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SHARKS photographed by Tom Barnes

SHARKS



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Hometown: Royal Leamington Spa (UK)

About:

Sharks are an English punk rock band from Leamington Spa, near Birmingham, consisting of James Mattock (lead vocals and guitar), Andrew Bayliss (guitar), Sam Lister (drums), and Tony Corrales (bass).

Sharks formed in 2007. Their name is derived from a song by Gallows, 'In the Belly of a Shark'. In 2008 Sharks released a five track EP, Shallow Waters, and subsequently played with Gallows, The Ghost of a Thousand, Fucked Up, Baby Shambles, The King Blues, Girls, Crime in Stereo, and Lostprophets. They supported The Gaslight Anthem during their 2010 UK and European tours.

Shark's musical influences have been described as ranging from "The Buzzcocks, The Clash, Nick Cave, Joy Division, Husker Du, [to] Black Flag", while Dan Martin claims that "the Sharks strain of punk is imbued with a blue-collar longing straight out of Shitsville USA". As James Mattock, Sharks' lead singer explains, "I got into [punk] from digging up old records. It was more of an American thing that I discovered from bands like Green Day and Rancid. Then I dug deeper and found their influences and I got my head around the history of the big punk family tree". Mattock also states that he was heavily influenced by his parents' CD collection. Lyrically, Mattock credits Charles Bukowski's poetry with having "quite a big influence" on his writing. Sharks nevertheless say that they "believe in an uncompromised art to be embraced by any one who wants to listen. We don't seem to fit too comfortably in any particular music scene anyway, and we'll continue take it as a compliment and to be our own".


Reviews

SHARKS No Gods

SHARKS

No Gods (2012)

Rise

SHARKS The Joys of Living 2008-2010

SHARKS

The Joys of Living 2008-2010 (2011)

Rise

SHARKS Show of Hands

SHARKS

Show of Hands (2010)

Best Before

SHARKS Shallow Waters

SHARKS

Shallow Waters (2009)

self-released

Current Releases

SharksSelfhood

Sharks

Selfhood

April 30, 2013

Media: Sharks: 'Selfhood'
Rocksound is streaming Selfhood, the new album from Sharks, a week in advance of its release on April 30, 2013. It's a quick turnaround…
April 22, 2013
Media: Sharks: "Sunday's Hand"
Sharks have launched a stream of the second single from their new album Selfhood due out April 30, 2013 via Rise. It'll be the second album in as many years for the UK-based punks, who…
April 10, 2013
Media: Sharks: "Portland"
Sharks have launched a stream of "Portland," the first single from their new album Selfhood due out April 30, 2013 via Rise. It'll be the second album in as many years for the UK-based…
March 08, 2013
Media: Sharks announce 'Selfhood'
Sharks will be releasing their next album, Selfhood, on April 30, 2013 via Rise Records. It is the follow-up to No Gods which was released in 2012.…
March 06, 2013
Tours: Sharks (UK)
Sharks have announced the dates for their upcoming headlining tour of the UK. London's Bleach Blood will be joining the group on the road. Sharks last released No Gods …
February 15, 2013
Tours: Sharks hit the studio to record new LP
Birmingham, UK-area punks Sharks have begun recording their second full-length, according to a recent update: Dear adoring and loving Sharks fans, we're very excited to say that…
November 23, 2012
Tours: The Used / We Came As Romans / Crown The Empire / Mindflow (Take Action! Tour 2013)
Hopeless Records/Subcity Records has announced the full schedule and lineup for the 2013 edition of the annual Take Action! Tour. First launched back in 2011 with Cave In,…
November 12, 2012
Videos: Sharks: "Luck"
UK band Sharks have released a video for their song "Luck," the final single off of their latest album, No Gods , released earlier this year. You can click Read More for the…
October 18, 2012
Videos: Sharks: "Patient Spider"
Sharks have unveiled a new video for their song "Patient Spider." The song originally appears on their 2012 album No Gods . You can click Read More for the…
June 18, 2012
Tours: Pennywise / The Menzingers / Sharks
Pennywise has booked a trek to Australia in support of 2012's All Or Nothing. They have enlisted labelmates The Menzingers and the UK's SHARKS for the late summer trek through the land down under. You…
May 30, 2012

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