Atom Lux signs with Octopus Rising / Argonauta Records and releases new single and video »Zombie Ant Fungus Strike«!
Rome, Italy based psych-alt-garage-prog-rock solo project Atom Lux has signed with Octopus Rising / Argonauta Records for the release of a brand new EP »Kamikaze Butterfly«. Watch a music video for the first single »Zombie Ant Fungus Strike« below!
There’s a phenomenon in nature in which a fungus (mainly Ophiocordyceps Unilateralis) infects an ant, becoming its parasite. Once it reaches the ant’s brain, the fungus takes control of the insect’s nervous system, affecting its behavior.
Manipulated by the fungus like a zombie, the infected ant leaves its colony, climbs a plant to a height of about one ft, and bites down on a leaf until it dies, in a fatal and fascinating process known as the “death grip.” After the ant’s death, a carpophore grows from its head, releasing spores that will infect other ants, and the cycle repeats. »Zombie Ant Fungus Strike«, the lead single of the upcoming EP, tells about a day in the life (the last one) of an infected ant.
Courtesy of Grand Sounds PR:
Italian psychedelic rock explorer Atom Lux has officially joined the roster of Octopus Rising, the adventurous imprint of Argonauta Records dedicated to forward thinking rock sounds. To mark the announcement, the project unveils the brand new single »Zombie Ant Fungus Strike«, now available HERE.
The track serves as the first preview of an upcoming digital EP, set to be released in the coming months.
Atom Lux is the solo project of Lucio Filizola, a multi instrumentalist, songwriter and singer originally from Southern Italy and currently based in Rome. After early experiences with piano and clarinet, Filizola discovered rock’n’roll and shifted to guitar, beginning a long journey through different musical territories. He previously explored progressive rock with Möbius Project, releasing the album »Ra Me Nivar« in 2014, before later developing Atom Lux as a personal creative outlet blending psychedelic, garage and alternative rock influences.
The project took shape in 2023 with recordings produced entirely from Filizola’s home studio, leading to the release of the debut album »Voidgaze Dopamine Salad« in October 2025, fully written, performed, recorded and mixed by the artist himself. Since then, Atom Lux has also evolved into a five piece live band, bringing the project’s energetic and unpredictable sound to the stage.
The new single »Zombie Ant Fungus Strike« is inspired by the strange and fascinating phenomenon of the Ophiocordyceps unilateralis fungus, a parasite capable of infecting ants and taking control of their nervous system. Manipulated by the fungus, the infected ant abandons its colony, climbs a plant and locks its jaws onto a leaf in a final act known as the “death grip.” From the ant’s body the fungus then releases spores, continuing the cycle.
Through this eerie natural story, Atom Lux transforms science into a vivid psychedelic rock narrative, capturing the last day in the life of the infected ant.
More details about the upcoming Atom Lux EP on Octopus Rising will be revealed soon.
Bojan Bidovc // music enthusiast, promoter, misanthrop and sometimes a journalist as well