Review Summary: Dance yourself mean.
Just before the pandemic hit everyone right in the nose and mouth, Shame stood alongside fellow artists Fontaines D.C., IDLES and Squid among others to pillar what would be a fascinating new era in the UK’s long post-punk lineage. Despite the rapid growth of the scene and the many nuances that came with it, the South London quintet remained steadfast in their delivery of the chaotic, abrasive rhythms they were known for since their 2018 debut. Now they have returned once again to unleash their latest effort,
Cutthroat, an album that puts the disco back into discordance.
Food For Worms saw the band make an interesting course correction, putting a greater emphasis on slower, more methodical songwriting with a slight vulnerability not seen in the band’s previous releases. The result, though divisive to some, ultimately proved an admirably ambitious and refreshing pivot. However, this new sound had little time to settle in as the band made yet another sharp left with their fourth LP, taking their experimentation to a new level with more dance-oriented rhythms, tighter production and a complete lack of…well…shame.
The opening title track throws everything right onto the dance floor with the heavy, guitar-driven beat pushing along the fun sing-along chorus. Past the upbeat veneer of many of the songs, the lyrics explore themes of cowardice and iniquity, not from a point of condemnation but rather to vignette amusingly flawed characters. True to Shame’s cynical nature, the chorus of “Cutthroat” comes off less like a standard party anthem and more like a resignation to the absurd, inviting you to dance with them and the other carnies of life’s circus. “And why not?”
The song styles are varied and diverse, ranging from post-punk (“Nothing Better”) to indie-rock (“Plaster”) to dance music (“After Party”). John Congleton’s production lends itself to the album’s more left field tracks like “Lampião” effectively, however the more polished sound doesn’t always seem to contrast well with Charlie Steen’s usual half-spoken vocal style during the heavier sections. Despite this,
Cutthroat contains several notable bright spots, like the undeniably catchy “Spartak,” intensely heart racing “Screwdriver” and the scathing synth-pop closer “Axis of Evil.”
As with their previous album,
Cutthroat was an attempt at something different. Whereas
Food For Worms showed the band could be serious and subdued, their newest album shows they can be even more brash and carefree in a whole new way. If you can look past its somewhat unfocused nature, there’s a lot of fun to be had here and it won’t be long before you too are gyrating wildly with the band on your second or third listen.
Despite the artistic directions many of their contemporaries have taken since before the pandemic, Shame remain true to their identity even in times of experimentation. As to where they go from here it’s hard to say, but given the nature of their last two albums, it seems like anything is possible.
Recommended Tracks:
Plaster
Spartak
Lampião
Screwdriver
Axis of Evil
