We Were Sharks - New Low

On New Low, lead vocalist Randy Frobel shares, “New Low is a collection of songs that we created that focuses on being down but not out. Since the release of Lost Touch, we’ve experienced many of life’s ups and downs. We’ve lost relationships, friends and family, and have gone through a lot of unexpected challenges that life has a tendency to throw at you when you least expect it.  However, no matter what may have tried to keep us down or hold us back, we always take the hit and keep pushing forward.”

On the title track/video, guitarist Jason Mooney continues, “We’ve been a band for almost 10 years.  And we’re fortunate to have fans who were there from the beginning.  As musicians, I think it’s important to challenge yourself to grow, evolve and continue to be inspired by new sounds.  The hardest part is doing that and finding a way to still stick to your roots and not forget where you came from.
 Whenever we begin writing a new set of songs, we always try to create at least one piece of music that resembles the sound that we started with.  A ‘for-the-fans’ if you will.  And that’s what “New Low” is. It’s our newest love letter to those who’ve been with us since the beginning.”

We Were Sharks’ flippancy is a breath of fresh air in the face of a pop punk scene that’s very self-serious (and seriously lacking self). While many of their peers wax poetic about wearing their hearts on their sleeves, this Ottawa band wears their wit in their moniker; they literally were a band called Sharks until legalities threatened to stop the party.

But the party didn’t stop, as the band cheekily updated their name and carried on, and it continues on sophomore LP New Low. Irreverence inspires the lyrics, more a means to an end than some meaningful and profound proclamation that would position We Were Sharks as pop punk philosophers.

By swinging to both sides of pop punk, both the pop and rock edges, the band expanded their sound while shrinking from three guitars to two. It’s the kind of thing that will make the van a little roomier when touring returns. Similar to their sonic gains made since the release of Lost Touch, We Were Sharks were growing their draw with their first proper US experiences. That included a slot at punk rock mainstay The Fest and tours alongside fellow pop punk satellite acts like A Wilhelm Scream, Such Gold, Youth Fountain, Assuming We Survive, Boys of Fall.

Not like the added space would be a huge worry. With an album like New Low, We Were Sharks are ready to reach a new high — and that could include a Bandwagon, or even bus. The only thing holding them back is the reality of the world they’re rearing to take over.