The new mini-EP explores the divisions and tyrants that have shaped the state of the world in modern times
Athens based darkwave duo Hollow Shift are a rising force that have been consistently finding their way onto our site in recent times, with their immersive meshing of styles and thoughtful lyrics making for releases that are packed full of creativity, memorability and a distinctive, captivating appeal. Their new mini-EP War offers more of the same, and three tracks that continue to carve out their legacy as a duo.
The EP opens with ‘Hephaestus’, a nod to the Olympian god of fie, metallurgy, blacksmithing and craftsmanship, and is packed full of the kind of murky, synthy appeal that the band are known for. The track moves at a propulsive pace while inhabiting the kind of masterfully crafted darkness that the duo excel at, setting the tone for the release with lyrics surrounding themes like the toll that humans are taking on the world and the irreparable damage being done.
The ambitious instrumentation of ‘Nothing Dies Quietly’ follows, setting a grand scene for a track that takes a dive into the ego driven, power hungry elite of the world that seem to have anointed themselves as our gods, provoking war and destruction everywhere they go and without a second thought. It makes for an immersive listen, and one that has a seedy underbelly to its sound that feels intoxicating throughout.
The EP ends with ‘Frequencies With Stumble’, a track that continues to barrel at the current issues in society and the division and gaping chasms that seem to be all around us. The track takes a look at the nuances and complexities that make debates and arguments feel muddy and uncertain, situations where no conflict can be solved because there aren’t black and white answers to be agreed upon. It is a really thoughtful idea, with the questions often being asked often only leading to more questions rather than answers, and it makes for another intriguing listening experience to round out the release.
In just three tracks, Hollow Shift manage to carve out a really profound and depth-filled examination of modern life and the issues that continue to plague it and cause its suffering, with philosophical incompatibilities and greedy tyrants creating a world that feels more global and accessible and ever but also more fractured. It poses some really tough questions and harrowing ideas, and explores them in a way that feels precise and intense throughout.
