Sharks (band formed 2007)

{{short description|English punk rock band}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2016}}

{{Use British English|date=July 2016}}

{{Distinguish|Sharks (band formed 1972)}}{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Sharks

| image = SharksFeb2013WP.jpg

| landscape = yes

| caption = Sharks' final lineup, left to right: Bayliss, Lister, Mattock, and Murrihy

| image_size =

| origin = Leamington Spa, England

| genre = Punk rock, alternative rock

| years_active = 2007–2013

| label = Rise, Velvet Scene, Best Before, Coffeebreath and Heartache

| associated_acts =

| website = [http://www.facebook.com/sharksuk Official Website]

| current_members =

| past_members = James Mattock
Andrew Bayliss
Sam Lister
Carl Murrihy
Christian O’Reilly
Adam Lovelock
Tony Corrales

}}

Sharks were an English punk rock band from Leamington Spa, near Birmingham, England, consisting of James Mattock (lead vocals and guitar), Andrew Bayliss (guitar), Sam Lister (drums), and Carl Murrihy (bass). Sharks disbanded in July 2013.{{cite web |last= |first= |title=Sharks |website=Facebook.com |date=2013-07-04 |url=http://www.facebook.com/sharksuk |access-date=2012-07-04}}

History

Sharks formed in 2007.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mudkiss.com/|title=MUDKISS FANZINE|website=Mudkiss.com|access-date=1 June 2020|archive-date=4 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200804201024/https://mudkiss.com/|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.thrashhits.com/2009/04/future-hits-023-sharks/|title=Thrash Hits interview, 30 April 2009|website=Thrashhits.com|access-date=21 September 2020}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.ocweekly.com/2011-05-26/music/sharks-james-mattock/|title=OC Weekly interview, 26 May 2011|website=Ocweekly.com|access-date=21 September 2020}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.eyeplug.net/magazine/sharks-the-future-is-unwritten/|title=Sharks – The Future Is Unwritten|first=Simon|last=Morgan|date=16 June 2015|website=Eyeplug.net}} Their name is derived from a song by Gallows, 'In the Belly of a Shark'.{{cite web | url=http://www.beatweek.com/music/musicianinterviews/8691-sharks-the-beatweek-interview/ | archive-url=https://archive.today/20120723030104/http://www.beatweek.com/music/musicianinterviews/8691-sharks-the-beatweek-interview/ | url-status=dead | archive-date=2012-07-23 | title=Sharks: The Beatweek interview - Beatweek Magazine }} In 2008 Sharks released a five track EP, Shallow Waters (recorded in Northampton,UK at The Lodge Recording Studio), and subsequently played with Gallows, The Ghost of a Thousand, Fucked Up, Babyshambles, The King Blues, Girls, Crime in Stereo, and Lostprophets. They supported The Gaslight Anthem during their 2010 UK and European tours.

=''Show of Hands'' (2010)=

Shark's second five track EP, Show of Hands, which was recorded at Fortress Studios in London, was released by Best Before Records in October 2010. The first video from the EP premiered on 5 October 2010.{{cite web | url=http://www.kerrang.com/blog/2010/10/watch_sharks_new_video.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101008062537/http://www.kerrang.com/blog/2010/10/watch_sharks_new_video.html | archive-date=8 October 2010 | title=Kerrang! Watch Sharks new video! }} Show of Hands received 4/5 from Kerrang! magazine, which described the album as "impressive [...] shimmering, grass-roots, British Punk" and "a revelation from start to finish".{{cite news |title=Sharks, Show of Hands|date=2010-09-13 |publisher=Kerrang}} RockSound magazine gave the album 8/10, declaring that "writing with thoughtfulness, maturity and skill belying their youthful status, Sharks have quietly put together perhaps the most charming debut of the year."{{cite news |title=Sharks, Show of Hands|date=November 2010 |publisher=Rocksound}}

