Photo by Ebru Yildiz 

It shouldn’t be this way, but it is, and the terrifying part is there is nothing that can be done about it. It feels like you either caught the last ‘copter out of ‘Nam pre-pandemic when it came to all things in your life falling into place, or now being stuck in the chaos of our current culture where everyone you loved moved onto new phases in their lives without you, those who are left are stunted in connection, and the ability to change that trajectory no longer exists. Activity peer into this uncontrollable dystopian reality on “In Another Way”, the opening track and scene-setter for the spectral Brooklyn rockers’ third studio effort, A Thousand Years In Another Way, with a clear view of the black mirror. The band — which collects members past and present from its scene in Grooms, Russian Baths, and more recently, the Pains of Being Pure At Heart and Peel Dream Magazine following former drummer Steve Levine post-recording passage of sticks to Brian Alvarez — allows these brooding resentment to be their guide through the new cruel world in a simmering fusion of eerie post-punk futurism and electronic art-rock. “Who will marry me now? / All of the good husbands have drowned,” wonders guitarist Travis Johnson as the walls further collapse. Everything is dead and the world as you once knew it is gone, so what really is the point?

Directed by: Steve Levine

Activity’s A Thousand Years In Another Way will be released June 6th on Western Vinyl.