Album Rating: 3.5

Weeeeirdly cool first track. Does it work lime anywhere?

Album Rating: 3.5

Elimination dances sucks

Album Rating: 4.5 | Sound Off

"I wonder what it says about protomartyr that we’re all in here talkin bout rheumatism"



Pretty sure Joe Casey already has that as part of the theme on one or two songs

Album Rating: 4.5

my aoty of the year so far i guess

Album Rating: 3.5

"Elimination dances sucks"



Damn, that's a very rare L for you, Triple D.

Album Rating: 3.5

Lol finally got around it...it was a tough listen. Tried to many times. Its a shame cause I love this dude s drumming here.

Less rage drunk and more like the closer si vous plais.

Album Rating: 3.5

I don't think it sucks (by a long shot) but 'Elimination Dances' is probably in the lower-half of tracks here imo. Too much other good stuff to ignore. Great album.

Album Rating: 4.5 | Sound Off

this grew on me a bit

Album Rating: 4.5 | Sound Off

But I am and always will be a Protomartyr apologist

Album Rating: 3.0

There are a bunch of really good tracks here but it just didn’t fully click with me on the whole.

Album Rating: 4.5 | Sound Off

I just want to say that it's also nice that Joe Casey does no longer think of himself as too repulsive to be around.



Ateast enough to ask for a kiss on "Rain Garden "

Album Rating: 4.0

This has grown on me considerably over the last few weeks, especially the more subdued and somber tracks like Graft vs. Host, Let's Tip the Creator, We Know the Rats, Rain Garden — feel like some of their best songs. Wish the rest of the record was in a similar vein honestly, but I can't blame them for wanting to mix things up a bit.

Album Rating: 4.5 | Sound Off

Protomartyr are a grower band, for sure. But ofal their grower albums, this one might be the groweriest. I loved it when it came out, but it again grew on me even more

Album Rating: 3.5

I saw Protomartyr live earlier in July and can attest (in my opinion, of course) that these tracks sound infinitely better live. This album still kicks ass though!

Album Rating: 4.0

Yeah, they fucking rule as a live band, no question. Can't wait to see them again in a couple of months.

Album Rating: 4.5 | Sound Off

The strangest live band.

The only band that can be absolutely stiff live and still make that more energetic than any dance routine.

Album Rating: 4.0

That's a great way to desribe them haha. Last time I saw them Joe must have gone through 5 or 6 beers during their set.

Album Rating: 4.5 | Sound Off

"Graft vs. Host" and "Rain Garden" fucked me up fam

Album Rating: 4.5 | Sound Off

So I also fed all my reviews to the AI and asked it to review this album, the result is as follows

Album Rating: 4.5 | Sound Off

In a world where uncertainty is the new normal, Protomartyr's latest album "Formal Growth in the Desert" emerges as a sonic tapestry that both reflects and dissects the disarray of modern existence. With their signature blend of post-punk and art rock, the band once again navigates the fringes of music, offering a dissonant yet captivating experience.



From the opening track, "Fragmented Realities," the album sets the tone with its frenetic guitar riffs and Joe Casey's distinct vocal delivery. The lyrics read like fragments of conversations overheard in a decaying urban landscape, painting a picture of isolation, disillusionment, and the struggle to find meaning.



Tracks like "Elegy for a New Dawn" and "Beneath the Surface" showcase the band's ability to create an atmosphere of unease through juxtaposition—ethereal melodies intertwine with jagged rhythms, leaving the listener both entranced and unnerved. The instrumentation mirrors the themes, mirroring the jarring juxtaposition of growth and decay in a dystopian world.



"Synthetic Uprising" ventures into more experimental territory, as pulsating synths intertwine with the gritty guitar work. The result is a disorienting yet captivating soundscape that embodies the clash of human nature and technological advancement.



Protomartyr's lyrical prowess shines through in tracks like "Shadows of Progress," where Casey's incisive commentary takes center stage. The track dissects the paradoxes of societal evolution, questioning whether progress is a genuine advancement or a facade masking deeper decay.