“We are social climbers, dead to rights, but with a crippling fear of heights,” opens Ben Potrykus on “Realization Hits,” the second single following “New Starts In Old Dominion” off of Bent Shapes’ upcoming sophomore album, Wolves Of Want. The irreverent Boston band get a bit meta on their latest, poking at the idea of turning art into profit: “We are only human beings taught to want what we all want: the chance to monetize the things we love, reduce a passion to a job.” Between talk of culture wars and empty threats, Bent Shapes flirt with a slacker attitude (“I believe in underachieving as a systematic tactic to preserve your freedom”) but end up continuing to do what they do best: writing socially conscious and self-conscious punk anthems. “Failure’s never been as fun as when you’re chasing oblivion/ And you know we’ll never quit singing realization hits.” Listen via Clash below.

Wolves Of Want is out 3/11 via Slumberland Records. Pre-order it here.