Posted on: January 6, 2012 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

“Arcane Effigies,” the lead single off the Rise Records debut album, No Gods, from UK-based punk band Sharks was premiered this week by the influential DJ Zane Lowe and then again by Huw Stephens on BBC’s Radio One in the United Kingdom. Stateside, the track will be be available for purchase in iTunes the week of January 9th and impacting Alternative radio on January 24, 2011. Sharks will hit the road once again in the United States with Social Distortion and Frank Turner starting January 27, 2012 in Las Vegas, NV at The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, ahead of the March 20, 2011 release date of their album.

Produced by Brian McTernan (The Explosion, Hot Water Music, Cave In), No Gods swims between the rules and regulations of the iconoclastic chaos of punk rock and British indie music. Over the course of eleven infectious anthems, Sharks sharpen timeless melodies with an explosive edge tempered by intricate riffing and hypnotic harmonies. It’s pure. It’s poetic. And it’s powerful.

Born in 2007, Sharks is James Mattock (vocals), Andrew J. Bayliss (guitar), Sam Lister (drums), and Tony Corrales (bass). They released their first independent EP, Shallow Waters, in 2008 and drummed up a serious buzz while playing with the likes of Gallows, The Wedding Present, and Baby Shambles. Barely old enough to drive, the group garnered critical acclaim from tastemakers such as KERRANG!, The Guardian, and NME for 2010’s Show of Hands EP and incendiary performances supporting The Gaslight Anthem in the UK. In April 2011, they released The Joys of Living 2008-2010, a 14 songs collection of previously released tracks and two band new ones that garnered them instant acclaim. Zane Lowe praised the collection as “the sound of a band reaching that moment when they are absolutely ready,” while Kerrang called them “one of the best bands around.”

Unlike many of their UK predecessors the band has toured extensively in the United States, often living in their van. In the United States they have toured with Social Distortion and just this year played the entire Vans Warped Tour and recently wrapped the 2011 Alternative Press Tour. They are currently featured in the “Most Anticipated Music of 2012” issue of Alternative Press. The magazine said their music “bristles with a wonderful sense of rock ‘n’ roll heritage that serves as a tribute to fallen heroes such as the Clash while simultaneously molding those influences into something refreshing and contemporary.”

See them for yourself.

SHARKS 2012 TOUR DATES

JANUARY

27th Las Vegas, NV The Joint @ the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino

31st Albuquerque, NM Sunshine Theatre

FEBRUARY

1st Tucson, AZ Rialto Theatre

3rd Tempe, AZ The Marquee

5th San Luis Obispo, CA SLO Brewing Company

6th Reno, NV Knitting Factory Concert House

9th Santa Cruz, CA Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium

10th Oakland, CA Fox Theater

11th Oakland, CA Fox Theater

13th Chico, CA Senator Theatre

14th Modesto, CA Modesto Centre Plaza

15th Los Angeles, CA TBA*

16th Ventura, CA Majestic Ventura Theatre

17th Pomona, CA Fox Theater Pomona

18th Pomona, CA Fox Theater Pomona

*not part of Social Distortion tour

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