Shock Octopus – Enter The Exit (2020)
Shock Octopus wrap their tentacles around you with their new EP Enter the Exit. Sticking to their activist roots, the band uses music to tackle existential crisis, climate grief and environmental issues. Their approach to these topics is quite different from the usual making their music an experience and an education. Their soundscape is as different as their approach to the material as they shift restlessly through musical ideas and styles.
This shifting is also indicative of the full-circle journey the band has taken over the years. The band has taken many forms and fulfilled many functions over the years of being together. The flux of their journey translates into the flux of our world and this shines through on the EP.
The EP hits you with the driving tones of ‘Life On A Pier’ which is part environmental eulogy and part futuristic apocalypse. There are different layers to this track that create this sense of suspense and desolation. Through the combination of melodic elements, you can see a devastated planet. While not your typical sad song, there is something about the song that makes you sad about what is being described.
‘No Easy Way Down’ uses a very different perspective to look at the damage of climate change. Through the lyrics, you look at the effects of climate change from the view of a polar bear. This could have gone very badly, but it is absolutely wonderful to listen to. You can hear an anger from the polar bear and the nervousness about what is happening to his home. The melody of the track is this wonderful dark foundation while the vocal performance soars and evokes a range of emotions.
The opening of ‘Zero Gravity’ swings around your head as the light notes gently draw you in. There is something space-rock about this song which is wonderfully executed. The deep beats work wonderfully with the piano lines to create this vast expanse to the melody. The vocals are deep but there is an ethereal vocal line that raises everything up another notch.
The EP ends with ‘Antarctica’ which sets the scene with wavering notes and light piano lines. The tender melody melds with the equally light vocals to create the atmosphere of the area. There is a softness to the song that floats over you. This enhances the beauty of the song and the imagery in the lyrics.
Shock Octopus grabs a hold of you and draws you into their moody melodic arrangements and activist roots in Enter the Exit. This four-track EP is a joy to listen to and takes you on an interesting journey from Antarctica to the depths of space.
Find out more about Shock Octopus on their Facebook and Spotify.
