Proles summon an esoteric dystopian post-punk broadcast with ‘Inauguration’

Expansive and atmospheric Boston foursome deliver controlled cinematic chaos through debut EP out via CD/digital

NOW PLAYING: Listen to ‘Inauguration’ on Spotify // Stream it on Bandcamp

EP features new single ‘Another One for the Fire’ and an exclusive Allie Frost remix

Opening track ‘Inaugural’ out now on Bandcamp

‘Inauguration’ release party October 3 at Koto Salem with Gossip Collar and Lipsmear

BOSTON, MA [October 3, 2025] – A little more than 60 years ago, Marshall McLuhan's delivered perhaps his most famous quote in "the medium is the message." It derived from the Canadian philosopher’s 1964 book Understanding Media: The Extensions of Man, and argued, rather convincingly, that the characteristics of a medium can potentially shape the recipient’s viewpoint more than the content itself, and in turn, deliver a stronger impact on influencing society and the people who reside within it.    

That sentiment is drawn to the forefront with strobe-lit intensity on Proles’ new EP, a moody fit of esoteric dystopian post-punk titled Inauguration, set for release on compact disc and digital on Friday, October 3. Later that night, the Boston foursome take the EP and its sonic tentacles up to Salem for the official EP release party at Koto, alongside fellow shadowy luminaries Gossip Collar and Lipsmear.    

McLuhan argued that introductions of new mediums can introduce new extensions of human senses, similar to how technological developments force a societal evolution, and how something is delivered can alter perception of its message. Proles keenly understand this concept, and the band – Gretchen Shae on vocals and synth; Jason O’Blivion on vox and guitar; Daniel Denied on bass; and Nikki Severen on drums – is doing more than releasing music that dances in the shadows without an intent and purpose.

Inauguration boasts five new hypnotic compositions exploring lyrical themes of themes of corruption, deception, ego, fallacy, and tyranny, including pulsating opener “Inaugural,” pre-released exclusively to Bandcamp, and ferocious spotlight single “Another One for the Fire.” Two bonus cuts round out the collection in an exclusive Allie Frost remix and a live cut from WMFO. Paired as a singular listening experience, the music expands and contracts as it unfolds, served mindfully through Proles’ expansive and atmospheric multi-media and live show experience. 

After launching the project together in 2018, Shae and O’Blivion’s haunting compositions are attached to a multi-pronged medium: Severen’s razor-sharp graphic design, propaganda-coded visuals, and overall sense of world-building allure; a swap of gender norms through a captivating visual presentation; raw, organic live performances that highlight structure and instrumentation; and a rejection of the techno-myopic oppression that bogs down our ability to move forward. Combined, they position Proles as something more than just another dark-pop band out of Boston’s fertile underground. 

“It's always a feeling of accomplishment when you bring a project to fruition,” O’Blivion says. “Especially, when you can make it both manifest in physical reality and the ethereal plane of the digital realm. The music here can be an escape or a confrontation. It all depends on who receives the broadcast, and how they choose to interpret it. McLuhan was prophetic when he stated that the medium is the message.” 

And arriving via that medium is a message that reflects the chaotic, uncertain, and acerbic times in which we’re currently imprisoned, held up in defiance to the oppressors through a soundtrack of classic EBM that recalls the halcyon days of Front 242 and Nitzer Ebb, the Fragile- and Year Zero-era of Nine Inch Nails, and the modern darkwave sounds of Twin Tribes, Boy Harsher, and TRAITRS. 

In “The Slumber,” when Shae offers the opening lyric of “In your thoughts you feel it / Something wicked this way comes,” hovering delicately over a trip-hop beat and post-industrial soundtrack, the message is both an invitation and a warning.     

“Jay and I dreamed of a dystopian soundtrack, relying heavily on a merger between electronic instrumentation,” Shae admits. “In our songwriting, both of us exchange ideas. Sometimes I come with a fully formed idea, sometimes Jay does. This is the first project where some of the songs were written in pieces and put together. For example, ‘Another One for the Fire’ was nearly fully formed; I added one verse lyrically that matched Jay’s theme; it is very much a creative writing exercise for me.” 

Perhaps the EP’s defining track, “Another One for the Fire” is a restless beast of musical alchemy. Heavy stomping beats designed for the midnight dance floor and a synth-pop mysticism for high-noon daydreams  trade off with dual-vocal harmonies that combine the ethereality of Shae and the guttural aggression of O’Blivion and a metal-infused guitar solo. Its controlled cinematic chaos draws us deeper into Proles’ sinister underbelly. 

