The Agent Intellect

Late '70s British postpunk collides with the grit of the modern rust belt

Protomartyr are four guys from Detroit who combine the angular assault of late '70s/early '80s British post punk (The Fall, Wire, Gang of Four, Joy Division) with a gnarled and fuzzy guitar sound not too far removed from Detroit forebears The Stooges or MC5. Lead singer Joe Casey, who looks more like a high school English teacher than rock band front man, delivers his vocals more like a beatnik poet than a singer. Depending on your point of view, this could sound either great or horrible. If you're like me, you'll enjoy it--and if you do, check out the band's earlier album Under Color of Official Right, which is more of the same.