Poison Oak – Losing Ourselves (2021)
I often read about high school students meeting up to form a band but what about the teachers? Australia-based James Balthes and Russell West met while teaching at a school in Townsville and quickly became friends. The proverbial “watercooler talk” didn’t lean to what the kids were doing or staffroom politics but rather music. The teachers were then joined by mutual friend Ray Pearson and Grant Miles forming Poison Oak. Soon after, Chris Reiterer joined the band and they began sharing energetic, enthusiastic and unique music with the masses.
Active since 2019/2020, Poison Oak started gaining a reputation for powerful tunes with their 2021 single ‘Sarah‘ and EP 1996 receiving critical acclaim from Happy Mag, Amnplify, FV Music Blog and Volatile Weekly. The latest addition to their well-received discography is the single ‘Losing Ourselves’.
The first single from their upcoming third EP, ‘Losing Ourselves’ is a powerful and hard-hitting single combining elements of alternative rock within their Aussie Rock foundation. Unlike their previous tracks, I find the melodic style of this song to be more in line with contemporary rock instead of post-punk meets grunge. ‘Sarah’ (read our review here) certainly had a haunting melancholy about it which is lacking in ‘Losing Ourselves’. Yet, the upbeatness of 1996 is also pushed into the background. It seems this new release is an evolution of the Poison Oak. It seems they are finding themselves in ‘Losing Ourselves’.
A fan of alternative rock, I am always keen to hear music from this gem of an Australian band. Showcasing their innovativeness and eclecticism, ‘Losing Ourselves’ has both melodic and lyrical depth as the band continues to share tales of “…common misgivings of life”. Using personal narratives, the group connect with listeners on a deeper level and the rawness of the new single enhances its poignancy. Truly sentimental and sincere, there is a tenderness in ‘Losing Ourselves’ perfectly executed with the infectious choruses and soul-stirring vocals.
In addition to the single, Poison Oak released a lyric video for ‘Losing Ourselves’. Please note that this video uses lighting effects and pattern transitions that can trigger seizures in people with photosensitive epilepsy. Viewer discretion is advised.
For more from Poison Oak check out their Facebook, Instagram and Spotify.
