5th PROJEKT just dropped “Oblivion (Live)” and it’s a ceremony. The Toronto psychedelic art-rock crew is back, serving up the first raw cut from their upcoming off-the-floor EP “Live In London,” and it’s a monstrous, moody beast.
This is the band captured live at London’s The Sugar Shack for the Incorrect Thoughts series, and you can feel the room’s energy. “Oblivion” originally appeared on their debut album “Circadian,” but here it’s been completely reforged. They stretch it out with a slow-burn intro that’s pure tension-building genius. This isn’t a three-minute radio play; it’s a deep, hypnotic pull designed to drag you under before the main ritual of the EP even begins.
The magic here is in the alchemy between the four players. Tara Rice’s vocals are a ghostly invocation that floats above the fray, guiding the whole séance. But don’t get it twisted; she’s also laying down the law with those descending, arpeggiated guitar chords that tether the whole track to earth. Meanwhile, David Pake on drums and Peter Broadley on bass lock into so deep, it carries the song to the threshold of the void. This is the trip-hop undercurrent meeting gothic rock head-on, and the collision is glorious. Holding down the atmospheric expanse is Sködt McNalty, whose ambient guitars echo out into infinity, creating that signature 5th PROJEKT soundscape that’s both vast and intimately haunting.
For those who haven’t been paying attention, 5th PROJEKT isn’t some fresh-faced act. They’ve got the scars and accolades to prove their mettle. Their previous releases, “The Wolf” (2023) and “The Labyrinth” (2022), tore up the Canadian college radio charts, with “The Wolf” climbing into the National Top 25. They’ve landed features in rags like Spill Magazine and V13, scored award nods from the Ontario IMAs to the Orange County Music Awards, and have brought their captivating live show to stages at NXNE, Canadian Music Week, and tours across Eastern Canada. They’re veterans, and “Oblivion (Live)” is the sound of a band that knows exactly what they’re doing.
So, mark your calendar for the full “Live In London” EP on May 13th via their own Organik Rekords. But for now, strap in, hit play on “Oblivion (Live),” and let 5th PROJEKT prepare the space. The ritual is just beginning. This is rock that doesn’t want your consideration—it demands your surrender.