The UK band’s Rise Records debut album, No Gods, will be released on March 20th. Produced by Brian McTernan (The Explosion, Hot Water Music, Cave In), No Gods swims between the rules and regulations of the iconoclastic chaos of punk rock and British indie music. Over the course of eleven infectious anthems, Sharks sharpen timeless melodies with an explosive edge tempered by intricate riffing and hypnotic harmonies. It’s pure. It’s poetic. And it’s powerful.
Born in 2007, Sharks is James Mattock (vocals), Andrew J. Bayliss (guitar), Sam Lister (drums), and Tony Corrales (bass). They released their first independent EP, Shallow Waters, in 2008 and drummed up a serious buzz while playing with the likes of Gallows, The Wedding Present, and Babyshambles. Barely old enough to drive, the group garnered critical acclaim from tastemakers such as KERRANG!, The Guardian, and NME for 2010’s Show of Hands EP and incendiary performances supporting The Gaslight Anthem in the UK. In April 2011, they released The Joys of Living 2008-2010, a 14 song collection of previously released tracks and two band new ones that garnered them instant acclaim. Zane Lowe praised the collection as “the sound of a band reaching that moment when they are absolutely ready,” while Kerrang called them “one of the best bands around.”
Unlike many of their UK predecessors the band has toured extensively in the United States, often living in their van. In the United States they have toured with Social Distortion and just this past year played the entire Vans Warped Tour and Fall Alternative Press Tour. They are currently featured in the “Most Anticipated Music of 2012” issue of Alternative Press. The magazine said their music “bristles with a wonderful sense of rock ‘n’ roll heritage that serves as a tribute to fallen heroes such as the Clash while simultaneously molding those influences into something refreshing and contemporary.”
See them for yourself.
SHARKS 2012 TOUR DATES
JANUARY
27th Las Vegas, NV The Joint @ the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
28th Flagstaff, AZ Orpheum Theater
31st Albuquerque, NM Sunshine Theatre
FEBRUARY
1st Tucson, AZ Rialto Theatre
3rd Tempe, AZ The Marquee – SOLD OUT
4th Tempe, AZ The Marquee
5th San Luis Obispo, CA SLO Brewing Company *
6th Reno, NV Knitting Factory Concert House
7th Reno, NV Knitting Factory Concert House
9th Santa Cruz, CA Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium
10th Oakland, CA Fox Theater – SOLD OUT
11th Oakland, CA Fox Theater
13th Chico, CA Senator Theatre
14th Modesto, CA Modesto Centre Plaza
15th Los Angeles, CA Nomad Gallery*
16th Ventura, CA Majestic Ventura Theatre – SOLD OUT
17th Pomona, CA Fox Theater Pomona – SOLD OUT
18th Pomona, CA Fox Theater Pomona – SOLD OUT
*not part of Social Distortion tour
The Rock Tribune 