{{use dmy dates|date=August 2014}} {{use British English|date=August 2014}} {{Infobox album | name = Octopon | type = ep | artist = Dark Stares | cover = Octopon (EP) - Dark Stares.jpg | border = yes | alt = | released = {{Start date|2013|07|01|df=yes}} | recorded = 2011–12 at<br>Outhouse Studios<br><small>(Reading, Berkshire)</small> | venue = | studio = | genre = Alternative rock<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uberrock.co.uk/cd-reviews/27-july-cd/8655-dark-stares-octopon-ep-self-released.html|title=Dark Stares - ‘Octopon’ EP (Self Released)|date=2013-07-10|publisher=Uber Rock|access-date=2 April 2015|archive-date=3 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150403083902/http://www.uberrock.co.uk/cd-reviews/27-july-cd/8655-dark-stares-octopon-ep-self-released.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> | length = {{duration|m=14|s=19}} | label = AWAL | producer = John Mitchell, Ben Humphreys, Dark Stares | prev_title = Tell Your Friends | prev_year = 2012 | next_title = Soul Contract | next_year = 2014 | misc = {{Singles | name = Octopon | type = EP | single1 = Bad Machine | single1date = 1 October 2012 | single2 = Shinigami | single2date = 8 December 2012 | single3 = Steal Your Girl | single3date = 13 April 2013 | single4 = Blackfyre | single4date = 3 May 2013 }} }} {{Album ratings |rev1 = ''Metal Hammer'' |rev1score = (positive)<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://en-gb.facebook.com/SaNpromotion/posts/576454649060601|title=SaN PR Facebook Post|date=2014-11-21|magazine=Metal Hammer}}</ref> |rev2 = ''Rock Sound'' |rev2score = (positive)<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.rocksound.tv/magazine/article/issue-177-summer-13|title=In the Magazine: Issue 177 - Summer 13 |date=2013-08-30|accessdate=2014-02-18|magazine=Rock Sound}}</ref> }} '''''Octopon''''' is the second extended play by British rock band Dark Stares. The four track EP, self-produced by the band with John Mitchell and Ben Humphreys, was released with AWAL on 1 July 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://music.apple.com/gb/album/octopon-ep/632802546|title= Octopon - EP - Dark Stares |date=2013-07-01|publisher=iTunes}}</ref> All tracks from ''Octopon'' were released as singles with b-sides in chronological order, as well as music videos for both "Bad Machine" and "Shinigami".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6FUrJnZU1E|title=Dark Stares - Bad Machine - OFFICIAL|date=2012-10-01|publisher=YouTube}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kbe4yFmn5u8|title=Dark Stares - Shinigami - OFFICIAL|date=2013-01-26|publisher=YouTube}}</ref>
In August 2013, ''Octopon'' was officially launched with MAMA at a headline show at the Barfly in Camden, London, with support from Alexis Kings.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mamacolive.com/thebarfly/listings/upcoming-events/8679/dark-stares-ep-launch/|title=Dark Stares EP Launch Plus Alexis Kings|date=2013-08-09|publisher=MAMA & Company|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222020428/http://mamacolive.com/thebarfly/listings/upcoming-events/8679/dark-stares-ep-launch/|archivedate=22 February 2014|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
In January 2014, opening track "Bad Machine" was aired live on ''The Dave Fanning Show'' on RTÉ 2fm. It was announced as U2 single "Invisible" as part of an admitted hoax by Fanning and Bono,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/news/ireland/article1367847.ece|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222163917/http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/news/ireland/article1367847.ece|url-status=dead|archive-date=22 February 2014|title=Mysterious ways of Dave Fanning hoax|date=2014-01-26|newspaper=The Sunday Times}}</ref> after a three decade history of U2 single exclusives.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.independent.ie/entertainment/bonos-best-friend-dave-fanning-lands-exclusive-29774171.html|title=Bono's best friend Dave Fanning lands exclusive|date=2014-11-21|newspaper=Irish Independent}}</ref> ''Hot Press'' compared "Bad Machine" favorably: "[It] could have been U2 getting noisy and industrial again a la 'Elevation'".<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.hotpress.com/U2/news/Dave-Fanning-first-time-play-from-U2-turns-out-not-to-be-them/10882871.html|title=Dave Fanning 'first time play from U2' turns out not to be them|date=2014-01-17|magazine=Hot Press}}</ref>
==Track listing== {{Track listing | all_writing = Dark Stares. All tracks produced by Dark Stares with John Mitchell and Ben Humphreys | total_length = 14:19
| title1 = Bad Machine | length1 = 3:08
| title2 = Shinigami | length2 = 3:59
| title3 = Steal Your Girl | length3 = 2:42
| title4 = Blackfyre | length4 = 3:30 }}
==Personnel== *Miles Kristian Howell – lead vocals, guitar *Taylor Howell – drums, percussion * Harry Collins – lead guitar, backing vocals * Brett Harland Howell – bass guitar, backing vocals
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{Portal|Rock music}} *Dark Stares [https://web.archive.org/web/20150323212010/http://www.darkstares.com/ official website]
Category:2013 EPs