It’s been two long years since South London’s Shame graced the world with their magnificent debut album Songs of Praise. The album not only topped most critics’ charts, but also delivered the group to live venues around the world. While those of us who caught the group’s intensity were impressed, we were already up for more. Today, that wait is over. With a new single “Alphabet” the lads keep their post punk intentions while they steer us into a bit harsher direction. The result is wonderful.

While the band stayed on the more melodic side of post punk on their debut, here they embrace a sound that’s like a mix of P.I.L. and The Fall. A bit harsher and more intense, “Alphabet” is still very much a post punk song while it envelops sounds that are more bleak than its predecessors. The way the drums open the track before guitars ring with grand dissonance offers a real immense tone. The way the band structures the song while the vocals are in your face have all of the sneer that the band curated before, while invoking a sound that delivers on the catchy side of darker blended post punk.

Feel free to watch the video for “Alphabet” above. Also take your time in streaming the song wherever you stream music. Then make your way to any digital music store to purchase the song via Dead Oceans.

Image Credits: Photo by Sam Gregg.