Wikipedia

Holy Roar Records

Holy Roar Records
FoundedJanuary 2006; 19 years ago (January 2006)
FounderAlex Fitzpatrick
Ellen Godwin
Defunct30 March 2021; 4 years ago (30 March 2021)
StatusDefunct
GenreHardcore punk, punk rock, extreme metal, experimental rock
Country of originUnited Kingdom
LocationLondon, England
Official websitewww.holyroarrecords.com

Holy Roar Records was an independent record label run by Alex Fitzpatrick. The label began in January 2006 and put out its first release, the Phoenix Bodies album, Raise the Bullshit Flag in June 2006.[1] Fitzpatrick originally joked that the name was derived from a vision he had while using the hallucinogen LSD.[2] According to Fitzpatrick, the name “Holy Roar” was derived from a Torche song with the same title.[3]

History

[edit]

Holy Roar Records was formed at the beginning of 2006, when Alex Fitzpatrick moved to London. After previously trialling “the communion” with friends in Birmingham during his university days, he and his girlfriend at the time, Ellen Godwin decided to start up a record label.[4] Utilising a loan, they released and promoted Rolo Tomassi (their first “proper” EP), Phoenix Bodies (a grind/punk crossover band) and a split between the bands, Kayo Dot and Bloody Panda.[citation needed] In 2007, Holy Roar Records released records by Gallows, Chronicles of Adam West (tech-metal) and Chariots (screamo). The label was still a hobby at this point, but Fitzpatrick decided to throw in his day job and take the label on as a priority.[citation needed]

Holy Roar Records curated a stage at Offset Festival (2014),[5] hosted a stage at Incubate Festival (2014),[6] partnered with Shock Records,[7] partnered with ArcTanGent Festival (2015) [8] and curated a stage at The Great Escape Festival in 2016.[9]

Holy Roar Records had over 150 releases and nominations by Metal Hammer Golden Gods Awards for “Best Independent Label”[10] and the AIM Independent Music Awards for "Best Small Label" in 2016.[11]

On 7 September 2020, two women accused Fitzpatrick of sexual assault and rape on social media. No legal action was, or has been, taken.[12][13] Consequently, bands such as Rolo Tomassi, Apologies, I Have None, Svalbard and Renounced made statements on Twitter that condemned Fitzpatrick's alleged actions,[14] and all of the Holy Roar's staff members left the label.[15] On 9 September 2020, Fitzpatrick released a statement denying the allegations, whilst announcing that he had resigned from Holy Roar "with immediate effect [...] to focus on clearing my name".[16] A few days after Holy Roar's closure, Sammy Urwin and Justine Jones of Employed to Serve, (who were signed to Holy Roar before moving to Spinefarm Records in 2019) set up Church Road Records in order to release several albums that were supposed to be released through the label, including Svalbard's When I Die, Will I Get Better?, Palm Reader's Sleepless and Respire's Black Line.[17][18][19][20] Holy Roar was officially dissolved on 30 March 2021.[21]

Other activities

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Since April 2015, Holy Roar Records has been producing podcasts[22] hosted by Mario John Gambardella featuring different guests and their perspectives on the UK music scene.

Since 2010, Holy Roar Records has been a member of Pink Mist, a London-based promoter and label collective alongside Big Scary Monsters and Blood & Biscuits. The idea behind this collective was to create an alliance whereby resources were pooled in order to promote their bands to a wider audience.[23] Their first release was a pink and white 12" vinyl limited to 300 copies and released in April 2011 on Record Store Day, "Hello Pink Mist".[24] It consisted of 12 exclusive tracks (4 from each label) in which Holy Roar Records contributed tracks from run, WALK!, Hang the Bastard, Grazes and Bastions. Later that year, Tangled Talk joined the collective[25] to complete the current line-up.

