“Mayhem In Antarctica” - Marc Soucy
Photo Credit: Artist EPK
If you love the raw, unfiltered power of progressive rock, buckle up—because Marc Soucy is bringing a slice of 1983 straight into 2025. His latest release, “Mayhem In Antarctica,” isn’t just a song—it’s a time capsule. Recorded entirely live in the stone cellar of a Massachusetts farmhouse, this track is a miraculous survivor of the era, now restored and remastered after four decades in the vault.
For fans of Emerson, Lake & Palmer, and classic prog epics, “Mayhem In Antarctica” delivers a thrilling, no-holds-barred instrumental journey—a tribute to Soucy’s early days as a composer and a heartfelt nod to his former bandmates in Antartica, drummer Ray Lavigne and bassist Jeff Carano.
This isn’t your polished, overproduced studio recording. This is the real deal—three musicians, three microphones, and zero overdubs. What you hear is exactly what happened in that stone-walled, echo-heavy cellar in 1983.
The basslines groove and thunder, the drums drive forward with electrifying precision, and Soucy’s keys weave an intricate, cinematic atmosphere that could have easily been part of a Genesis deep cut. The rawness isn’t a flaw—it’s the magic of the recording, capturing a moment in time that might have otherwise been lost.
For Soucy, “Mayhem In Antarctica” is more than just an old recording dusted off for nostalgia—it’s a tribute to progressive rock itself. Inspired in part by the legendary Keith Emerson, the track showcases the complexity, musicianship, and adventurous spirit that defined prog’s golden age.
Photo Credit: Artist EPK, Marc in 1988
Decades later, Marc Soucy is making sure these recordings finally get their moment.
While the original stone cellar session was captured with only three microphones, the 2023-2025 audio restoration process has brought new life to the track without stripping away its authenticity. No fancy overdubs, no unnecessary tinkering—just careful mastering to ensure the spirit of the recording shines through.
The result is a time-traveling prog experience, blending the energy of a raw, unfiltered live jam with the clarity needed to appreciate its technical brilliance.
If you’re a fan of the genre, you owe it to yourself to give this one a spin. And if you ever doubted the power of old recordings, this one might just blow your mind.
As bassist Jeff Carano once recalled, someone once told them:
"You guys make ELP sound like Lionel Richie!"
Was it an exaggeration? Maybe. But after hearing this track, you just might agree.
“Mayhem In Antarctica” is available now on all major streaming platforms
