Synopticon out now

A three-part sonic rebellion built for the long escape

Dark Archer, the genre-pushing project of Jason McDonald, announces the release of his new EP Synopticon—dropping June 13, 2025, across all major streaming platforms.

Spanning just under 10 minutes, Synopticon is a tightly wound triptych about breaking free—from systems, from illusions, and from the quiet erosion of self. With expressive guitar work, propulsive rhythms, and raw lyrical honesty, the EP captures the electric moment of walking away—and not looking back.

“This one’s for anyone who’s ever driven into the unknown just to remember who they are,” says McDonald. “These songs are about escape. Not the fantasy kind, but the kind where you wake up, feel the engine turn over, and realize there’s no going back.”

The EP features two acclaimed singles—Hidden Eyes and Zero to Sixty—alongside the unreleased centerpiece Open Road, a searing anthem of clarity and release. With lines like “You won’t trap me in your lies again” and “The open road is the right way and I’m never gonna look back”, the track channels a moment of defiance into soaring, guitar-driven catharsis.

Critics praised Hidden Eyes as “a defiant masterstroke… raw power and razor-sharp insight with fearless intensity” (Cage Riot) and “an emotional cry launched in the face of a society numb by its own lies” (Extravafrench). Rock Era Magazine called it “a fierce rebellion packed into a dynamic, unrelenting performance.”

Musically, Synopticon deepens Dark Archer’s exploration of modern psychedelia, indie grit, and emotional urgency—blurring the line between personal unrest and a broader resistance narrative. No music videos or tour are planned, but the EP arrives just in time for the season of long drives and internal awakenings.

Synopticon is available now on all streaming platforms.