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Shiner has always been about evolution, dodging genre labels and pushing musical boundaries since their inception in the early '90s. Known for their punishing yet melodic approach to rock, the band’s sound has morphed from the raw, untamed energy of their early years to something more refined, layered, and introspective on their latest release, BELIEVEYOUME.
Schadenfreude, the band's last record, released just as the world was shutting down in early 2020. "Great timing on our part," says Josh Newton (guitar). "Schadenfreude was dark and maybe a little claustrophobic, which makes sense, in retrospect. This new record, BELIEVEYOUME, feels more open and more immediate. We came in with fewer pre-written ideas and just reacted to each other in real time. Less brooding, more instinct. Still heavy, still weird—just breathing a little more."
Recorded over a series of multi-day sessions at bass player / engineer Paul Malinowski’s Kansas City studio (Massive Sound), BELIEVEYOUME took shape quickly and with purpose. "Initially, it was a process of sifting through phone recordings, picking what hit us, and then going straight into the studio to flesh it out,” says Allen Epley (vocals / guitar). “The results felt immediate, with no room for overthinking.” While most of the basic recording was all done live, additional instrumentation was tracked by Josh Newton (guitars / keyboards) at Massive Sound and at his home in LA, and Epley's vocals were tracked at his home studio in Chicago. Once the songs were locked, occasional touring member and mixer Mario Quintero (Spotlights) and Malinowski fine-tuned the mixes before handing the record off to Mike Nolte at Eureka Mastering in Portland. In the end, the band's mix of live, spontaneous energy and post-production prowess shaped the final sound, a blend of the band’s signature heaviness with a newfound openness.
Lyrically, BELIEVEYOUME wanders into much more introspective territory, touching on themes of aging, relationships, and escapism. “We really dug into the personal stuff this time,” Epley shares, explaining certain songs explore the dark humor of relationships gone wrong, while other songs center on manipulation, toxic behavior, and our collective unwillingness to face what is coming. As a whole, the record is a reflection on the struggles and contradictions in life, all wrapped up in Shiner’s signature blend of heavy riffs and haunting melodies. The title BELIEVEYOUME comes from a phrase in “Asleep in the Trunk,” one of the record’s standout tracks. “It’s one of those phrases that’s tossed around so much it’s lost its meaning,” Epley explains. “But when you step back and think about it, it can mean so many things in the context of a relationship. It could be about believing in yourself, in the other person, or in the relationship as a whole, or it could be about the loss of belief.” That ambiguity is central to the album’s themes, relationships that ebb and flow, and the complexity of human connection.
With BELIEVEYOUME, Shiner has created a record that feels both immediate and timeless. It’s the band at their most honest, raw, and self-aware. While Shiner's sonic influences continue to evolve, they remain rooted in the shared experiences that have always bonded them as musicians. “Honestly, the biggest influence is just the band itself,” says Malinowski. “Our sound has grown and changed so much over the years, and that evolution led us to this record.” As for their plans to bring it all to the stage, the band is already looking ahead to an extensive tour in 2025, including dates across the U.S., Europe, and beyond. “The plan is to tour the universe and beyond,” Epley jokes, “but in all seriousness, we’ll be coming to most places soon.”
From their early days of shaking the walls of basement shows to their latest sonic adventure, Shiner has never stopped pushing forward. And as always, they’re still making music for themselves...and for anyone who’s ready to listen.
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