Sharks were 'band of the day' on 21 October 2010 in The Guardian, which commented that "Sharks are into preserving the purity of first-album Clash" and "giving the contemporary music scene a good old slap in the face, to wake it out of its current torpor".{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2010/oct/21/new-band-sharks|title=The Guardian - Band of the Day | location=London | first=Paul|last=Lester|date=21 October 2010}}

=''The Joys of Living 2008-2010'' (2011)=

File:SharksbyJordanCurtisHughes.jpg

As announced on 9 December 2010, The Joys of Living 2008-2010, a 14 track compilation of previously released material (Shallow Waters, Common Grounds, and Show of Hands) plus two brand new songs,{{Cite web|url=http://www.altpress.com/features/entry/track_by_track_sharks/|title=Alt Press track by track interview|website=Altpress.com|access-date=21 September 2020}} was released in the US, Canada, Australia and NZ on 5 April 2011 by Velvet Scene in association with Rise Records (CD, vinyl, and download).{{Cite web|url=http://www.riserecords.com/index3.htm|title=Sharks and Rise Records|website=Riserecords.com|access-date=21 September 2020|archive-date=14 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120414003135/http://www.riserecords.com/index3.htm|url-status=dead}} As a bonus, the Japanese edition, released on 6 April 2011, also features the three tracks from Sharks' 2009 split with Northern Towns.

The two new songs, 'Sweet Harness' and 'The Joys of Living', were recorded in early December 2010 at Fortress Studios in London.{{Cite web|url=http://travelsunderground.blogspot.com/2010/12/new-material-on-its-way.html|title=New Material on its Way|website=Travelsunderground.blogspot.com|access-date=21 September 2020}} A 7" featuring the two new songs was released as a single by Coffebreath and Heartache.{{Cite web|url=http://travelsunderground.blogspot.com/2010/12/velvet-scene.html|title=Details of Joys of Living 2008-2010 release|website=Travelsunderground.blogspot.com|access-date=21 September 2020}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/cahrec/|title=Coffeebreath And Heartache|website=Facebook.com}} 'Sweet Harness' was made available as streaming audio on Sharks' Facebook page on 11 March 2011, as was the whole album on Punknews.org on 1 April.{{Cite web|url=https://www.punknews.org/article/42119/streams-sharks-the-joys-of-living-2008-2010|title=Streams: SHARKS: 'The Joys of Living (2008-2010)'|website=Punknews.org|date=April 2011 }}

Alternative Press magazine gave the album 4/5 stars, writing that "[t]hese 14 songs bristle 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."{{cite magazine |title=Rollicking Rock'n'Roll: Sharks, The Joys of Living 2008-2010|date=May 2011 |magazine=Alternative Press}}

=North American tours, etc. (2011)=

Sharks supported Social Distortion during their 2011 US Spring Tour,{{Cite web|url=http://www.socialdistortion.com/tours/|title=Tour Dates|website=Socialdistortion.com}} and played their first ever US headline show on 29 May 2011 at 924 Gilman Street in Berkeley, California.{{Cite web|url=http://www.924gilman.org/blog/?p=679|title=Gilman Street gig details and poster|website=924gilman.org|access-date=21 September 2020}} Following a headlining tour of Canada in early June, Christian left Sharks, as announced on the band's Facebook page on 28 June 2011. From late June to early August, Sharks toured the US on the entire Warped Tour 2011{{Cite web|url=http://www.vanswarpedtour.com/band/sharks|title=Sharks on Warped Tour|website=Vanswarpedtour.com|access-date=21 September 2020}} with their driver Rob Dempsey as a touring member on bass.{{Cite web|url=http://groundcontrolmag.com/detail/1/2570/|title=Sharks - Warped Tour Interview|website=Groundcontrolmag.com|access-date=21 September 2020}} Sharks appeared at the Summer Sonic festival in Tokyo and Osaka, Japan, in mid-August{{Cite web|url=https://www.summersonic.com/2011/lineup/|title=LINEUP | SUMMER SONIC 2011|website=Summersonic.com}} and played the Reading and Leeds festivals in the UK in late August.{{cite web|url=http://www.leedsfestival.com/2011/lineup/|title=Reading & Leeds festivals|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111002151411/http://www.leedsfestival.com/2011/lineup/|archive-date=2 October 2011|df=dmy-all}} Stephen Carter from Gallows played bass on the Japan and UK festival dates. Sharks' original bassist, Adam Lovelock, filled in at their headline show at the Social in London on 31 August 2011.{{cite web|url=http://www.the-fly.co.uk/words/reviews/live-reviews/10601/|title=The Fly gig review - Sharks at the Social}} Sharks returned to North America in the autumn for the Alternative Press Tour Fall 2011 (13 October to 26 November), which was headlined by Four Year Strong,{{cite web|url=http://theaptour.ning.com|title=Sharks on AP Tour Fall 2011|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130310020446/http://theaptour.ning.com/|archive-date=10 March 2013|df=dmy-all}} and during which Luke Schwartz played bass (as announced on Twitter on 5 October). On 11 November 2011 Sharks made their US television debut, performing 'Sweet Harness' on Fuel TV.{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sv6-7zZtVgA|title=Sharks on Fuel TV|publisher=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}{{Dead Youtube links|date=February 2022}}

