Here’s something a little different yet with a New Wave of British Heavy Metal connection being set back in 1984 and the long and bitter miners’ strike here in the UK at that time.
It is the soundtrack to the film of the same name, the plot of which, if I can quote from the promotional material to set the scene:
Amidst the Miners strike of 1984, a struggling rock band finds itself in the duplicitous clutches of a rogue satanic music producer. A Nostalgic story of the hopes and dreams of a rock band in 1984.
The Miner’s Son depicts how a year of industrial action and violent unrest changed the face of a small tight knit community and their way of life forever. A bitterness that is still very much felt today.
This resonates doubly for me – not only the NWOBHM connection but also the strike. At the time it all happened I was a mere young whipper-snapper living in South Yorkshire just half a mile form the scene of one of the biggest flashpoints of the strike – and that was Orgreave.
I saw what happened first hand. The coal industry was destroyed, communities decimated and families divided – indeed some four decades later feelings run deep and bygones not forgotten.
The film and soundtrack both produced by Ettecon Productions. Co-producer and co-writer Kevin Short contacted me and kindly sent me a CD to review. Kevin was there through the strike being the son of a miner – and on top of that he plays some fine guitar.
Musically it is a diverse listen which captures the music scene of the early 1980s to fit the film story very well. The NWOBHM-tinged rockers and the punky new wave songs took me straight back to 1984 and the strike days supporting my collier friends who were on strike for so long.
The Just a Miner’s Son I think is an ideal opener. A galloping NWOBHM-style punch and a thumping start Have a look at the video:
American Freeway goes 1980s style hardish melodic arena rock with the flowing riff and infectious hook. Great driving music…..
Then things go about turn somewhat with Dumb Little Country Boy and we go all C&W. Working Man is next (no, not that one…..) and is compellingly weird. I mean that nicely……!
Them Against Us is fast, furious and angst-ridden – indeed as it should be given the subject matter. A new wave, punky style salvo something like Motorhead crossed with Sham 69.
The Dream, Mr Hotshot and Long Gone provide a trio of good old honest classic rock with free-flowing riffs and melodies before Ain’t No Lie throws in something similar to Them Against Us.
The Void a classy rocker then The Walkabout a short instrumental The CD and digital versions have a bonus track – Barista Baby – a fun, upbeat track which doesn’t take itself too seriously.
An excellent listen overall and particularly struck a chord (no pun intended…..) with me given the miners’ strike and NWOBHM period theme.
The Miner’s Son soundtrack available from Roulette Records and Amazon in various formats:
https://rouletterecords.co.uk/artist/the-miners-son
https://amzn.to/4a7kn6n
At time of posting (24 March 2024) I believe the film is due for release in the near future. I’ll be giving that a watch when available. Check out the production company’s site for more on that and them:
https://www.ettecon.com
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