warning
flammable hooks ahead
Hot Work Permit formed in London in January 2025 when four musicians from rock, blues, and metal backgrounds collided to spark something fresh, loud, and unapologetically bold.
Fronted by Mark Blackmore — the band was born out of a long-held mission: to finally bring decades of songwriting to life with no filters, no safety nets, and no patience for musical mediocrity.
With a raw, hook-driven sound, a streak of defiance, and a live energy that leaves scorch marks, HOT WORK PERMIT isn’t here to blend in.
They’re here to burn it down and build something real.
releases.
New Single - Go Sign - Out July 24th
London-based rock band Hot Work Permit make a bold entrance with their debut single “Go Sign”, out 24 July 2025 on all major streaming platforms.
A hypnotic blend of funk grooves, blues-rock swagger, and glam-infused attitude, Go Sign draws on influences from Neil Young’s Zuma era, the fuzzed-out energy of Dinosaur Jr, and classic vocal stylings in the vein of Paul Rodgers. It’s a slow-burn groove that builds into a cathartic, falsetto-fuelled chorus, tackling themes of jealousy, obsession, and the murky territory between the two.
The track was recorded with legendary engineer Phill Brown, known for his work with artists like Talk Talk, Led Zeppelin, and Bob Marley — bringing both vintage warmth and raw immediacy to the band’s dynamic sound.
Lead vocalist and guitarist Mark Blackmore recalls the origins of the track:
“I had the bassline which I’d come up with a while ago. I played it to the band and they said, ‘Yeah, that sounds cool,’ and so I developed the song from there.”
Formed in 2025, Hot Work Permit are a genre-defying four-piece with roots in classic bluesy rock, big choruses, and the contradictions of modern life. Go Sign captures the essence of their live energy with a sound that feels both familiar and fiercely original.
"Go Sign" drops 24 July 2025.
New Single - That Sound - Out September 18th
London rock band HOT WORK PERMIT unleash their second single “That Sound” - a soulful, hard-edged track that pays tribute to the timeless spirit of rock ’n’ roll and the songs that still make hearts race.
Recorded at Salvation Studios with legendary producer Phill Brown (Bob Marley, Talk Talk, Led Zeppelin), That Sound captures the band’s mission in full force: to revive the fire of classic rock with modern bite and zero polish.
“It’s about chasing the feeling that first made you love music - that gut-level rush when you hear something real,” says frontman Mark Blackmore. “We’re not reinventing the wheel; we’re reminding people why it turned in the first place.”
From its blues-soaked verses to its anthemic chorus, That Sound blends swaggering riffs, soulful hooks, and a lyric that salutes the “soul survivors” - those still searching for truth in an overproduced world.
OUT NOW on all streaming platforms.
sign up to the newsletter.
sign up to the newsletter so you don't miss anything.
spotify playlist.
follow us.
2025 ©Black Mark Recordings. all rights reserved.