On 6 May 2011 Sharks recorded a Daytrotter Session at Horseshack studio, Rock Island, Illinois, which was released online on 15 October 2011.{{Cite web|url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/daytrotter|title=Unique session recordings from today's best music artists :: Daytrotter :: Paste Magazine|website=Pastemagazine.com}}

=''No Gods'' (2012)=

Sharks told NME that work on their debut full-length album would start as soon as they have finished all their overseas touring.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/sharks-2-1282953|title=Sharks speak about their plans for the follow-up to 'No Gods' | NME|website=NME |date=29 May 2012}} They also said they had "about sixteen songs" and were "almost wrapped up with the writing process", which they had tried to finish prior to their 2011 North American tour.{{Cite web |url=http://www.fuckyourscenes.com/post/5403964194/fuck-your-scenes-interview-sharks |title=Fuck Your Scenes - Fuck Your Scenes Interview: Sharks |access-date=24 May 2011 |archive-date=24 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120324121645/http://www.fuckyourscenes.com/post/5403964194/fuck-your-scenes-interview-sharks |url-status=dead }} The album was recorded in Baltimore, MD, from September to early October 2011 and was produced by Brian McTernan.{{cite web|url=http://thegreatleapforwards.com/?p=448|title=The Great Leap Forwards - debut album news|access-date=5 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120325011407/http://thegreatleapforwards.com/?p=448|archive-date=25 March 2012|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web|url=https://propertyofzack.com/post/8482293818/propertyofzack-interview-sharks|title=PropertyOfZack Interview : : Sharks|website=PropertyOfZack.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.diymag.com/|title=Set Music Free|website=Diymag.com}} The band recorded a total of 14 tracks.{{Cite web |url=http://www.rockedition.com/interviews/artist-interviews/interview-with-james-mattock-of-sharks/ |title=Interview with James Mattock of Sharks - Rock Edition |access-date=31 January 2012 |archive-date=23 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150423045552/http://www.rockedition.com/interviews/artist-interviews/interview-with-james-mattock-of-sharks/ |url-status=usurped }} Tony Corrales, formerly of The Exposed, having joined Sharks on a permanent basis, played bass on three songs (James Mattock played bass on all other tracks).

