The Real Anthem is a new quartet from Arizona that combines anthemic post-punk, biting alternative rock, and just a dash of shoegaze and post-rock textures. The band features the many talents of Shawn Helton, vocalist of The Opposite Sex and Memory Mask. Rounded out by Andy Mitchell on guitars and backing vocals, Mark Kroeger on bass, and newcomer Matt King on loops, guitars, and engineering, The Real Anthem have been hard at work carving out their own microcosm of sound, which calls to mind the multi-guitar attack of latter-day Red Lorry Yellow Lorry, My Mind’s Eye-era Comsat Angels and The Cult’s transitional period with the songwriting prowess and infectious hooks of the early nineties alternative wave.
With guitars blazing, the quartet has already released a handful of singles, each more rousing than the last. With that in mind, we’re honored to premiere the band’s new single “See Angels.” Watch and listen below:
The track beings with an ominous, percussive synth loop that quickly is overtaken by an electrifying guitar hook. Quickly, the the track explodes into a driving verse that injects a welcome touch of hope and power amidst the snarling melodies. Like many of the band’s biggest influences, The Real Anthem know how to write an irresistible chorus, which plays out perfectly as a triumphant statement of intent. While many bands seem content to wallow in the mire, The Real Anthem are refreshingly powerful, confident, and bright, with lyrics that explore a greater sense of mystery and delight in an otherwise broken world. Emotionally, the band is keen to connect and with the greater purpose that life has to offer, while at the same time exploring the sonic spaces and shadows deep within.
Vocalist Shawn Helton offers a few words on the band:
I was probably known for a dramatic stage presence/vocal intensity in The Opposite Sex and the cold/yet warm electronic architecture of Memory Mask. Those bands were foundational to utilize tension and textural grit in The Real Anthem. My approach is to deliver dynamic, emotionally charged stories with a melodically raw, dramatic urgency, in a complex layer of mood-heavy introspection.
The Real Anthem is hard at work on their debut release, slated for early 2026. Whether it will be an EP or a full-length remains to be seen, but either way, we’re excited to hear what comes next!
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