Pop punk startles the heart here, bringing together a unifying sound from We Were Sharks, a band from Canada. The act is tenacious, and their music enthrals with energy, well-tuned choruses, and impactful lyrics, which may seem pessimistic, but there is solid foundation bubbling underneath, an undercurrent that skews through. The band’s record New Low has all the traits of a pop punk record too, and it pushes the boundaries in terms of scope and originality.

And original thought processes can be scarce in the pop punk world. Pushing the musical envelope is what bands all over the world want to do, but some do not have that needed drive. Pop punk has its heroes and bands that know how to write lyrical masterstrokes, and then there are bands that do not empower or represent their genre in a methodical way.

Thank goodness for We Were Sharks and their album New Low. It is triumphs with enough scale and polish, and it connects to the pop punk banner well, and it goes the distance. The right notes transcend, the well-formed guitar parts energise when played rapidly, and it is a treat.

New Low starts with a bang. “Shameless” will transport the listener into a loud room brimming with energy. The chorus is atmospheric and fast. “Problems” takes the poppy sound up a notch, and that developed chorus tells a story. “New Low” shows the intelligent and powerful lyricism in a bright light, with battering drums and blistering guitar strokes in the background complimenting the brash vocals. “Golden” is a pop punk banger straight from the pop punk notebook. Again, the chorus floods in with truth as the backbone.

We Were Sharks itch for supremacy within a genre that seems overly congested. With New Low, they are on their way with every song a symphony of hope.  

Follow We Were Sharks on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.