On 16 December 2011 Sharks revealed the album's title, No Gods. The album features 11 songs and was released by Rise Records on 19 March 2012 in the UK and on 20 March 2012 in the US.{{Cite web|url=http://www.rocksound.tv/news/article/sharks-announce-album-title-and-release-date|title=debut album title and track listing revealed|website=Rocksound.tv|access-date=21 September 2020}}

As a pre-order exclusive, Sharks also released a 7" with two covers, 'VCR' (originally by The xx) and 'Motown Junk' (originally by Manic Street Preachers).{{Cite web|url=https://merchnow.com/error/?aspxerrorpath=/products/138431|title=MerchNOW - Your Favorite Band Merch, Music and More|website=Merchnow.com}} These also make up two of the three bonus tracks on the Japanese edition of No Gods.{{Cite web|url=http://www.vinyl-junkie.com/label/sharks/|title=Independent Record Label :: Vinyl Junkie Recordings » SHARKS|website=Vinyl-junkie.com}}

'Arcane Effigies', the first single taken from No Gods, premiered on BBC Radio 1 on 3 January 2012.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b018tsgz|title=BBC Radio 1 - Zane Lowe, No.4 in the BBC's Sound of 2012|website=BBC}} The video for 'Arcane Effigies' premiered on 14 February 2012. According to an early album review by Entertainment Focus, "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, poetic, and powerful."{{cite web|url= http://www.entertainment-focus.com/news/sharks-to-release-debut-lp|title= Entertainment Focus, No Gods review|access-date= 15 January 2012|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120111143241/http://www.entertainment-focus.com/news/sharks-to-release-debut-lp|archive-date= 11 January 2012|url-status= dead}} RockSound magazine gave the album 8/10 stars, declaring that No Gods "justifies the hype" and that "the album's glory is its masterful pop songwriting [...] with an anthemic joy that most American pop-punks can only dream of achieving."{{cite news |title=Sharks, No Gods|date=March 2012 |publisher=Rocksound}} Q magazine gave the album 4/5 stars and called it "a starry-eyed celebration of yearning on a US factory floor, as idealised by British spa town punks."{{cite magazine |title=Sharks, No Gods|date=March 2012 |magazine=Q}}

Sharks announced on 22 March 2012 that Tony Corrales had left the band and had been replaced by Carl Murrihy, who made his first appearance with Sharks at the No Gods acoustic release show at Head Records, Leamington Spa, on 20 March 2012.{{Cite web|url=http://www.alterthepress.com/2012/03/sharks-lose-bassist-tony-corrales.html|title=Sharks Lose Bassist Tony Corrales|website=Alterthepress.com|access-date=21 September 2020}}

Sharks promoted No Gods during a headline tour of the UK (25 March to 6 April 2012).{{Cite web|url=http://underthegunreview.net/2011/12/10/sharks-announce-uk-headlining-tour/|title=Sharks Announce UK Headlining Tour |website=Underthegunreview.net|first=Grant|last=Trimboli}} Just prior to the album's release, Sharks once again supported Social Distortion in the US (27 January to 18 February 2012). Sharks also supported Tribes on their UK spring tour (21 April to 9 May 2012).{{Cite web|url=https://www.altpress.com/news/sharks_to_support_tribes_on_uk_tour/|title=Sharks to support Tribes on UK tour|first=Brian|last=Kraus|website=Altpress.com|date=5 February 2012}}

The video for 'Patient Spider', the second single from No Gods, premiered on 18 June 2012, while the single itself was released on 2 July 2012. The video for 'Luck' premiered on 18 October 2012 and the single was released on 31 October 2012.{{Cite web|url=http://www.femalefirst.co.uk/music/rockmusic/single/Sharks-262434.html|title=Sharks - Luck|date=October 21, 2012|website=Femalefirst.co.uk}}

Sharks supported Pure Love on their UK tour in October and November 2012,{{Cite web|url=http://alreadyheard.com/post/32190201118/sharks-added-to-pure-love-uk-tour|title=Sharks supporting Pure Love on UK autumn tour|website=Alreadyheard.com|date=24 September 2012 |access-date=21 September 2020}} as well as during their rescheduled dates in February 2013.

