Bay Area screamo band Jeromes Dream have released a new track, “The Seventeen Downtown,” as part of the upcoming The Dogs of Hope benefit compilation from Iodine Recordings, out August 1, 2025. The compilation supports the Randolph County Animal Shelter, a no-kill facility in Wedowee, Alabama. The shelter has operated without public funding, relying entirely on donations while helping thousands of animals since its founding.
Jeromes Dream originally formed in 1997, sharing a scene with bands like Orchid, Saetia, Reversal of Man, and pageninetynine. They disbanded in 2001 and reformed in 2018. Their 2023 album, The Gray In Between, marked a return with guitarist Sean Leary (Loma Prieta) and was recorded, mixed, and mastered by Jack Shirley (Deafheaven, Quicksand, Joyce Manor).
“The Seventeen Downtown” comes from the sessions for The Gray In Between, but didn’t make the final cut. Vocalist Jeffrey Smith explains, “While we loved the song, we felt it didn’t quite fit with the rest of the record and decided it would be best to release it as a single at a later date.” That opportunity came when Iodine’s Casey asked the band to contribute to the charity release: “We loved the idea of helping these amazing dogs and people while helping the song find its way out of the vault.”
Lyrically, the track continues in the thematic vein of The Gray In Between, focusing on isolation, anxiety, and the emotional consequences of disconnection. “This song sits squarely in that place in its examination of how destructive a breakdown in communication can be,” says Smith. “From the simplest interpersonal to the most complex societal relationships, at the end of the day people just want to be heard.”
He adds, “The next time you find yourself not being heard or even not listening to someone who needs to be heard, take a moment to collect yourself and try to allow the other person the grace they need to hear or be heard. Imagine the world we could live in if this happened regularly.”
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Iodine announced the compilation earlier this year, and we covered it back in May through a feature on the new Snapcase track.
The Dogs of Hope features 14 tracks—13 exclusive—including contributions from Deadguy, Killswitch Engage, Orange 9mm, Enforced, and two acoustic bookends by Walter Schreifels, covering Pink Floyd’s “Pigs on the Wing.” The Snapcase entry, a tight, no-frills cover of Zero Tolerance’s “Back To Square One,” channels their early urgency. “This band and this song are really important to Snapcase,” said vocalist Daryl Taberski. “Zero Tolerance are considered the forefathers of Buffalo hardcore and we wouldn’t exist as a band if it wasn’t for them.”
The compilation was mastered by Jack Shirley and features cover art by Jeremy Dean (Green Day, The Rolling Stones, The Bronx). Tom Bejgrowicz curated the project and has been volunteering at the Randolph County Animal Shelter since 2020. “This isn’t about changing the whole world. It’s about changing a world—one animal at a time,” he stated.
All net profits—including physical vinyl, digital downloads, merch, and dog sponsorships—go directly to the shelter. The physical editions ship starting August 8, with the orange/blue smash vinyl already sold out. Only full-album downloads are available; individual tracks aren’t sold separately.
For more on adopting, volunteering, or donating, contact [email protected].
