Protomartyr released their third album Agent Intellect in 2015. Previous album Under Color of Official Right had mixed punk workouts with more melodic tracks and this album is similar.
Opening with The Devil In His Youth, this track is like a punkier Strokes, with its highly melodic guitar lines. An almost spaghetti western style guitar introduces Cowards Starve, a track a little reminiscent of Come & See on their previous album. Many of the first few songs barrel by without leaving a huge impression. It's not until track 5, Pontiac 87 that we begin full immersion. The track sounds like a harder version of the National, with Greg Ahee's guitar work oscillating between clean, crisp lines and fuzzed-out heavy riffs, perfect for Joe Casey to growl over. Dope Cloud excels through Ahee's strong guitar work.
Later, Why Does It Shake? makes a strong argument to be the strongest track here, with a danceable rhythm punctuated by incisive guitar riffs and a powerful vocal from Casey. Ellen drops the intensity a little, with a brilliantly ghoulish melody before becoming drowned in noise towards the end of the song, and the album finishes with the angry Joy Division stylings on Feast of Stephen.
Overall, a bit of a hit and miss album from Protomartyr. The highs are very strong, but there are too many second grade tracks.
No comments:
Post a Comment