'Sea of All Seas', a previously unreleased track from the No Gods recording session, was included in a charity compilation album, Take Action, Volume 11, released on 8 January 2013.{{Cite web|url=http://hopelessrecords.com/take-action-compilation-volume-11-out-now|title='Sea of All Seas' song|website=Hopelessrecords.com|access-date=21 September 2020}} The song is also included on a vinyl single with three out-takes from No Gods which is being released along with Sharks' second album, Selfhood, on 29/30 April 2013.{{Cite web|url=https://merchnow.com/error/?aspxerrorpath=/products/155909/sharks-ultimate-bundle|title=MerchNOW - Your Favorite Band Merch, Music and More|website=Merchnow.com}}

=''Selfhood'' (2013)=

In September 2012 Sharks began recording demos for a second studio album, which they hoped to finish writing by the end of the year.{{cite web |last=Sharks |title=We're heading into the studio tomorrow to record some demos for album number 2! |publisher=Twitter |date=2012-09-19 |url=https://twitter.com/sharksband/status/248434308962979840 |access-date=2012-09-21}}{{cite web |last=Wallace |first=Emma |title=Interview: Sharks |publisher=Crossfire |date=2012-08-14 |url=http://www.caughtinthecrossfire.com/music/interview-sharks |access-date=2012-09-21}} According to Mattock the band was "focusing on getting the best songs we can [..] out there as quickly as possible".

Recording for the new album, produced by Lewis Johns at the Ranch, Southampton,{{cite web|url=http://www.loudmag.com.au/content/sharks-taking-a-bite|title=Loud Magazine interview with Sam Lister, 2012-10-21|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304033132/http://www.loudmag.com.au/content/sharks-taking-a-bite|archive-date=4 March 2016|df=dmy-all}} started on 26 November 2012 and was completed within two weeks.{{cite web |last= |first= |title=Lewis Johns at The Ranch |website=Facebook.com |date=2012-11-21 |url=http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lewis-Johns-at-The-Ranch/137188729672974 |access-date=2012-11-26}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwmusic/article/SHARKS-Announce-New-Album-Selfhood-Due-Out-430-20130306|title=SHARKS Announce New Album 'Selfhood' Due Out 4/30|website=Broadwayworld.com}}

According to James Mattock, "The whole approach with this record from the beginning was to have the process be very reckless and fun, and for every decision and idea not to be pondered on or over thought". He also said that he had written "most of the lyrics in a room above a morgue in [...] an old Victorian building with no heat, running water, or bathroom", and that these were "the most intimate and personal songs I've written - thus Selfhood is the most fitting title."

Sharks supported Blink-182 on their Australian Tour in February 2013{{Cite web|url=http://www.ariacharts.com.au/news/37031/blink-182-announce-support-acts-for-australian-tour-2013----the-vandals-and-sharks|title=Australian and International Music News / Gossip |website=Ariacharts.com.au|access-date=21 September 2020}} and were also part of the 2013 lineup for Australia's Soundwave Festival from 23 February to 4 March.{{Cite web|url=https://musicfeeds.com.au/news/soundwave-festival-2013-lineup-third-announcement/|title=Soundwave Festival 2013 Lineup - Third Announcement|date=21 September 2012|website=Musicfeeds.com.au}}

Selfhood (the title of the new album was revealed on Twitter on 22 February 2013) features 11 songs and was released in the UK on 29 April 2013 and in the United States on 30 April 2013. The Japanese edition features five bonus tracks (four demos of album tracks and one cover, 'My Drug Buddy', originally by The Lemonheads).{{Cite web|url=http://vinyl-junkie.com/label/sharks/|title=Independent Record Label :: Vinyl Junkie Recordings » SHARKS|website=Vinyl-junkie.com}}

