Early zombie movies were a vehicle for the dread of mass consumerism, while spy movies express a fear of Communism, Big Brother, the government, terrorism. The battle of man versus society–whether the enemy is zombies, Commies, aliens, or governments–may be considered sci-fi, but the message is clear: the future is now.

So what do former intelligence workers for the same U.S. government agency do on their time off? There is the old joke, “If I told you, I’d have to kill you,” but Sophia Cacciola and Michael Epstein went for the more creative route: they formed the band Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling.

Named from the title of an episode of 1960’s show, The Prisoner, the phrase is also echoed in the refrains of the theme song of the movie High Noon. True to their sci-fi roots, Cacciola and Epstein gave themselves an avenue to express their own feelings about all the -isms inherent in the struggle of man versus society without overtly naming names or using their own direct experiences.

“The Prisoner is an allegorical science fiction show about breaking free from societal norms and maintaining individuality under the thumb of faceless hierachy and big-brother style totalitarianism,” says the band of its inspiration. Schooled in the lore of spy shows like The Avengers, Secret, and Mission Impossible, Cacciola (drums, vocals), and Epstein (bass) set out to make the music more exciting than the lackluster intelligence jobs they had.

Admittedly, the band has never “cartwheeled between lasers to avoid alarm systems, transported microfilm, or even directly encountered enemy agents,” but the paranoiac atmosphere and raucous insistence of the music would never give that away.

The new EP, set be to be released on April 3 with a show at Church, is the first 5 songs in a 17 song concept album based on episodes/themes from The Prisoner, also featuring a Leonard Cohen cover of, “First We Take Manhattan.”

Cacciola’s voice has the raspy, weary yet ready for onslaught sound of Kim Gordon throughout the album. The first song, “Episode 1: Arrival,” is like being plunked down in a car chase scene at right at the beginning of a movie, where you’re still working to figure out who the baddies are, as Cacciola sings, “Gun-gun-gunnin’ for you.”

“Episode 4: Chimes of Big Ben,” creeps in with the sludgy ringing of a grandfather clock tone. Usually a sign of continuity and the comfort, the tolling of this clock forebodes death and fear. The bass guitar whirs and whirls with the toxic tableau of distrust and misplaced fear.

“First We Take Manhattan,” a wisely chosen Cohen cover, bookends the EP with the gloomy low register of Epstein’s bass tolling like the beginning of a Gang of Four song, animpressively interpreted chant-like delivery that calls to mind group mentality, columns of marching troops and the bitter cynicism of Cohen’s lyrics.

Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling plays Church on April 3rd for their EP release with Corey Tut, Vostok 4, Gene Dante and the Future Starlets, and Voodoo Screw Machine.

–Kristen Schaer