone, Performed by Niall Hill, Tom Johnstone & Phil Howell
https://screamliterecords.bandcamp.com/album/borrowed-body-the-rising-sea
32. Lightleaver: Close To You
Written & Performed by Emma Saxon
Taken from Close To You
33. Tom Spice: Life’s Breath EXCLUSIVE
Written & Performed by Tom Spice
https://www.facebook.com/tomspicemusic
34. Marie Virginie Pierre: I Will Try Again (This Christmas)
Written & Performed by Marie Virginie Pierre
35. Joe Buckingham: James’ Song EXCLUSIVE
Written by Joe Buckingham & James Holliday, Performed by Joe Buckingham
36. Howlin’ Anton Bleak: His Mistress’s Voice
Written by Howlin’ Anton Bleak, Performed by Howlin’ Anton Bleak, AP Clarke & “Belter” Jim Lacey
Released ScreamLite Records SCLRRA004
Taken from Stranger Country
https://www.facebook.com/howlinanton
https://screamliterecords.bandcamp.com/album/howlin-anton-bleak-stranger-country
37. The Slow Pianos: In The Right Place (Featuring Petravita)
Written & Performed by Oliver Weikert & Brandon Landis
Taken from In The Right Place
https://slowpianos.bandcamp.com/ https://www.facebook.com/PetravitaMusic
https://petravita.bandcamp.com/
38. Greengage: I Wanna Be Near Trees
Written & Performed by David-Gwyn Jones
Taken from I Wanna Be Near Trees
GKXpGnlL4
39. Grownuplife: Don’t Look Back In Manga
Written & Performed by Charlie Baxter
https://www.facebook.com/charliebaxtermusic https://grownuplife.bandcamp.com/
40. Cut Throat Francis: I’m Not Ready
Written & Performed by Cut Throat Francis
Recorded at Stage 2 Studios, Bath & Released by ScreamLite Records SCLRFEP002
Taken from Ghosts (Extended Edition)
https://www.facebook.com/cutthroatfrancis
https://screamliterecords.bandcamp.com/album/cut-throat-francis-ghosts-extended-edition
41. Longcoats: October
Written by Ollie C Shape & Performed by Ollie C Shape, Arthur Foulstone, Norton Robey & Kane
Pollastrone
Recorded at Riverbank Studios, Chippenham & Released by Wise Monkey Music
Taken from October
https://www.facebook.com/longcoatsband https://longcoatsband.bandcamp.com/
42. The More You Know: Bridging The Gap (Featuring Sakura Mei-Sasaki Spice) EXCLUSIVE
Written & Performed by Chris Bowen, Claire Mitchell-Brown, Julio Da Mata, Jo Oliver & David
Richards. Additional Piano written & performed by Sakura Mei-Sasaki Spice
Recorded at University Of Gloucestershire Studios, Engineered, Mixed & Mastered by Tom Spice
https://www.facebook.com/tmykband
43. Around7: Breakthrough
Written & Performed by Around7
Produced at Strait Up Studios, Dundee
Taken from Breakthrough
https://www.facebook.com/Around7UK
44. Burning Memories: Ignition
Written by Annie Kelleher, Performed by Annie Kelleher, Hallam Crafer & Nick Holder
Recorded at Stage 2 Studios, Bath & Released by ScreamLite Records SCLRRCDS001
Taken from Ignition
https://screamliterecords.bandcamp.com/album/burning-memories-ignition
45. Typhoidmary: bobbi EXCLUSIVE
Written & Performed by Mary Lovatt
https://www.facebook.com/typhoidmaryuk https://typhoidmary.bandcamp.com/
46. Slow Down World: Promised Land
Written & Performed by June Stevenson, James Dishart, Twig Mayhew, Olly Peters & Woody
Woodson
Recorded at PMC, Plymouth
Taken from Promised Land
https://www.facebook.com/SlowDownWorld https://slowdownworld.bandcamp.com/
47. Zobb: Scrapheap Generation
Written & Performed by Jon Wisbey, Nick Hurley & Brice Herve
Recorded at L’Abri D’Argen, Bristol
Taken from Scrapheap Generation
https://www.facebook.com/zobb.punk
48. Clay Gods: Cabin Fever
Written by Gavin Jones, Performed by Gavin Jones, Tom Saunders, Charles Paxford & Max
Ganderton
Recorded at 340 Studios, Cheltenham & Released by ScreamLite Records SCLRRCDS004
Taken from Cabin Fever/Looking For Jerusalem
