Sham Family release their debut album 'A Deaf Portrait of Peace' out now via Wavy Haze
SHAM FAMILY
DEBUT ALBUM
A DEAF PORTRAIT OF PEACE OUT TODAY VIA WAVY HAZE
WATCH VIDEO FOR FOCUS TRACK ‘DYNASTY’
“Penned in the wake of the George Floyd murder, its power and gravitas remains utterly gripping.” - Clash
“They’re more interesting than most” - DORK
“Never letting up for a second, it’s a rip-roaring punk tour.” - Far Out
“Consider turning your attention to Sham Family” - Exclaim!
“Don't miss the visceral energy and sonic exploration of Sham Family” - The Scene
“Rock n’ roll is always better with a message, like on Sham Family’s brand new album.” - V13
Toronto punks Sham Family today unveil their incredible debut album A Deaf Portrait of Peace, out via Wavy Haze. In celebration of the release, the band are playing a show at Toronto’s Nineteen Seventy Eight - buy tickets here.
“We're very excited to finally get ADPOP out in the world,” Sham Family share. “We have been working away on the bones of this thing for many years now, starting in Kory's bedroom on a barely functional laptop, to eventually taking it to the studio to work with Graham Walsh and having him help us fully realize our vision.”
“Having the opportunity to create this and to do what we get to do day in and out is a privilege that so few are afforded these days, and we do not take it lightly. Putting this together meant countless long days and nights that we have had to spend away from our dogs who never understand where we are going, or why we would disappear for so long, but they always loved us when we returned and for that as well we are truly grateful. To see this album finished and out in the world means everything to us.”
LISTEN TO A DEAF PORTRAIT OF PEACE HERE
WATCH VIDEO FOR ‘DYNASTY’ HERE
Album biog:
In a simultaneous act of defiance and impishness, Sham Family are etching their name in the wet concrete out front of the establishment. Hailing from the vibrant music scene of Toronto, Canada, the dynamic quartet is emerging as a prominent voice in the contemporary post-punk landscape.
To know Sham Family is to witness them perform live in the flesh. From the very first note, the room teeters between collective catharsis and a sort of beautiful, focused chaos. Blisteringly loud and remarkably lush, their live show is not only a testament to the meticulous craftsmanship of their music, but a downright physical feat. Broken strings, sweat, and the occasional minor lesion are collateral damage that only serves to strengthen their ultimate goal: deliver the loudest, most captivating show utterly possible.
Catching the attention of the newly formed Wavy Haze Records, spearheaded by indie icons Born Ruffians, Sham Family were the first non-Ruffians to join the label’s esteemed roster. In 2022, they released their debut self-titled EP: a strikingly raw introduction to their leave-it-all-on-the-floor brand of shoegazey punk. The release quickly gained traction, propelling Sham Family onto stages across the United States and Canada.
Now, Sham Family are gearing up to release their highly-anticipated full-length album, A Deaf Portrait of Peace, in 2024. Produced by the renowned Graham Walsh (METZ, Debby Friday, Preoccupations, Alvvays), the record promises to embody the propulsive energy of their live performances while venturing into uncharted sonic territories.
“2 years of writing, experimenting and playing shows across North America has allowed us to grow into a much stronger band than we were when our debut EP was released. While we still feel Sham Family is young, there’s a confidence in all of our roles that wasn’t there when we first started writing a few years ago.”
The driving guitars and riotous crescendos of lead single ‘Modern Myth’ epitomize Sham Family’s distinctive intersection of post-punk and post-rock. ‘Dynasty’, an austere confrontation with the burdens of mental health and parental death, opens with blooming feedback before bursting into gut-wrenching percussion and a jet-plane of flanging guitar. The spirit of Sham Family’s punk lineage is full tilt on ‘Community Service’ as frontman Kory Ross laments “this city never loved you back” atop whirling distortion and frenetic, jangly melodies.
“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.”
Equipped with undying love for musical exploration and a maniacal dedication to wringing themselves dry at every single show, Sham Family are poised to carve out a distinctive presence at the forefront of the post-punk scene in Canada and beyond.
