Protomartyr - Relatives in Descent

Domino

September 29th, 2017.

Protomartyr's cynical affliction to post-punk reached it's precipice on this day in 2017. Relatives In Descent's stone-cold etiquette paints pictures of derelict daydreams and burnt out desires. The already dark world in which Protomartyr traverse through seemed to sink within itself on Relatives In Descent - the shadows seemed to take on even more menacing shapes. Protomartyr became THE post-punk act of the 2010's with this release.

Relatives In Descent portrays landscapes of desolation; dust bowls void of hope. Dried of all tears and escape routes; all has been done - to no avail. The last hope for progress has just been found; and it's a dead end. Picking up the pieces and learning to deal with reality is a must - there's no other way. The philosophical phrasings of frontman Joe Casey remain in the mind for what seems an eternity. Flourishing around the rim of the psyche, Casey's lyrics conjure up existential festerings. Partnered up with the bands raw aesthetic you have a recipe for apprehension and a way of producing manifested worry, woes and straight up concern. Modern day drudgery has never sounded so appealing.

Sunshine steers clear of these parts - resentment grows out of view from it's reach. Things soak up life through unforeseen means. In the space between stands a form of wishful thinking. It never gives what's required, but promises keep people around - time and time again, desolated edge. Scornful wits at their end. Sour desperation births hard boiled heads.

Hanging on to what will never happen harms the soul in the long-term - let go and move on; everything's fine. The meeting of artistic vision and bouts of chaotic noise tend to muster up interesting results - albeit already experimented with by bands like The Fall and Sonic Youth many years before. However, it's something that's as welcome as fresh air in any day and age. It speaks to the human condition like no other.

Truth is a half sister that will not forgive.