Big Cheese magazine gave Selfhood 4/5 stars and declared it "a classic before its time and another winner",{{cite magazine |title=Sharks, No Gods|date=May 2012 |author=Tom William |magazine=Big Cheese}} while Alternative Press magazine, which also gave Selfhood 4/5 stars, praised Sharks' "skill with their classic source material" and called the album "a time capsule for musical Anglophiles of the '70s and '80s - and a virtual primer for anyone who missed them."{{cite magazine |title=Sharks, Selfhood |date=May 2013 |author=DanLe Roy |magazine=Alternative Press}} Kerrang! magazine, on the other hand, while still giving the album 3/5 stars, thought that Selfhood was "a slow burn affairs, rather than a petrol bomb through the window, but there's still fire here."{{cite news |title=Sharks, Selfhood |date=2013-05-01 |author=Mark Sutherland |publisher=Kerrang! magazine}}

The album was promoted via a headline tour of the UK from 29 April to 13 May 2013.{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/sharksuk/app/123966167614127|title=SHARKS|website=Facebook.com}}

On 4 July 2013, Sharks announced via Facebook that they had "decided to end our journey as Sharks", but that "with this farewell, we leave you with three records of which we are immensely proud".

=Post-Sharks=

James Mattock's new US based project, The Violent Hearts, released a download only EP, The Penalty, on 19 February 2014.{{Cite web|url=https://theviolenthearts.bandcamp.com/|title=Porcelain World / Hex On Me, by The Violent Hearts|website=Theviolenthearts.bandcamp.com}} Both songs were released on vinyl on 7 October 2014. {{Cite web|url=http://shop.coffeebreathandheartache.com/products/533377-the-violent-hearts-the-penalty-ep-7|title=Limited Run - Custom Domain Landing Page|website=Shop.coffeebreathandheartache.com}} In 2014 Mattock joined The Computers on guitar. He also plays drums for Welsh Noir-Pop band The Nightmares.

Their Lonely Betters, featuring former Sharks members Andrew Bayliss (vocals & guitar), Sam Lister (drums), Carl Murrihy (guitar), and Adam Lovelock (bass), released two songs on Soundbutt on 13 August 2014.{{Cite web|url=http://soundbutt.com/their-lonely-betters|title=Their Lonely Betters|website=Soundbutt.com|access-date=21 September 2020}}

Description and influences

Shark's musical influences have been described as ranging from "The Buzzcocks, The Clash, Nick Cave, Joy Division, Husker Du, [to] Black Flag",[http://www.noiseaddiction.co.uk/music-news/sharks-set-to-release-debut-label-ep-%E2%80%98show-of-hands%E2%80%99-on-october-18th-through-best-before-records] {{dead link|date=May 2024}} while Dan Martin claims that "the Sharks strain of punk is imbued with a blue-collar longing straight out of Shitsville USA".{{Cite web|url=http://the1234shoreditch.com/line-up/2010/sharks.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100415185755/http://the1234shoreditch.com/line-up/2010/sharks.html|url-status=usurped|archive-date=15 April 2010|title=The 1-2-3-4 announcement|website=The1234shoreditch.com|access-date=21 September 2020}}

Taking stock of Sharks during their spring 2012 headline tour, The Guardian judged that "their pogo-punk may often look to the US, but Mattock's accent and lyrical vignettes remain defiantly British. [...] The key terrace-chant line of 'Hey Rudy, Rudy' may sound more like Kaiser Chiefs than the Clash, [and] there's not a whiff of Route 66 around On a Clear Day You Can See Yourself, a small-town tale of ambition and promise drip-dripping away. [...] Sweet Harness [has] a crunchy ascending chord progression that echoes pre-electronica Radiohead."{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2012/mar/29/sharks-review|title=The Guardian, gig review, 29 March 2012 | location=London | first=Graeme|last=Virtue|date=29 March 2012}}

With the release of Sharks' second album, Selfhood, reviewers found that the band had moved "squarely into indie-rock territory - more The Smiths than Strummer's gang [The Clash]" or, alternatively, that they now had "a sound that's somewhere between Green Day and early Ash".{{cite magazine |title=Sharks, Selfhood |date=June 2012 |author=Tom Williams |magazine=Big Cheese}}

