Shame - "Alphabet"

Photo by Sam Gregg

I was a huge fan of Shame's 2018 release Songs of Praise. They have this frenetic and aggressive form of post punk that is impossible for me not to love. Their new single, "Alphabet," continues that sound and amplifies it. It's insanely discordant and filled with sneering attitude, but you'll still need to dance to it. It also has one of the most wonderfully grating guitar solos you'll ever hear. Making a song this unsettling and this catchy takes a level of skill you would think was impossible. Shame pull it off.

Frontman Charlie Steen explains "Alpabet":

"Alphabet is a direct question, to the audience and the performer, on whether any of this will ever be enough to reach satisfaction. At the time of writing it, I was experiencing a series of surreal dreams where a manic subconscious was bleeding out of me and seeping into the lyrics. All the unsettling and distressing imagery I faced in my sleep have taken on their own form in the video.”

You can watch the video for "Alphabet" below. The song is available as a single via Dead Oceans. You can get a copy here. For more on Shame, check out their Facebook and Twitter.