The intro of ‘National Hero’ lulls you into a false sense of security as a Stone Roses-esque, chorus-laden riff occupies the first few bars. Stick clicks throw you headfirst into a staccato guitar blast, not unlike The Libertines. This gives way to Mark E. Smith’s vocals. It’s like the entire ‘80s, ‘90s, and 2000s indie scene compressed into 30 seconds. Behind it all is the looming influence of Fontaines DC.
Talkative post-punk is a saturated marketplace at the moment, but luckily Televised Mind has the one thing that can make them stand out: ideas and lyrics.
The production is basic, but it works, and the vocals sound excellent, as though they’ve been recorded on overdriven tape.
The main takeaway from the track is that this is a band with a lot to give. If they can break away from trends and find their own footing, there’s no doubt they will be excellent.
It’s a strong single that sends you directly to Google to search for gigs and their next release.
You can listen to the track now on all major streaming platforms.
