Shame

Shame is a five-piece post-punk band based in London with an aggressive and loud sound that is closer in tone to a band like IDLES, as opposed to the more detached or pop-oriented branches off of the post-punk tree. They are relatively well restrained and do not go full throttle in every song. In fact, they have been expanding their range in terms of their dynamics, which is evident in their 2021 album Drunk Tank Pink. The singer Charlie Steen, who can normally pack a lot of passionate screams into a song, now has a lower gear, and the guitars tap into some Gang of Four inspired jangle, though with considerably more distortion, of course. The rhythm section is plenty reliable and they play more like an indie rock band, with an oomph but also with some subtlety (respecting the ghost notes). The songs are usually on the energetic side, but there are a few that work a cool swagger.