Three albums in, and shame could almost be considered “veterans” at this point on how many miles they’ve logged as stubborn road warriors alone since their 2018 breakthrough debut, Songs of Praise. The pandemic changed people and their ways, however, and in their case, a couple years of stillness has ushered in a new phase even though they’re still a band of brash, young South London punks. Less wired by angst-driven post-punk and the wave of UK artists that sprung up in tandem, the third studio effort from the band is driven by sonic and personal ambitions that redefine their neural pathways, strapping rockist introspections onto vocalist Charlie Steen’s own on deeper connection and the fallacies of this working world. Rowdy delight remains in shame’s arsenal, for sure, but the album is at once their most fine-combed and exploratory: bugged out psychedelia, sincerity brooding, warm companionship in bristled and busked ballads, and even tempered moments where they allow themselves space to let thoughts explode with their sound. These last few years have done a number on us all, and in shame’s case, they’ve come out of the other end standing on their own, together.

Highlights: “Six-Pack”, “Adderall”, “Orchid”

shame’s Food for Worms will be released February 24th on Dead Oceans.

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