Hell Is for Heroes
The Neon Handshake (2003)
Hell Is for Heroes are an English post-hardcore band from London. Founder members Will McGonagle and Joe Birch (previously of Symposium) were joined by James Findlay, Tom O’Donoghue and later Justin Schlosberg. The band played their formative shows in West London throughout 2001.
After two independently released singles, Hell Is for Heroes released their debut album in February 2003 on EMI. The Neon Handshake was produced and recorded in Los Angeles at Sound City Studios and mixed in Umeå, Sweden at Tonteknik by Pelle Henricsson and Eskil Lövström. The band’s A&R was managed by Duncan Illing. The band and their A&R left EMI in 2004. The band released its second album Transmit Disrupt independently, before signing a deal with Burning Heart Records, who subsequently re-released it in 2006. Their final self-titled album was released through Golf Records in 2007.
Their debut album was voted the 58th best British rock album ever, by the readers of Kerrang! magazine in the 19 February 2005 issue.In October 2008, the band announced its indefinite hiatus.
On 26 June 2012, it was announced that they are reforming to play three shows alongside Hundred Reasons and Cable in November.
In 2018 the band toured the U.K. as part of The Neon Handshake’s 15th anniversary, and once again announced their return to touring in 2021.