(Such a classic)
This album starts off with “A Private Understanding”, and this one really doesn’t waste any time with seriously tension filled drums and some twisted sounding guitars. It’s been 40 seconds, and Protomartyr has already created one of the densest and most truly harsh sounding atmospheres of the year. But I would say just as much blame is placed on this ridiculous performance by vocalist Joe Casey. His performances are always so striking, as he sounds like he’s descending into madness as he goes on these very bleak and visual rants. But his rants this time are so much more visual than usual. Anyways, “A Private Understanding” is out of control. As much as it wants to make you think it’s “on the rails”, quickly it becomes evident that’s not the case. I love just how explosive and tremendous these guitars become during this chorus. This is just overall, such an unsettling intro that you really need to give a handful of listens. Also, this may be the most Goth thing they’ve done in years. The instrumentals are puzzling, Joe Casey’s performance is near satanic, and Protomartyr very quickly remind us who they are. “Here Is The Thing” on the other hand, is a totally different animal. This one is much more intense right off the bat. These off-kilter drums, as well as Joe Casey's constantly mind-boggling spoken word pieces over it, create easily one of the darkest sounding tracks I’ve heard all year. As “Here Is The Thing” moves forward, things speed up and the guitars just become noisier and noisier. This is just another truly great track as this one just seems to start off the rails and get’s more out of control with each second. As this album goes on, it just gets more and more dismal. Now to be honest, “My Children” was probably my least favorite of the opening singles leading up this album. But I still do dig a whole lot of the elements to it. For one, I love the much more sluggish rhythm here as well as Joe Casey’s continued manic delivery. When it speeds up, however, it quickly becomes a little more easy to digest and ends up sounding a whole lot more like the material on their last album. “My Children” is explosive and moody, but it’s also warm in a weird way. I don’t know why though, but I always feel like they end up releasing their albums at the best times. In every way, this is a great Fall album. Protomartyr’s world is just as twisted and chaotic as our world, and it’s quite a spectacle to listen to. “Caitriona” on the other hand is much more straightforward. While the atmosphere on this one remains dark and explosive, Protomartyr really didn’t take as much time as they usually would making an atmosphere. That being said, this is still the most immediately satisfying track here. I love just how beefy these guitars are and how big the production sounds. “Caitriona” is honestly heavier than most of the metal music I’ve heard all year. But this track has tons of surprises. Joe here sounds at his most at peace, which really isn’t saying much, but he does. And the band just seem at their most unified, even though they still do clash almost constantly. It’s also strangely melodic, and I love that. While “Caitriona” is the shortest track here by far, it’s a major standout.
“The Chuckler” is up next, and once again Protomartyr lightens up a little on the atmosphere. As a matter of fact, everything about this track is lighter. especially in those much airier guitars. Protomartyr, however, do remain intense in their performances. For example, Joe here sounds absolutely eerie in his performance. But at the same time, this is one of the most realistic tracks here by far. On other tracks, Protomartyr just sounded so abrasive and came across as the soundtrack to a dude going insane. But on “The Chuckler”, the danger seems very VERY real. Jones’s feelings don’t seem so far off from things that all of us have felt recently. It’s intense and swirling, and some of those backing instrumentals come off incredibly well, like those strings. Overall, “The Chuckler” works so well for Protomartyr. On the other hand, the very strong and eerie atmosphere of easily tracks is back with a vengeance on “Windsor Hum”. The guitars here are so calculative, and those drums are so patient. But to be honest, I’m really not into this one as I was hoping I would be. Early tracks here were certainly slower and darker like this. But the difference is, they eventually went somewhere. The explosive and huge crescendos that came out of those tracks aren’t here. This one just slugs along as this very gloomy pace. And while there certainly are cool moments, like those noisy guitars in the distance, this one really doesn’t hit me hard at all. Even Joe Casey doesn’t sound completely into these vocals. However, when the noisier guitars come blasting in for that final minute things do improve. On the other hand, “Don’t Go To Anacita” is the much more upfront and intense track I’ve been dying to hear. This one is confident, heavy, dark, and almost cinematic. In every way, Joe sounds so much more into his performance here, and may actually be one of his most passionate and energetic ones here. Overall, this track just works really wonderfully for Protomartyr. Of all of the Post Punk tracks here, “Don’t Go To Anacita” easily has the most teeth. Also, not for nothing, that gigantic group chorus is just what I wanted to hear from them. Now, as far as Protomartyr’s slower tunes here, “Up The Tower” is actually one of my favorites of the bunch. I love just how twisted and wild Joe sounds in his performance here. I know these borderline Spoken Word performances are going to really alienate some listeners, but I think it ends up being the most Punk element to this album. Then we have the chorus which may be some of the most intense moments of the album by far. This honestly doesn’t even sound like Protomartyr, and it’s ridiculous. “Up The Tower” is brilliant, and the sheer monstrous sound the band has on this one is great. Are Protomartyr going to grab new fans with this album? Probably not. But if you’ve been following them a while, this is truly special.
