Neat Records was a British

independent record label An independent record label (or indie label) is a record label that operates without the funding or distribution of major record labels; they are a type of small- to medium-sized enterprise, or SME. The labels and artists are often represented ...

based near

Newcastle Newcastle usually refers to: *Newcastle upon Tyne, a city and metropolitan borough in Tyne and Wear, England *Newcastle-under-Lyme, a town in Staffordshire, England *Newcastle, New South Wales, a metropolitan area in Australia, named after Newcastle ...

, England. The label was established in 1979 by David Wood, who was the owner of Impulse Studios in

Wallsend Wallsend is a town in North Tyneside, England, at the eastern end of Hadrian's Wall. It has a population of 43,842 and lies east of Newcastle upon Tyne. History Roman Wallsend In Roman times, this was the site of the fort of Segedunum. This fo ...

Tyne and Wear Tyne and Wear () is a metropolitan county in North East England, situated around the mouths of the rivers Tyne and Wear. It was created in 1974, by the Local Government Act 1972, along with five metropolitan boroughs of Gateshead, Newcastl ...

, England. A key figure in the establishment of the label was Steve Thompson. Thompson was house producer at Impulse at the time and helped set up Neat, became the A&R manager and produced all the initial recordings, as well as managing the publishing arm, Neat Music. The label was sold in 1995 to

Sanctuary Records Sanctuary Records Group Limited was a record label based in the United Kingdom and is as of 2013 a subsidiary of BMG Rights Management solely for reissues. Until June 2007, it was the largest independent record label in the UK and the largest m ...

. Neat Records was arguably the most instrumental label in the revival of heavy metal in the early 1980s in the UK. The movement was known as the

new wave of British heavy metal The new wave of British heavy metal (commonly abbreviated as NWOBHM) was a nationwide musical movement that started in England in the mid-1970s and achieved international attention by the early 1980s. Journalist Geoff Barton coined the term i ...

or NWOBHM for short. The label is most notable for the early releases of Newcastle band

Venom Venom or zootoxin is a type of toxin produced by an animal that is actively delivered through a wound by means of a bite, sting, or similar action. The toxin is delivered through a specially evolved ''venom apparatus'', such as fangs or a sti ...

who are widely credited with the invention of

black metal Black metal is an extreme metal, extreme subgenre of heavy metal music. Common traits include Tempo#Beats per minute, fast tempos, a Screaming (music)#Black metal, shrieking vocal style, heavily distorted Electric guitar, guitars played with t ...

. While none of Neat Records' acts really broke through to the mainstream themselves, Venom,

Raven A raven is any of several larger-bodied bird species of the genus ''Corvus''. These species do not form a single taxonomic group within the genus. There is no consistent distinction between "crows" and "ravens", common names which are assigned t ...

Blitzkrieg Blitzkrieg ( , ; from 'lightning' + 'war') is a word used to describe a surprise attack using a rapid, overwhelming force concentration that may consist of armored and motorized or mechanized infantry formations, together with close air su ...

and

Jaguar The jaguar (''Panthera onca'') is a large cat species and the only living member of the genus '' Panthera'' native to the Americas. With a body length of up to and a weight of up to , it is the largest cat species in the Americas and the th ...

particularly are acknowledged as major influences on a host of major American

thrash metal Thrash metal (or simply thrash) is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music characterized by its overall aggression and often fast tempo.Kahn-Harris, Keith, ''Extreme Metal: Music and Culture on the Edge'', pp. 2–3, 9. Oxford: Berg, 2007, . ...

bands such as

Metallica Metallica is an American heavy metal band. The band was formed in 1981 in Los Angeles by vocalist/guitarist James Hetfield and drummer Lars Ulrich, and has been based in San Francisco for most of its career. The band's fast tempos, instrume ...

Megadeth Megadeth is an American thrash metal band formed in Los Angeles in 1983 by vocalist/guitarist Dave Mustaine. Known for their technically complex guitar work and musicianship, Megadeth is one of the "big four" of American thrash metal along wit ...

and

Anthrax Anthrax is an infection caused by the bacterium ''Bacillus anthracis''. It can occur in four forms: skin, lungs, intestinal, and injection. Symptom onset occurs between one day and more than two months after the infection is contracted. The sk ...