“It can be taken as a heated conversation about communication, all the while not wanting to talk about the problem, but it could also be read by the listener in whatever way it reveals itself to them,” O’Blivion admits. “I like to approach this project as if it were a motion picture for a sci-fi art film. Musically, my influences range from Joy Division to Tangerine Dream to Neurosis to ‘90s EDM like The KLF.  Once you add in the other minds of this four-headed beast, the first end result is Inauguration.” 

As the songs unfold, the dystopia preached by Proles comes into a sharpened broadcast. Punchy opener “Inaugural” delves into our environment of perpetual un-truths, and sets a restless tone – thematically and musically – in the process: “The masses will follow the loudest voice often, but that voice can be corrupted with stains that will leave permanent marks on a society,” Shae warns. “One line personifies ‘truth’ in that it addresses the listener; ‘Try to catch the truth, try to hold her near’. Often we get caught up in whatever news is spouted at us. We accept what is put in front of us. The concept of truth has become distorted.” 

Elsewhere across the EP, recorded and mixed at Noise Collaborative Studios by J. Negro and mastered at JP Masters by David Locke, the yearning “Radio for Ghosts” pulls back the veil of aggression for a panoramic view of the band’s aural perception, and “Gemini” buzzes with a low intensity that belies its arena-rafters ambition. Both songs provide the escape to the others’ confrontation, as O’Blivion noted earlier.   

After the quintet of new tracks, some familiars come into view with typical Proles distortion. Allie Frost’s remix of the band’s Spring 2024 single “The Black Serenade” is retro-fitted with the Northeast-based dark alternative artist and multi-instrumentalist’s heavy low-end and classic electro seduction (“Her music is a beautiful dream,” says Shae). And a live version of Fall 2023 single “Lines Drawn,” recorded and mixed by Joel Simches during a live performance on WMFO Radio, showcases Proles as a living, breathing creative entity. 

“We listened back to the WMFO recording, and just thought that at least one song should go on the album,” says Denied, with Severen adding: “I feel like in an age of ‘plug and play’ bands in this genre, it’s important to highlight live instrumentation. This isn’t a jab at those bands, mind you, but it’s part of our overall mantra of performing everything live as much as possible. The live WMFO track highlights that beautifully.” 

From here, Proles take this multi-pronged approach to the masses with the Inauguration EP as their loudest weapon. After the release party in Salem, Proles return closer to home to perform live October 26 at State Park in Cambridge with Ex-Hyena, and revisit Witch City on January 27 to exchange beats and treats with Big Time Kill and Endation. 

The message is locked. The medium is loaded. Inauguration has arrived. 

“I like to think all our tracks are journeys,” O’Blivion concludes. “Whether they set out from myself or Gretchen, we send them down the yellow brick road and they meet the Scarecrow or the Tin Man along their way, off to meet the great and powerful wizard.”  

McLuhan would be pleased. 

Proles are:

Gretchen Shae - Vox, Synth

Jason O’Blivion - Vox, Guitar

Daniel Denied - Bass

Nikki Severen - Drums

‘Inauguration’ EP artwork:

‘Inauguration’ production credits:

All songs written and performed by Proles 

Recorded and mixed at Noise Collaborative Studios by J. Negro 

Mastered at JP Masters by David Locke

"The Black Serenade" remixed by Allie Frost

"Lines Drawn" recorded and mixed at WMFO by Joel Simches

Graphic design by Nick Mehos. 

Photography by Janeé Cicero

Media praise for Proles:

“You would think Gretchen Shae would be busy enough with Gretchen Shae & The Middle Eight and her Siouxsie Sioux and the Banshees cover band, Gretchen and The Banshees, especially this time of year. You'd be wrong because she recently unveiled a new project with two new singles. Proles (credited to Shae and Vampire Werewolf) just released ‘Lines Drawn’ and ‘Ghost Dance’. While The Middle Eight are a rock band, Proles are more of a Dark Wave project. The new songs are more laid back, but with that odd, creepy intensity you get with the best Dark Wave songs. Proles also lean more into electronic territory, more like synth-pop than post-punk. It's an interesting new sound, but one that makes perfect sense for Gretchen Shae.” _If It’s Too Loud

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