Sham Family announce debut album ‘A Deaf Portrait of Peace’

News

26 Apr

Toronto's punk quartet Sham Family are setting the stage for their audacious debut album, A Deaf Portrait of Peace, scheduled for release on 19 July via Wavy Haze Records.

In tandem with their album announcement, they've also released a new single, "Community Service," paired with an evocative video for the album's title track, "A Deaf Portrait of Peace."

"Community Service" strikes a chord with its potent blend of raw energy and reflective lyrics. Frontman Kory Ross encapsulates a disillusionment many feel with urban life, critiquing the lack of reciprocity from cities that individuals pour their love and labour into. The track articulates a sense of betrayal by the very places supposed to offer sanctuary and support, underlined by the line "this city never loved you back," which resonates as a powerful lament for unreciprocated loyalty.

The upcoming album, A Deaf Portrait of Peace, is described by the band as a critique of society’s tendency to overlook deeper issues for a surface-level semblance of peace. The album aims to expose the façade of tranquillity often portrayed by political and societal leaders, revealing a stark contrast between the promise of utopia and the reality of devastation.

In a statement about the upcoming album the band said:

“A Deaf Portrait of Peace is the unwillingness to critically observe the world around us, to ignore society's ills and ugliness. A false utopia skyline, painted over the windows of the downtown condos and the city halls. A promise of a perfect world by those devastating it.”

The visualizer for "Community Service" and the video for "A Deaf Portrait of Peace" both serve as critical pieces of this narrative. The latter is particularly poignant, offering a satirical look at a politician’s campaign, filled with empty gestures and unfulfilled promises. This representation serves as a metaphor for the superficial peace often peddled by those in power, devoid of substantive action or genuine intent.

As the political climate heats up in various parts of the world, Sham Family encourages their listeners to remain vigilant and discerning about the political and social platforms they support, challenging them to look beyond the allure of polished campaigns to the real implications and actions behind them.

With A Deaf Portrait of Peace, produced by the esteemed Graham Walsh, known for his work with bands like METZ and Alvvays, Sham Family not only promises to deliver an album teeming with electrifying post-punk energy but also aims to make a statement that resonates with the listener on a deeper socio-political level.

Fans of Sham Family can catch them live at their electrifying shows, known for their immersive, high-energy performances that perfectly capture the essence of their music—intense, loud, and unapologetically honest. As they prepare to bring this new body of work to audiences around the globe, Sham Family stands poised to leave an indelible mark on the post-punk landscape.

Save the date for A Deaf Portrait of Peace, and watch the video for the track of the same name: