Lo Rays Delivers A Cinematic Triumph With “Scapegoat” In A Fully Exhilarating Showcase Of Vision And Power
- STAFF
- 5 days ago
- 3 min read
By: Staff
An electrifying surge of artistry that proves Lo Rays is shaping something bold, emotional, and unforgettable.
Lo Rays wastes no time showing the full scope of their vision and how confidently they inhabit their own world. We found not only this release by Lo Rays but also the exciting music video, and it was wildly impressive. There’s a line where music and cinema meet, and Lo Rays crosses it with absolute conviction.
“Scapegoat” opens with a soft, ethereal floating sound that quietly grabs your attention and then grows in energy and volume in a dynamic, flowing rise that feels electrifying. Following that is a cascade of images set in a massive underground tunnel, delivered with world-class cinematography that’s nothing short of breathtaking. It’s absolutely the best music video of the year, hands down. Lo Rays is a band creating visuals with the force of a studio film and the intimacy of a personal dream.
As the band explodes into your audio landscape, the movement and sound become overwhelming in the most exhilarating way. Scott Bathgate’s blazing guitars, Murray Bartle’s driving drums, and Ryan Jones’s pulsing bass, whose low-end presence ties everything together, create a wave of euphoria. All this then crashes down into a synth echo that opens the door for Laura Takala to come in softly but with an ominous tone that perfectly matches the images and the futuristic, otherworldly essence of the video. The moment Takala enters, the entire track takes a breath just to let her voice reshape the air.
Then Takala and Bartle lock into a slow-burning interplay, riding the synth flow into another explosive crescendo. It’s a gripping tension-and-release moment that shows how tightly the band performs as a single organism. Their chemistry doesn’t just build anticipation, it turns it into fire.
“I can be the scapegoat, Is that what you wanna see?”
This is a standout moment in the song. Lyrically, the message of being painted the villain feels like like a cinematic surge of empowerment condensed into a single strike. Vocally, it’s a powerhouse display. Takala unleashes soaring, seemingly endless runs that land like a knockout punch, and what also hits hard is how the emotion, control, and physicality of the performance create an intoxicating effect. Then, our jaws absolutely dropped here when the screamo was unleashed, making us fall in love on the spot. The band’s support is equally fierce, meeting Takala’s intensity with their own exuberance and commitment. Bartle blasts through the speakers, Bathgate shreds with fearless precision, and Jones shakes the room with bass that feels alive. This is the sound of a band performing at full tilt, each member pushing the others toward something bigger than themselves.
On top of all of this is a visual landscape that drops us into a post-apocalyptic scene with tantalizing edits so sharp we almost couldn’t believe what we were seeing. This entire performance is carried and delivered like a major motion production ready for theaters, yet it never loses the grit and pulse of a band fully in control of its identity. Lo Rays proves that when music and vision collide with purpose, the result can feel downright mythic.
Special thanks to the team whose work elevated this release: Produced by George Perks, mixed by Grant Berry, video by Chris Wade (Dogbrain Videos), CGI by Laura Takala, and released on Prime Collective.
Overall, we walked away seriously impressed with Lo Rays and “Scapegoat.” The performance hits hard, the creativity shines, and the risks taken push everything into a space that feels exciting and fresh. Lo Rays earned every bit of praise here, and we highly recommend diving into “Scapegoat” right now.
