Songs of Praise
Music for the weak. Comprised of vocalist Charlie Steen, guitarists Sean Coyle-Smith and Eddie Green, bassist Josh Finerty, and drummer Charlie Forbes, the London-based five-piece began as school boys. From the outset, Shame built the band up from a foundation of DIY ethos while citing Eddy Current Suppression Ring and The Fall among their biggest musical influences. Utilising both the grit and sincerity of that musical background, shame carved out a niche in the South London music scene and then barrelled fearlessly into the angular, thrashing post-punk that would go on to make up Songs of Praise, their Dead Oceans debut. From “Gold Hole,” a tongue-in-cheek take-down of rock narcissism, to lead single “Concrete” detailing the overwhelming moment of realising a relationship is doomed, to the frustrated “Tasteless” taking aim at the monotony of people droning through their day-to-day, Songs of Praise never pauses to catch its breath.
On their debut album, the UK rock group separates themselves from their peers, imbuing their post-adolescent rage with wit and, crucially, a self-effacing awareness that they may never succeed.
Shame's debut album 'Songs Of Praise' is loveably sarky and sordid work from the fantastic south London band.
Songs of Praise is the first essential album of 2018. And what an album it is.
From Brixton comes the pug-nosed quintet Shame, who find themselves on the shortlist of guitar bands you should actually give a shit about.
A vicious, sarcastic barrage, Shame's outstanding debut makes their claim to be Britain's best new band.
Post-punk is such a long-running style that its 21st century practitioners sometimes sound like they're going through the motions, but Shame's Songs of Praise is a reminder of just how vital it is at its best.
Appearing initially to ride the jagged crest of the filthy wave created by Fat White Family, South London's Shame have taken a clutch of influences as sonically and geographically disparate but similar in attitude as The Fall and The Jesus Lizard and crea
Shame have long since earned a reputation as one of the most exciting, visceral, feral live experiences in the country. The South London wrecking
South London band Shame are smart enough to not overthink something as instinctive and fun as your first album - 'Songs of Praise' is exactly that.
In a recent interview with The Guardian, Charlie Steen, frontman of the London punk outfit Shame, ponders over being caught in the tricky modern...