The Sharks were an English punk rock band from Leamington Spa, near Birmingham. Formed in 2007 by James Mattock (lead vocals and guitar), Andrew Bayliss (guitar), Sam Lister (drums), and Carl Murrihy (bass). Their name was derived from a song by Gallows titled "In the Belly of a Shark". In 2008, they released their first EP, Shallow Waters. They supported The Gaslight Anthem during their 2010 UK and European tours. Their second EP, Show of Hands, was released in 2010 and received critical acclaim from Kerrang! magazine and RockSound. In April 2011, they released a compilation album titled The Joys of Living 2008-2010. The Sharks supported Social Distortion during their 2011 US Spring Tour and played at major festivals including Reading and Leeds in the UK. Their debut full-length album, No Gods, was released in 2012 and featured the single "Arcane Effigies".
