Raw, outspoken, powerful - shame comes to Budapest with new album
One of the most energetic British bands of our time, shame, a band of five twenty-something lads, are tearing up the house every time, and their latest album Cutthroat promises to be even stronger than ever. Shame last headlined Reflektor Festival and now they're making waves with their new material at A38 Ship on 30 October.
Shame are a band of five childhood friends Charlie Steen, Sean Coyle-Smith, Eddie Green, Josh Finerty and Charlie Forbes. The group dropped their debut album in 2018 and shame's reputation has grown exponentially since then, as has their sonic ambition, technical vision and ability to make it all happen. With legendary live performances and three critically acclaimed albums under their belt, the band is now ready to put it all on a new footing with their new material Cutthroat, due out on 5 September. Cutthroat is raw, unapologetic, like the person who shows up uninvited to the party. Cutthroat is shame at its best.
"It's about the cowards, the cunts, the hypocrites," says singer Charlie Steen. Key to this explosive new approach was Grammy-winning producer John Congleton. Congleton was not subtle from the start, and his approach became a guiding force in streamlining the band's ideas. "It's about who we are," says Steen. "Our concerts are not artistic performances, they are direct, confrontational and raw. It's always been our roots. We live in crazy times. But it's not about poor me. It's about fuck you." Cutthroat is the first single and the album's title track, which carries this idea through and is probably the best song shame have ever recorded. It's a ball of barely restrained attitude with three minutes of danceable indie hedonism. At the same time, it masterfully foreshadows the lyrical world of the album: where brash arrogance and deep insecurity are two sides of the same coin. Musically, the album plays with visceral new ideas, with space for electronic music loops Coyle-Smith made for fun while touring.
Shame are on explosive form, and after their performances at Sziget and Reflektor Festivals, it's now their turn to break out the pogo stick at the A38 Ship and let all the tension out, screaming with the band, on 30 October. Tickets for the show will be available first to members of shame's official fan club on 4 June from 11am, while general ticket sales will start on sale on 6 June at 10am at www.livenation.hu and www.funcode.hu.