We're now reaching the heart of Shackleton's story—the moment when the Endurance meets its fate. Let me give you a quick recap of where we’ve been in the journey so far:
A Recap:
Part 1 & 2: Eve of the War / Leaving South Georgia:
The expedition begins with the tension of World War I in the background, and we hear Shackleton's voice on the track.
Track 3: The Weddell Sea:
Sailing towards the ice, the crew’s spirits are high, and the mission is in full swing.
Track 4: Breaking Through the Ice:
The crew tackles the pack ice, rolling up their sleeves and doing what they came to do.
Track 5: Trapped in the Ice:
With their destination within reach, the Endurance is frozen in the ice and begins to drift away from their goal.
Track 6: Wintering Over:
The crew hunkers down for the harsh Antarctic winter, still trapped in the ice.
Track 7: The Loss of the Endurance ("The Crush"):
And now, we arrive at the dramatic breaking point.
Writing "The Crush":
From the beginning of this project, I knew this song had to be one of the most powerful. Every account from the men described the scene as terrifying—the wooden beams of the Endurance were literally exploding under the pressure of the ice.
Some crew quotes really stuck with me:
“It was a sickening sensation to feel the ship dying beneath our feet. The ice was squeezing her to death.”
“The noise was indescribable, a combination of creaking timbers, splitting wood, and crashing ice against the hull.”
“It sounded as though the ship was being ripped apart, plank by plank.”
"There were sharp, cracking reports as her beams buckled. It was as though a gun or cannon had been fired in the dead of night, followed by an awful silence."
The Music:
Originally, I envisioned something like Pink Floyd’s "Welcome to the Machine" for this track, but I needed more terror, more desperation.
Peter and I decided to call this one "The Loss of The Endurance." As this was the title of the chapter in his book "South" that described event.
I tuned my guitar to GM for that sad, driving feel and built a soundscape of exploding beams, cannon-fire noises, and the men screaming as they tried to pump the Endurance dry.
The intensity ramps up with the driving lead guitar and background chaos. I wanted listeners to feel like they were right there, experiencing the ship’s final moments.
The Loss of The Endurance will be released soon.
I hope you feel the tension, the drama, and the emotion behind this pivotal track.
Stay tuned!
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