https://screamliterecords.bandcamp.com/album/clay-gods-cabin-fever-looking-for-jerusalem
49. All To No Avail: The Call
Written & Performed by All To No Avail
Taken from The Call
https://www.facebook.com/AllToNoAvailOfficial/
50. Bleak: Ebb & Flow
Written & Performed by Howlin’ Anton Bleak, Rachel Woodworth & Yvonne Okoduwa
Released by ScreamLite Records SCLRRA002
Taken from Dig Two Graves
https://www.facebook.com/BleakBlues https://screamliterecords.bandcamp.com/album/bleakdig-two-graves
51. George Royale & The Snowflake Band: That’s When The Tears Start Rolling Down
Written & Performed by George Royale & The Snowflake Band
52. Holding Tides: Paraffin
Written & Performed by Chris Bowen, Annie Kelleher, Hallam Crafer, Ben Dalton & Rob Blake
Recorded at Dockside Studios, Bristol & Released by ScreamLite Records SCLRREP001
Taken from Last Of The Small Town Heroes
https://screamliterecords.bandcamp.com/album/holding-tides-last-of-the-small-town-hereos
53. Das Speculoos: Crowdsurfer (grimALKin Mix)
Written & Performed by Das Speculoos
Taken from Crowdsurfer
https://dasspeculoos.bandcamp.com/
54. NFU: In The Details
Written & Performed by Jeremy Pitcoff, Dan De Filippo, Rob Masterson & Frank D’Agostino
Recorded at Suffolk Recording Studio, New York & Released by ScreamLite Records SCLRREP003
Taken from Treason
https://www.facebook.com/NYNFU https://screamliterecords.bandcamp.com/album/nfu-treason
55. Foxpalmer: Forever EXCLUSIVE
Written by Fern McNulty, Performed by Fern McNulty, Mat Dal Pos, Andy Payne & Pauline
https://www.facebook.com/foxpalmer.band
https://screamliterecords.bandcamp.com/album/foxpalmer-locked-in-memory
56. Darklight Horizon: Oxide EXCLUSIVE
Written & Performed by V. Celso, R.C. Paxford, J. Waterman & J. Twinning
https://www.facebook.com/DarklightHorizon
57. William Mawer: Take Me To A Time
Written by William Mawer, Performed by William Mawer, Jazzy Lily Heath, Ryan Nicklin, Ed
Livingstone & Dominic Watton
Recorded at University Of Gloucestershire Studios
Taken from Take Me To A Time
https://willmawer.bandcamp.com/
58. Joshua Kinghorn: Party Queen
Written & Performed by Joshua Kinghorn
Recorded at University Of Gloucestershire Studios & Released by ScreamLite Records SCLRFEP003
Taken from Bits & Pieces
https://screamliterecords.bandcamp.com/album/joshua-kinghorn-bits-pieces
59. Gypsy Pistoleros: Soho Daze, Just Another Friday Night
Written & Performed by Gypsy Pistoleros
Taken from The Mescalito Vampires
http://www.gypsypistoleros.com/ https://www.facebook.com/GPistoleros
60. Connor Begley: Comedown
Written & Performed by Connor Begley
Recorded at University Of Gloucestershire Studios
61. EllJay Goldstone: Putting On That Smile
Written & Performed by EllJay Goldstone
Recorded at University Of Gloucestershire Studios & Released by ScreamLite Records SCLRFEP001
Taken from Long Time Coming
https://screamliterecords.bandcamp.com/album/elljay-goldstone-long-time-coming
62. Chameleon: It’s Not Quite Me Now
Written & Performed by Chameleon
Recorded at Platform Studios, Reading
Taken from What Are We Waiting For?
https://www.facebook.com/bandchameleon https://bandchameleon.bandcamp.com/
63. Conal Kelly: In My Head
Written & Performed by Conal Kelly
Taken from In My Head
https://www.facebook.com/conalkellymusic
64. Spoons & Saucepans: Sing With Thanks
Written by Ceinwen E. Cariad Haydon & David Gwyn-Jones, Performed by Spoons & Saucepans
Taken from Sing With Thanks
65. Afterlite: Below The Lights (Reprise)
Written & Performed by Luke Beesley
Recorded at Ruby Studios, Bristol & Released by ScreamLite Records SCLRMA001
Taken from Eden Abandon
https://screamliterecords.bandcamp.com/album/afterlite-eden-ab
