SHREDS. floorshow (album review)

SHREDS.

floor show

(Self-Release)

Sheffield noise-merchants SHREDS are back with their second LP, FLOORSHOW, and it’s a lesson on how to evolve without losing the dirt under your fingernails. For a band that cut their teeth on pure velocity, FLOORSHOW retains that panic-attack energy but pairs it with a noticeably sharper sense of sonic architecture. The hyper-speed drums, metallic guitar work, and arguably the gnarliest bass tone in the UK underground are all present and correct, but they’re aided by more dynamic songwriting and production touches. 

The storm brews on the instrumental intro, a tension-building exercise of held chords and cavernous, ringing toms, before Dan’s quick-fire guitar riff launches the band headfirst into "Freeloader." It’s classic Shreds: a barrage vitriol with an exit strategy based on not being bothered to write a second verse. They push the speedometer even further on "Friend Or Foe," where frenetic blastbeats provide the sonic equivalent of being dragged through a hedge backwards. Here, the buzzsaw guitars and clanging bass mesh seamlessly, creating a brick-wall foundation for frontman Jimmy’s latest lyrical tirade against toxic outside influences.

Jimmy’s vocals, while never a delicate croon, are a major focal point here. Sitting slightly deeper and more naturally in the mix than on their debut, his delivery heavily harks back to the classic 80s Youth Crew movement, albeit filtered through his distinctive Northern grit. Whether airing personal frustrations or taking aim at broader societal issues, the conviction is absolute.

"True Story" is the blueprint for how well these elements click, kicking off with a drum-and-bass groove before sweeping the listener up in a whirlwind of hairpin time-signature changes and ear-splitting harmonics. The riffs throughout this record are relentless. Tracks like “Genocide” and “Bond”  showcase rhythmic dexterity and melodic instinct, proving the band can write hooks even at deafening volumes. Meanwhile, "Laboratory Conditions" ups the ante with a barrage of staccato barks and massive gang vocals.

The anchor of Side A is "Selling False Hope." Riding in on a wave of half-time drums and the band’s grooviest riff to date, it coaxes you into a brief two-step before exploding into their signature high-BPM Shreds. chaos, eventually circling back to the pocket as Jimmy rallies hard against predatory religious recruitment.

Side B delivers a similarly relentless approach. With a first half this strong, why wouldn't they?

"Insomniac" is an internal panic attack set to a classic D-beat grind, while "Machines" points that same rage outward against the system... over yet another classic D-beat grind. The band deliver some variety to break up the pacing. "The Idiots Run the Show" mixes a rolling, mid-tempo groove with a crushing half-time outro, and "Everyday Itch" flies by on sharp, stop-start dynamics and a massive two-step rhythm built around its titular refrain.

The tempo is pushed to breaking point on "Give Me a Heart Attack," before the album enters a  final trio of relentless blasts that pay direct homage to classic East Coast hardcore. It all culminates in "Deadweight," a sub-minute blur of feedback and fury that perfectly encapsulates what SHREDS. do best. It’s lean, mean, and leaves you wanting more.