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about

Our first ever professional recording under the name ‘Shock Octopus’ released as a standalone single in June 2011.

I remember the day when David Sayers brought in this killer, corrosive riff to the rehearsal room and asked me to put in words and a vocal melody. I loved the riff instantly, promptly put some words together in addition to a buzzy analog synth line that rudely interjects the guitar riffs to make it more ‘Shock Octopus.’

This was us for a brief moment in the early days – loud, brutal, fuzzy – dare I say almost atonal. We were listening to a lot of post-punk, grunge and noise rock. I pictured this song as early Hole as performed by Dead Kennedys. It was an utter blast to play live.

I’ve always been fascinated by The Apocalypse (one of my earliest recordings in 2006 was called – unsubtly ‘End of The World’) and I wanted this song to touch on the idea of the rich and powerful hiding out as the rest of the world collapses, before the situation gets so bad that even they can’t hide.

Back in the Noughties, I was often seen as a bit of an alarmist. Of course, societal collapse is almost mainstream news these days, so I’m allowing myself a bit of a Cassandra complex on reflection as well as an immense nostalgia for David Sayers and his superhuman guitarmanship.

- Michael Bayliss
Shock Octopus

lyrics

Shit’s hit the fan now
Crunch time has come now
It’s come to the doorstop
Masses banging at the gate oh they wants in oh they needs in
Entropy’s come now
Can’t hold it back now
It’s come to the doorstop
Government can’t save us now we bought them off we made them soft

Get back – Retreat!
Take my hand run!
Let’s get inside – the safe room.
Fall back – Regroup!
Family comes first!
Wait it out in –the safe room.

It’s safe, in here, sleep tight, doll eyes

We tried to divert it
We tried to transfer it
We held up the dam walls
And we grew fat on the spoils buying time just biding time
They broke through the front door
They’re smashing down our halls
I’m watching from the monitor
The strength in man when desperate when food run out when land run dry

Door sealed – air tight!
We’ll be alright!
If we don’t move – from the safe room
Fall back…

It’s banging at the door
It’s dripping down the wall
It’s soaking through the floor

It’s safe in here sleep tight doll eyes

IT’S NOT SAFE HERE
NOWHERE SAFE NOW
SAFE ROOM UNSAFE
SAFE ROOM UNSAFE

credits

from A Decade Into Darkness, released May 29, 2021
Music: David Sayers
Lyrics: Michael Bayliss

Scott Andrews: Drums
Michael Bayliss: Vocals, Keyboards, Sound Effects
David Blair: Bass, Backing Vocals
David Sayers: Guitar

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Shock Octopus Perth, Australia

Contemplative, Existential, Art Rock.

A collective stream of consciousness and social commentary by Michael Bayliss, David Blair and Scott Andrews.

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