OpCritical – Guillotine (2026)
Can you recall the legend of Marie Antoinette saying “let them eat cake” when the masses in late 1770s France were starving? The quote actually appeared in Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s autobiography, Confessions, but the message and impact of “let them eat cake” are timeless and universal. In OpCritical’s single ‘Guillotine’, the idea of ”let them eat cake” retains the reality of oligarchs and leaders not relating to, and truly worsening the struggles of the average person in the streets.
As with their previous singles, and the core idea behind OpCritical’s formation, ‘Guillotine’ is a reminder to acknowledge and protest against the inequality of a totalitarian society where the divide between those that have and those that don’t is greater than ever. Heading back to the French Revolution – a time when inequality became too much to bear – OpCritical lays bare the facts of the past, how they continue to exist, and what we can learn from it. The band explains:
“History must be remembered so mistakes of the past are not repeated. Today, the disparity between the oligarchs and the masses is even worse than it was during the French Revolution, and something has to give.”
With a haunting violin and acoustic guitar, ‘Guillotine’ opens in a subtle, tender tone that, while relaxing, quietly awaits a heavier, hard-hitting rush of sound. The drums beat, synths add a spiky flair, and the bold vocals pulsate with a rich, dark, but inspiring timbre. For me, the orchestral melody reflects a push of protesters chanting for change – the instruments each bringing a nudge, a jolt, and a demand for the march to continue. Every lyric, every chord, everything pumps up your spirits to stand against tyrannical reign and lack of democracy.
In addition to the single, OpCritical released an official lyrics video for ‘Guillotine’. Directed and edited by Dmytro Laiko, the video can be viewed below and/or on OpCritical’s YouTube channel. Please note that this video uses lighting effects that can trigger seizures in people with photosensitive epilepsy. Viewer discretion is advised.
VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED
Find out more about OpCritical on their official website, SoundCloud, YouTube and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
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