The album continues on with “Night-Blooming Cereus”, and as far as a straightforward atmosphere goes it’s one of the stronger ones here. But once again, I feel like there’s a serious disconnect between Joe Casey, the atmosphere, and the rest of Protomartyr. Each is incredible in their own right, however. For example, I love Joe’s very looming, strong performance fueled by some of his cooler sounding vocals. Then we have the atmosphere, which is twisted enough to be from the “Hellraiser” series. And the instrumentals are on a completely different level, being patient and delicate sounding (and intense when they need to be). But like I said, all these elements are great, but all seem to be on very different wavelengths. Which isn’t the worst thing in the world, but it does hold me back from loving this one. But tracks like “Male Plague” come off so much better. Protomartyr’s instrumentals on this one are just so damn crunchy and explosive. As a matter of fact, everything about this one is just so heavy. This one has one of Jones’s most intense and punch performances. Sonically, this sounds gigantic from start to finish. This one is so intense that it honestly takes the wing out of me. “Male Plague” is hypnotic and absolutely soul-crushing, and in every way is the sound Protomartyr should be going for. Then we have tracks like “Corpses In Regalia”, which is completely different for Protomartyr. All around, this one is just so patient. But it’s done as a unit, and the result is one of Joe Casey’s more piercing performances backed by one of this album’s most intense atmospheres. The playing is straightforward and hectic, and Joe sound absolutely commanding in his performance. I don’t think it’s anything mind-blowing for a near end of the album track, but it’s still a big thumbs up from me. Now, I would really just love to end this album off on a positive note, because I really did love this album. But “Half Sister” as a finale sort of takes the wind out of me. Joe’s performance here isn’t nearly as engaging or as interesting. And instrumentally, this honestly doesn’t even sound like the same band. I’m down with them trying something new and interesting. But instrumentally, this really isn’t Protomartyr. I do like a few elements here and there, but I feel like as an ending they could have done something so much more impactful. However, some of the crunchier instrumentals and more visual vocals in the last 2 minutes really help end this off on a better note.
Rating: 8.2/10
Give A Listen To: "A Private Understanding", "Male Plague", "Don't Go To Anacita", "Up The Tower"
Genre: Post-Puink / Noise Rock / Gothic Rock
If You Dig This, Check Out: Protomartyr - "The Agent Intellect", Preoccupations - "Preoccupations", Iceage - "Plowing Into The Field Of Love"
Overall Thoughts: If you've loved the first few Protomartyr albums as much as I have, this is a must listen. It's Protomartyr at their heaviest, darkest and most intense, and there really isn't much else to say. Some of vocalist Joe Casey's near spoken word pieces are damn near hypnotizing, and the sheer force of the rest of the band surrounding him makes for some of the most tension filled and well produced Post Punk you'll hear all year.
No comments:
Post a Comment