- Culture
- 09 Feb 22
Watch the video for 'Nothing to Lose' from Shocks, premiered by Hot Press below.
Emerging Northern Irish rockers Shocks are back with a new single, ‘Nothing to Lose.’
The latest offering is the first single to be taken from the Bangor trio’s upcoming debut EP, Sayonara - set to be released this spring.
The anthemic track’s energetic sharp riffs and edgy drums are akin to fellow rock outfits Royal Blood, Arctic Monkeys and Black Sabbath.
The distorted vocals and wry lyrics from frontman Andrew Wilsdon give the song a grungy, atmospheric ring.
The accompanying video harnesses the manic energy of the track, highlighting the central theme of internal conflict. In the video, scenes of the band under strobe lights performing the intense number are intercut with a heated boxing match.
Advertisement
Fluorescent lights flicker above the ring as punches are thrown to the camera and opposing boxer.
“We knew before we wrote this song that both the music and visuals had to represent conflict, given where this lies within the context of the EP," the band told Hot Press. "For us, the two boxers facing off under the strobe lights helps to capture that manic internal conflict; the idea of tackling your demons head on."
Watch the Hot Press video premiere for ‘Nothing to Lose’ below.
‘Nothing to Lose’ closed out the writing process for the forthcoming EP with a bang.
Written specifically as the second track on the work, the group wanted to use the high-pulsing edge of 'Nothing to Lose' to give the work “a surge of adrenaline.”
“We knew that given the position of our protagonist at the end of our opening track, this song had to be the vehicle to get us to track 3 and beyond. It’s a pivotal moment in the story of the EP,” the group said.
Advertisement
“Lyrically, this is our main character’s first step on the journey of unburdening that which held them back. It’s the manic headspace and internal exchange of ideas experienced as we pick ourselves up from the floor and march forward.”
Long-time friends Wilsdon, Andrew Rutledge and Ryan Davison formed Shocks back in 2019.
Since then, their string of independent single releases have earned them over 29,000 streams on Spotify and nods from BBC Across The Line and Northern Ireland’s Chordblossom.
The previous singles from Shocks showcase a depth of sonic influences. The slow burning 'Crocodile Tears' offers a change of pace from their latest single, the similarly wiry rock piece 'Sometimes.'
The group tapped into heavy conceptual albums like Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon and post-punk group White Lies’ Big TV for inspiration on Sayonara.
“It was clear from the start we wanted the EP to be more than a collection of singles – we wanted to tell a story. That meant creating moments of drama. Highs and lows. Changes in momentum.”
Sayonara will, aptly, tackle the concept of farewells. More specifically, the ideological farewells to negativities that impede personal growth – the feeling of realisation when a toxic situation continues to build until it becomes untenable.
Advertisement
The EP is a “journey from the lowest low to the highs, and all the bumps in the road in between.”
'Nothing to Lose' is out on February 11.