Damn Shames - Fear of Assault

Damn Shames are a young Edinburghian three piece with some serious energy. Problem is they haven't figured out how to channel it yet. Fear of Assault is a jumble of convoluted tribal beats, distorted vocals, sharply dissonant guitar lines, and invasive electronic bleeps that lacks dynamics and doesn't quite find its groove. Unlike similarly minded groups who flirt with chaos and dissonance, groups like the Faint and Test Icicles (RIP), Fear of Assault might not quite get the party started. However, B-side Last Things sees the guests throwing TV sets out the window. [Tobias Kahn]