. Metallica have covered Blitzkrieg's self-titled song "Blitzkrieg" and Metallica drummer

Lars Ulrich Lars Ulrich (; ; born 26 December 1963) is a Danish musician best known as the drummer and co-founder of American heavy metal band Metallica. The son and grandson respectively of tennis players Torben and Einer Ulrich, he played tennis in his ...

has claimed "

Whiplash Whiplash may refer to: * The long flexible part of a whip * Whiplash (medicine), a neck injury ** Whiplash Injury Protection System (WHIPS), in automobiles Film and television * ''Whiplash'' (1948 film), a US film noir about a boxer * ''Whiplas ...

" to be a deliberate attempt to emulate Jaguar's song "Stormchild" which was written by Jeff Cox. This was disclosed to interviewer Robin Askew from 'Venue' magazine during an interview with Lars Ulrich, and subsequently published in the magazine. Other notable acts to release music through Neat Records include

Warfare War is an intense armed conflict between states, governments, societies, or paramilitary groups such as mercenaries, insurgents, and militias. It is generally characterized by extreme violence, destruction, and mortality, using regular ...

White Spirit White spirit (AU, UK & Ireland)Primarily in the United Kingdom and Australia. In New Zealand "white spirit" can also refer to Coleman fuel (white gas). or mineral spirits (US, Canada), also known as mineral turpentine (AU/NZ), turpentine substitu ...

(notable as the then band of current

Iron Maiden Iron Maiden are an English heavy metal band formed in Leyton, East London, in 1975 by bassist and primary songwriter Steve Harris. While fluid in the early years of the band, the lineup for most of the band's history has consisted of Harri ...

guitarist

Janick Gers Janick Robert Gers (; born 27 January 1957) is an English musician who is best known as one of the three guitarists in heavy metal band Iron Maiden. He initially joined to replace Adrian Smith, but remained in the band after Smith rejoined. G ...

) and

Persian Risk Persian Risk are a Welsh heavy metal band from the new wave of British heavy metal era formed in 1979 and hailing from Cardiff, Wales. The brainchild of ex-Stoned Soul Party guitarist Phil Campbell, he recruited vocalist Jon Deverill, second ...

(notable as the original band of

Motörhead Motörhead () were an English rock band formed in London in 1975 by Lemmy (lead vocals, bass), Larry Wallis (guitar) and Lucas Fox (drums). Lemmy was also the primary songwriter and only constant member. The band are often considered a precu ...

guitarist Phil Campbell).

Discography

Singles * 01 Motorway - "All I Wanna Be Is Your Romeo" 7" (ST) * 02 Janie McKenzie - "One and Only Girl" 7" (ST) * 03

Tygers of Pan Tang Tygers of Pan Tang are an English heavy metal band who are part of the new wave of British heavy metal movement. They formed in 1978 in Whitley Bay, England, and were active until 1987. The band reformed in 1999 and continue to record and perf ...

- "Don't Touch Me There / Burnin' Up / Bad Times" 7" (ST) * 04

Fist A fist is the shape of a hand when the fingers are bent inward against the palm and held there tightly. To make or clench a fist is to fold the fingers tightly into the center of the palm and then to clamp the thumb over the middle phalanges; in ...

- "Name, Rank And Serial Number / You'll Never Get Me in One of Those" 7" (ST) * 05

- "Back to The Grind / Cheetah" 7" (KN) * 06

- "Don't Need Your Money / Wiped Out" 7" (ST) * 07 Aragorn - "Black Ice" 7" (KN) * 08

- "In League with Satan / Live Like an Angel, Die Like a Devil" 7" (ST) * 09 Bitches Sin - "Always Ready for Love / Sign of the Times" 7" (KN) * 10

- "Buried Alive / Blitzkrieg" 7" (KN) * 11 Raven - "Hard Ride / Crazy World" 7" (ST) * 12 Raw Deal - "Lonewolf / Take the Sky" 7" (KN) * 13 Venom - "Bloodlust / In Nomine Satanas" 7" (KN) * 14 Steel - "Rock Out / All Systems Go" 7" (KN) * 15 Raven - "Crash, Bang, Wallop / Rock Hard" 7" (KN) * 15-12 Raven - "Crash, Bang, Wallop" 12" (4 track EP)(KN) * 16

- "Axe Crazy / War Machine" 7" (KN) * 17 Heavy Pettin' - "Roll the Dice / Love Times Love" 7" (KN) * 18

Dedringer Dedringer were an English hard rock band associated with the new wave of British heavy metal. They were formed in 1977 in Leeds, West Yorkshire, and released two albums (through Dindisc and Neat Records respectively) before finally quitting in ...

