Type: Album
Label: Rise Records
Release Date: 19/03/12
“No Gods” may be the first official offering from Leamington Spa’s Sharks but the band has been around a lot longer than that might suggest. For the past few years the four piece have made appearances at all the big festivals, gained some respectable support slots and also toured the world as far as Japan. It’s odd then that it’s taken this long to get a debut out – but it’s finally arrived. The question is, has it been worth the wait?
For those who’ve been yearning for a band to emerge from these isles and rekindle the sort of working class spirit invoked by The Clash, Sharks may be the closest thing at the moment. They also bring influences from overseas reminiscent of The Boss (Bruce Springsteen), so it’s no surprise that they got to tour with The Gaslight Anthem. There are a couple of tunes here you can really identify as anthems in the making, such as “Til The Wonders Rise”, and their recent single “Arcane Effigies”. But aside from these, there isn’t much to get excited about, although frontman James Mattock evidently aspires to emulate the likes of Joe Strummer and the hallmark British punk vocals. Overall , though, the polished production makes it rather less punk rock and more ready-made music for the arenas. On a positive note, near the end of the record, we find a chirpy little number in the form of “What Entails?”, without doubt the standout track here.
Overall, it’s not terrible, but it certainly does not make for essential listening. If you’re looking for authentic punk, you are better off sticking to “London Calling” for the moment. These guys will certainly be about with the amount of festivals they are doing this summer but you have been warned!
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Album Rating: 5/10 |
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FFO: The Clash, Bruce Springsteen, U2 |