As James Mattock, Sharks' lead singer has explained, "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".{{Cite web|url=https://www.newsadvance.com/entertainment/|title=The Burg|website=NewsAdvance.com}} He was also heavily influenced by his parents' CD collection.{{Cite web |url=http://www.redbullusa.com/cs/Satellite/en_US/Article/sharks-invading-america-021243046760834 |title=Jammes Mattock Talks About Coming to America with Sharks |access-date=8 July 2011 |archive-date=28 September 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928045958/http://www.redbullusa.com/cs/Satellite/en_US/Article/sharks-invading-america-021243046760834 |url-status=dead }} Mattock has stated that his lyrics have been influenced by both Charles Bukowski and Billy Childish.{{Cite web|url=http://www.writersonprocess.com/2011/03/james-mattock-sharks.html|title=Songwriters on Process interview|website=Writersonprocess.com|access-date=21 September 2020}}{{cite web|url= http://decoratedyouth.squarespace.com/home/2013/3/20/interview-sharks.html|title= Decorated Youth interview|access-date= 12 April 2013|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160304035059/http://decoratedyouth.squarespace.com/home/2013/3/20/interview-sharks.html|archive-date= 4 March 2016|url-status= dead}}

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".

Band members

=Past members=

  • James Mattock - lead vocals, guitar (2007–2013)
  • Andrew Bayliss - guitar (2007–2013)
  • Sam Lister - drums (2007–2013)
  • Adam Lovelock - bass (2007–2008)
  • Christian O’Reilly - bass (2008–2011)
  • Tony Corrales - bass (2011–2012)
  • Carl Murrihy - bass (2012–2013)

=Touring members=

  • Rob Dempsey - bass (2011 [Warped Tour])
  • Stephen Carter - bass (2011 [Japan & UK festivals])
  • Luke Schwartz - bass (2011 [Alternative Press Tour])

Discography

  • Shallow Waters EP (2008)
  • Sharks / Northern Towns split EP (2009)
  • "Common Grounds" single (2009)
  • Show of Hands EP (2010)
  • The Joys of Living 2008–2010 compilation album (2011)
  • "Sweet Harness" single (2011)
  • No Gods (2012)
  • "VCR" single (2012)
  • Selfhood (2013)
  • "Sons and Daughters" single (2013)

Music videos

class="wikitable"

! Year

! Song

! Director

! Album

2010

|"It All Relates"{{cite web |title=Videos: Sharks: 'It All Relates' |website=Punknews.org |date=2010-10-08 |url=http://www.punknews.org/article/40131 |access-date=2011-09-10}}

|align="center" rowspan="4"|Ryan Mackfall

|Show of Hands

2011

|"Sweet Harness"{{cite web |title=Videos: Sharks: 'Sweet Harness' |website=Punknews.org |date=2011-09-02 |url=http://www.punknews.org/article/44210 |access-date=2011-09-10}}

|The Joys of Living 2008–2010

rowspan="3"|2012

|"Arcane Effigies"{{cite web |title=Videos: Sharks: 'Arcane Effigies' |website=Thisisfakediy.co.uk |date=2012-02-17 |url=http://www.thisisfakediy.co.uk/articles/news/sharks-unveil-new-video-for-arcane-effigies |access-date=2012-02-17}}

|rowspan="3"|No Gods

"Luck"{{cite web |title=Videos: Sharks: 'Luck' |website=Thisisfakediy.co.uk |date=2012-10-18 |url=http://www.thisisfakediy.co.uk/articles/news/watch-sharks-reveal-new-video-for-luck |access-date=2012-10-21}}
"Patient Spider"{{cite web |title=Videos: Sharks: 'Patient Spider' |website=Thisisfakediy.co.uk |date=2012-02-17 |url=http://www.thisisfakediy.co.uk/articles/news/watch-sharks-debut-new-video-for-patient-spider |access-date=2012-06-18}}

| Sitcom Soldiers

rowspan="2"|2013

|"Sunday's Hand"

|rowspan="2"|

|rowspan="2"|Selfhood

"Gold"

References

{{Reflist|2}}