- "Hot Lady / Hot Licks And Rock 'n' Roll" 7" (KN) * 19 Crucifixion - "Take It or Leave It / On the Run" 7" (KN) * 20 Warrior - "Dead When It Comes to Love / Kansas City / Stab in the Back" 7" (KN) * 21 Fist - "The Wanderer / Too Hot" 7" (KN) * 22 Valhalla - "Comin' Home" 7" (KN) * 23 Sabre - "Miracle Man / On the Loose" 7" (KN) * 24

- "Ridin' High / Hurt You" 7" (KN) * 25-12 Various - ''One Take No Dubs'' 12" (4 track EP,

Black Rose Black Rose or Black Roses may refer to: Books * Black Rose (.hack), a fictional character from the .hack media franchise * Black Rose (magazine), ''Black Rose'' (magazine), an anarchist magazine published in Boston during the 1970s and 1980s * Bla ...

, Hellanbach, Alien,

Avenger Avenger, Avengers, The Avenger, or The Avengers may refer to: Arts and entertainment In the Marvel Comics universe * Avengers (comics), a team of superheroes ** Avengers (Marvel Cinematic Universe), a central team of protagonist superheroes o ...

) (KN) * 26 Jess Cox - "Bridges" 7" (KN) * 27 Venom - "Die Hard / Acid Queen" 7" (KN) * 27-12 Venom - "Die Hard / Acid Queen / Bursting Out" 12" (KN) * 28 Raven - "Break the Chain / Ballad of Marshall Stack" 7" (KN) * 29 Raven - "

Born to Be Wild "Born to Be Wild" is a song written by Mars Bonfire and first performed by the band Steppenwolf. The song is often invoked in both popular and counter culture to denote a biker appearance or attitude. It is most notably featured in the 1969 fi ...

/ Inquisitor" 7" (KN) * 29P Raven - "Born to Be Wild / Inquisitor" 7" (KN) * 29-12 Raven - "Born to Be Wild / Inquisitor / Break the Chain" 12" (KN) * 30 Saracen - "We Have Arrived / Face in the Crowd" 7" (KN) * 31

- "Too Wild to Tame / On the Rocks" 7" (KN) * 32 Tobruk - "Wild on the Run / The Show Must Go On" 7" (KN) * 33 Tysondog - "Eat the Rich / Dead Meat" 7" (KN) * 34 Emerson - "Something Special" 7" (KN) * 35 Jess Cox - "One in a Million" 7" (KN) * 36 Valhalla - "Still in Love with You" 7" (KN) * 37 Crucifixion - "Green Eyes / Moon Rising / Jailbait" 7" (KN) * 37-12 Crucifixion - "Green Eyes / Moon Rising / Jailbait" 12" (KN) * 38 Venom - "Warhead / Lady Lust" 7" (With 3 different sleeves)(KN) * 38P Venom - "Warhead / Lady Lust" 7" (Mauve vinyl)(KN) * 38-12 Venom - "Warhead / Lady Lust / 7 Gates of Hell" 7" (KN) * 38P-12 Venom - "Warhead / Lady Lust / 7 Gates of Hell" 12" (KN) * 39 TNT - "Back on the Road / Rockin' the Night" 7" (KN) * 40 Glasgow - "Stranded / Heat of the Night" 7" (KN) * 41 Warfare - "Noise, Filth and Fury" 7" (KN) * 42 Mammath - "Rock Me / Rough 'n' Ready" 7" (KN) * 43 Venom - "Manitou / Woman" 7" (KN) * 43P Venom - "Manitou / Woman" 7" (KN) * 43-12 Venom - "Manitou / Woman / Dead of the Night" 12" (KN) * SHAPE 43 Venom - "Manitou / Woman" 7" (KN) * 43SC Venom - "Manitou" Cassette Single (KN) * 44-12* Lone Wolf - "Nobody's Move / Town to Town / Leave Me Behind" 12" (KN) * 45-12* Warfare - "Two Tribes / Hell / Blown to Bits" 12" (KN) * 46 Tysondog - "Shoot to Kill / Hammerhead" 7" (KN) * 46-12 Tysondog - "Shoot to Kill / Hammerhead / Changling / Back to the Bullet! 12" (KN) * 47 Venom - "Nightmare / Satanachist" 7" (KN) * 47S Venom - "Nightmare / Satanachist" 7" (KN) * 47-12 Venom - "Nightmare / Satanachist / FOAD / Warhead (live)" 12" (2 different sleeves)(KN) * 47-12SP Venom - "Nightmare / Satanachist / FOAD / Warhead (live)" 12" (KN) * 47SC Venom - "Nightmare" Cassette Single (6 track cassette)(KN) * 48-12 Black Rose - "Nightmare / Need a Lot of Lovin' / Rock Me Hard / Breakaway" 12" (KN) * 49-12 Warfare - ''Total Death'' EP 12" (4 track EP)(KN) * 50 She - "Never Surrender / Breaking Away" 7" (KN) * 50-12 She - "Never Surrender / Breaking Away / On My Way" 12" (KN) * 52 State Trooper - "She Got the Look" 7" (KN) * 52-12 State Trooper - "She Got the Look" 12" (KN) * 53-12 Venom - ''Hell At Hammersmith'' EP 12" (3 track live EP, limited to 10,000)(KN) * 55-12

