Acclaimed British metalcore band Shields have released their new single and music video “Miss Me.” The song is taken from their upcoming studio album ‘Death & Connection,’ arriving January 30 via Long Branch Records. The band says, “We lost someone dear to us. This song is our tribute — a personal account of the unbearably tragic farewell to our friend, George Christie.” The band comments on the album, “Our new album Death & Connection is a body of work born from the absence of the people who no longer hold space in our lives. This record was created from a necessity to express and soothe our deepest losses; however, that was never the intention — we simply set out to make an album we wanted to hear.”
Founded in 2012 by primary songwriters Joe Edwards on vocals and Samuel Kubrick Finney on guitar/vocals, Shields quickly made an impact in the heavy music scene with their viral single “I Just Feel Hate,” which they re-released in a newly reimagined version in April 2025. Their EP ‘GUILT’ cemented their refined sound, blending brutal instrumentation with poignant, emotionally driven lyrics, demonstrating an aggressive adaptability to the ever-evolving alternative music landscape and winning over fans from across adjacent genres. The momentum of their powerful breakthrough led to tour cycles alongside acts such as Loathe, Ice Nine Kills, and Escape the Fate. Shields’ debut full-length album ‘Life in Exile’ from 2018 received critical acclaim for its raw honesty and musical maturity, though the album cycle was tragically cut short by the sudden passing of guitarist George Christie, an event that ultimately led to the band’s untimely and abrupt disbandment. Their return marks a bold decision given the tragic circumstances surrounding their 2018 split, yet Shields re-emerge with powerful new tracks inviting audiences to witness the next evolution of their sound, matured, refined, and fearless. This new chapter is supported by a fortified lineup featuring founding members Edwards and Finney, now joined by Alastair Wain on drums and Krishan Pujara on bass.
Tracklist:
This Is Not A Dream
Abuser
Kill
Parasites
Lacerate (Feat. Harvey Freeman of Graphic Nature)
Womb
Brother’s Lament
Red & Green
Wolfskin (Feat. Taylor Barber of Left To Suffer)
Loser
Death & Connection (Feat. Jonathan Finney)
Miss Me