In 2012, they released a download-only free compilation "Hello Pink Mist Volume 2"[26] to coincide with the launch of their new website[27] and in this same year, they were nominated for the Association of Independent Music Awards for "Best Small Label".[28] In 2013, Pink Mist announced a pop-up shop in Boxpark,[29] East London where they sold records and had in-store sessions and in 2014 they collaborated with Relentless (drink) to set up another pop-up shop at No.5 Denmark Street[30] featuring live performances. Pink Mist was also listed in The Guardian's "The 10 British Record Labels Defining the Sound of 2014".[31]

In 2015, Holy Roar Records launched a new sister label, Truthseeker Music, headed up by Holy Roar intern Alex Leat.[32]

Artists

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References

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  1. ^ "Label Focus #9: Holy Roar Records". Drowned in Sound. Archived from the original on 10 January 2008. Retrieved 18 April 2016.
  2. ^ "Interview 015 - Holy Roar Records". This Is Fubar Productions. Retrieved 18 April 2016.
  3. ^ "Bearded Label Love: Holy Roar". Bearded Magazine. Retrieved 18 April 2016.
  4. ^ "Interview: Alex Fitzpatrick of Holy Roar Records". Punktastic. Retrieved 18 April 2016.
  5. ^ "Holy Roar Announce Stage at Offset". diymag. 14 July 2010. Retrieved 18 April 2016.
  6. ^ "Holy Roar to curate stage at Incubate". Holy Roar. Retrieved 18 April 2016.
  7. ^ "Holy Roar Records signs deal with Shock Records". Holy Roar. Retrieved 18 April 2016.
  8. ^ "Holy Roar to be official label partner to ArcTanGent festival". Holy Roar. Retrieved 18 April 2016.
  9. ^ "Holy Roar Alternative Escape". After Dark. Retrieved 18 April 2016.
  10. ^ "Metal Hammer Golden Gods Nominees". Planet Mosh. Retrieved 18 April 2016.
  11. ^ "AIM Awards 2016 Nominees Announced". Proper Distribution. Retrieved 6 February 2017.
  12. ^ Anon. (8 September 2020). "Rolo Tomassi "End Relationship" With Holy Roar Records After Label's Founder Is Accused Of Sexual Abuse". Kerrang!. Archived from the original on 31 January 2023. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
  13. ^ BrooklynVegan Staff (8 September 2020). "Holy Roar Records founder accused of rape, several bands respond". BrooklynVegan. Archived from the original on 14 May 2023. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
  14. ^ "Holy Roar Records employees quit following rape allegations against founder".
  15. ^ "Holy Roar Records Founder Accused of Rape, Multiple Bands + Entire Staff Quit Label". Loudwire.
  16. ^ Hatfield, Amanda (9 September 2020). "Holy Roar founder denies rape allegations & resigns; several bands cut ties with label". BrooklynVegan. Archived from the original on 30 January 2023. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
  17. ^ Anon. (18 September 2020). "Svalbard Will Still Be Releasing Their New Album, But On A New Record Label". Kerrang!. Archived from the original on 20 July 2023. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
  18. ^ therazorsedge (2 October 2020). "Palm Reader Sign to Church Road Records and Announce Live Stream". The Razor's Edge. Archived from the original on 16 January 2021. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
  19. ^ "Respire join the Church Road family with forthcoming album 'Black Line'". Idioteq. 8 October 2020. Archived from the original on 6 October 2022. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
  20. ^ Alexander, Phil (9 March 2021). "Employed To Serve's Justine Jones: "Putting spotlights on women in the industry is important"". Kerrang!. Archived from the original on 29 March 2023. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
  21. ^ "HOLY ROAR RECORDS LTD overview - Find and update company information - GOV.UK". find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
  22. ^ "Holy Roar Podcasts". Itunes. Archived from the original on 9 May 2016. Retrieved 18 April 2016.
  23. ^ "Label Profile: Pink Mist". diymag. 15 April 2011. Retrieved 18 April 2016.
  24. ^ "Hello Pink Mist". Banquet Records. Retrieved 18 April 2016.
  25. ^ "Tangled Talk Official". Tangled Talk. Retrieved 18 April 2016.
  26. ^ "Hello Pink Mist Volume 2". Punktastic. Retrieved 18 April 2016.
  27. ^ "Pink Mist". Pink Mist. Retrieved 18 April 2016.
  28. ^ "AIM Independent Music 2012 Nominees". Huffington Post. 27 September 2012. Retrieved 18 April 2016.
  29. ^ "Pink Mist Boxpark". Thrash Hits. Retrieved 18 April 2016.
  30. ^ "Relentless x Pink Mist". Culture Compass. Archived from the original on 26 April 2016. Retrieved 18 April 2016.
  31. ^ "10 Best Record Labels". The Guardian. 19 April 2014. Retrieved 18 April 2016.
  32. ^ "NEWS: Holy Roar Records launch sister label, Truthseeker Music!". DEAD PRESS! | Alternative music news, reviews, interviews and more!. Retrieved 11 December 2017.