Atomkraft Atomkraft are an English speed metal band from Newcastle, who were part of the new wave of British heavy metal movement. They formed in 1979, disbanded in 1988, and reformed in 2005. Their "Total Metal" approach draws inspiration from fellow ...

- "Queen of Death" 12" (KN) * 56 Tysondog - " School's Out / Don't Let the Bastards Grind You Down" 7" (KN) * 56-12 Tysondog - School's Out / Don't Let The Bastards Grind You Down /Back to the Bullet 12" (KN) * 57 Shotgun Brides - "Restless" 7" (KN) * 58 Warfare - "Addicted to Love" 7" (KN) (White label only never released) * 60-12

Mantas Mantas is a Lithuanian given name. Mantas is also a surname found in several European countries including Portugal, Spain, Greece, Germany, and others. The exact connection between the different regions of occurrence is presently unknown, although ...

- "Deceiver" 12" (KN) * 63 Carl & the Passion - "Everybody Walks Too Fast/How Do You Get Home" 7" * ISAX1047 Axis - "Lady" 7" (released on Metal Minded label) (KN) * MM2 Badge - "Silver Woman" 7" (released on Metal Minded label) Albums * 1000 Various - ''Lead Weight'' LP (KN) * 1001

- ''

Rock Until You Drop ''Rock Until You Drop'' is the first full-length album by British heavy metal band Raven, released in 1981. The album was the first of many heavy metal studio albums issued by British independent label Neat Records. It reached position No. 6 ...

'' LP * 1001P Raven - ''Rock Until You Drop'' LP * 1002 Venom - ''

Welcome To Hell ''Welcome to Hell'' is the debut studio album by English extreme metal band Venom. It was released in December 1981, through Neat Records, at the culmination of the new wave of British heavy metal movement. The album was re-released by Sanctua ...

'' LP (KN) * 1002P Venom - ''Welcome To Hell'' LP (KN) * 1003

- ''Back with a Vengeance'' LP (KN) * 1004 Raven - '' Wiped Out'' LP (KN) * 1005 Venom - ''

Black Metal Black metal is an extreme metal, extreme subgenre of heavy metal music. Common traits include Tempo#Beats per minute, fast tempos, a Screaming (music)#Black metal, shrieking vocal style, heavily distorted Electric guitar, guitars played with t ...

'' LP (KN) * 1005P Venom - ''Black Metal'' LP (KN) * 1006 Hellanbach - ''Now Hear This'' LP (KN) * 1007 Jaguar - ''Power Games'' LP (KN) * 1008

Geordie Geordie () is a nickname for a person from the Tyneside area of North East England, and the dialect used by its inhabitants, also known in linguistics as Tyneside English or Newcastle English. There are different definitions of what constitut ...

- ''No Sweat'' LP (KN) * 1009

- ''Second Rising'' LP (KN) * 1010 Jess Cox - ''Third Step'' LP (KN) * 1011 Raven - '' All for One'' LP * 1012

Satan Satan,, ; grc, ὁ σατανᾶς or , ; ar, شيطانالخَنَّاس , also known as Devil in Christianity, the Devil, and sometimes also called Lucifer in Christianity, is an non-physical entity, entity in the Abrahamic religions ...

