SHAME PENGUIN – RIDE THE WAVE – ALBUM REVIEW
By Ralph Beauchamp
Shame Penguin is no stranger to the pages of AMP. The New Haven punk ensemble embodies the true musical spirit of the city. Dustin Scafani is the frontman of the band and his fearless energy while performing live is insanely intoxicating. Recently, he fell off the stage of Café 9 in New Haven, cracked his skull and didn’t miss a beat. The man is a human dynamo.
The musicianship of Shame Penguin is also profound. Their sound is a conglomerate of punk sensibilities, psychedelic textures and cinematic rock. Their songs flair with a pulverizing groove. Jon Ozaksut’s bass bristles with kinetic tension while drummer Kenny Maraczi delivers a thunderous backbeat and memorable fills. Matt Brown on guitar exhibits bouts of brilliant exuberance. At times, he can inject subtle nuances while at any moment he can burst into pure orgasmic riffing. Shame Penguin‘s music is unpredictable and extremely raw.
Shame Penguin have recently released their new full length entitled Ride The Wave. The album is full of tenacious nuggets of emotive dynamite. Every song is a raging jewel that easily captures the hearts of their listeners. Opening song, “The Hive”, is a perfect example of Shame Penguin‘s sonic explosiveness. The song is manic and distributes an avalanche of gnarly grooves. “Sam Jackson” follows and the tempo is smooth and cool with a huge psychedelic vibe. Like I said, Shame Penguin is incalculable. They thrive on the suspense.
Every song on Ride The Wave is a singular entity that can flourish on its own. Tracks like “Live In Technicolor”, “Deli”, “Fear And Loathing of Dr. Gonzo” and “Marla”, all radiate differently but still work as a cohesive whole. That’s what separate’s Shame Penguin for the masses. The don’t rest on their laurels but use their musical acumen to constantly experiment and evolve. There is a melodic edge to the songs yet the sheer power of their punk prowess always shines through.
Ride The Wave is a true testament to the strength of today’s music scene. The music is intentionally rough and brazen but the energy flow is unmeasurable. Shame Penguin just wants to make you move and strut. Grab your surfboards and “ride the wave”. You won’t regret it.
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