Protomartyr
The Agent Intellect

On their third record release, after "No Passion All Technique" in 2012 and the acclaimed "Under Color of Official Right" in 2014, Protomartyr returned in October 2015 in splendid form with "The Agent Intellect," a work that doesn't significantly distance itself from their classic post-punk aesthetic but loosens the nervous/furious tension of previous albums. The Detroit group, led by the always off-kilter and drunken voice of Joe Casey, achieves the admirable feat of giving us 12 easily assimilated tracks (naturally for those who, like me, enjoy certain sounds) where, alongside the always vigorous and compelling, precise rhythm section (I'd be tempted to call it post-punk but, to avoid repetition, I’ll refrain from using the term post-punk), the varied work of Greg Ahee's guitar is juxtaposed. The suffering and annoyance of daily life in Detroit, as in the rest of the world, seem to struggle to emerge in Greg's work, the sounds are more composed and less agile, much more rational and less emotional. The band now seems aware of the inexorability of today's crisis, infusing the tracks with less pronounced and fierce obsessions. Tensions accumulate and rarely explode into fits of violence. People get used to everything, even to feeling bad.

An exemplary work for those who still believe in the genuineness of the post-punk revival, for those who periodically require an aggressive yet thoughtful musical jolt, for those in search of careless/crazy but vigorous and declamatory voices. An album that won't make one shout miracle (but, let's be clear, who in these times still manages to believe in melodic miracles?), listens wonderfully from start to end and can be replayed over and over again, without any relinquishment. "The Agent Intellect" is the clear demonstration that Protomartyr matters, that they are not the thousandth "here today, gone tomorrow" band of the last twenty years.

If, as they say, the true "litmus test" for a musical group is the third album, from the lowly perch of my decrepit podium I can only give a positive assessment. Test passed, guys, you’ve pinned the diploma on the bulletin board, now you have to face the vast waters of university to reach the degree. But-it's-fine-this-way, keep-it-up, as an Italian singer would say......