- ''Court in the Act'' LP (KN) * 1013

Cloven Hoof A cloven hoof, cleft hoof, divided hoof or split hoof is a hoof split into two toes. This is found on members of the mammalian order Artiodactyla. Examples of mammals that possess this type of hoof are cattle, deer, pigs, antelopes, gazelles ...

- ''

'' LP (KN) * 1014 Various - ''Metal Battle'' LP (KN) * 1015 Venom - ''

At War with Satan ''At War with Satan'' is the third album by the British Heavy metal music, heavy metal band Venom (band), Venom, released in April 1984. It is a concept album that tells the story of a war between Heaven (Christianity), Heaven and Christian views ...

'' LP (KN) * 1015P Venom - ''At War with Satan'' LP (KN) * 1016 Saracen - ''Change of Heart'' LP (KN) * 1017 Tysondog - ''Beware of the Dog'' LP (KN) * 1018

- ''

Blood Sports A blood sport or bloodsport is a category of sport or entertainment that involves bloodshed. Common examples of the former include combat sports such as cockfighting and dog fighting, and some forms of hunting and fishing. Activities charact ...

'' LP (KN) * 1019 Hellanbach - ''The Big H'' LP (KN) * 1020 Raven - '' Live at the Inferno'' LP * 1021 Warfare - ''Pure Filth'' LP (KN) * 1022 Phasslayne - ''Cut It Up'' LP (KN) * 1023

- '' A Time of Changes'' LP (KN) * 1024 Venom - ''

Possessed Possessed may refer to: Possession * Possession (disambiguation), having some degree of control over something else ** Spirit possession, whereby gods, demons, animas, or other disincarnate entities may temporarily take control of a human body *** ...

'' LP (KN) * 1024P Venom - ''Possessed'' LP (KN) * 1025 Axewitch - ''Visions of the Past'' LP (KN) * 1026 Avenger - '' Killer Elite'' LP (KN) * 1027

Wishbone Ash Wishbone Ash are a British rock band who achieved success in the early and mid-1970s. Their popular albums included ''Wishbone Ash'' (1970), ''Pilgrimage'' (1971), '' Argus'' (1972), ''Wishbone Four'' (1973), ''There's the Rub'' (1974), and '' ...

- '' Raw to the Bone'' LP * 1027P Wishbone Ash - ''Raw to the Bone'' LP * 1028

- ''Future Warriors'' LP (KN) * 1029 Warfare - ''Metal Anarchy'' LP (KN) * 1030 Artillery - ''Fear of Tomorrow'' LP * 1031 Tysondog - ''Crimes of Insanity'' LP (KN) * 1032 Venom - '' Eine Kleine Nachtmusik'' LP (KN) * 1033 Various - ''Powertrax'' LP (KN) * 1034

- ''Walk It How You Talk It'' LP (KN) * 1035 Deaf Dealer - ''Keeper of the Flame'' LP (KN) * 1036 War Machine - ''Unknown Soldier'' LP (KN) * 1037

- ''First Kill'' LP (KN) * 1038 Artillery - ''Terror Squad'' LP * 1039 Peer Gunt - ''Back Seat'' LP * 1040 Warfare - ''Mayhem, Fuckin' Mayhem'' LP (KN) * 1041 Atomkraft - ''Conductors of Noise'' LP (KN) * 1042

- ''Winds of Change'' LP (KN) * 1043 Slutt - ''Model Youth'' LP * 1044 Warfare - ''Conflict of Hatred'' LP (KN) * 1045 Shotgun Brides - ''Nothin' Ventured'' LP (KN) * 1046 Artillery - ''Artillery 3'' LP * 1047 Decimator - ''Carnage City State Mosh Patrol'' LP (KN) * 1048 Cronos - ''Dancing in the Fire'' LP (KN) * 1049 Cockney Rejects - ''Lethal'' LP * D1051 Cronos - ''Rock 'n' Roll Disease'' CD (KN) * D1052 Decimator - ''Dirty, Hot and Hungry'' CD (KN)

Compilations

There have been a number of complications released which feature tracks exclusively from the Neat Records catalogue. * ''The Neat Singles Collection Vol. 1'' * ''The Neat Singles Collection Vol. 2'' * ''The Neat Singles Collection Vol. 3'' * ''The Flame Burns On: The Best of Neat Records''

References

{{Authority control British independent record labels Heavy metal record labels Record labels established in 1979 Black metal record labels

Discography

Compilations

See also

References