Primitive Man : Observance
Over the past 12 years, Denver’s Primitive Man have cemented themselves as an unrelenting force of distortion-cloaked rage. Vocalist/guitarist Ethan Lee McCarthy, bassist Jonathan Campos and drummer Joe Linden specialize in an intoxicating form of doom that moves at a menacingly sludgy pace, infused with a bombastic noise that further intensifies the horror of their sound.
That sonic chaos is two-fold; as much as the band crafts extreme sound, their instrumental approach works in tandem with McCarthy’s emotional lyricism. Primitive Man has served as a vehicle for McCarthy to vent personal frustrations and let loose his anger over broader injustices. Their fourth album Observance is no different in this manner, finding McCarthy grappling with the rising state of techno feudalism and the social contracts that demand forgoing freedoms for the sake of convenience.
On Observance, Primitive Man push their doom-sludge to greater lengths, its songs encompassing rich layers of tone and atmosphere. Hybrids of doom and noise are abundant throughout Primitive Man’s body of work, but with Observance, they further push the intensity of these combinations, resulting in something even more unnerving—but not altogether inaccessible. Catchy isn’t something I thought I’d ever say about Primitive Man, but after “Seer” begins with a howling ring of noise and thick distorted guitar strums, the trio transition into a thrashy rhythm, underlined with a touch of melody. The real intrigue within the song is in how this sound is mutated over the track’s duration. Across roughly seven minutes, the band alters their tempo to present varying moods of dread—be it electrifying anxiety, or slow burning unease.
Primitive Man have been known to create lengthy songs, but on Observance, they make the most of these epics, creating unfurling, mutated tapestries of heaviness. Primitive Man may believe in the power that comes with droning and harsh noise effects, but they also leverage variety by building on these sonic layers, such as in the nearly 12-minute “Devotion,” where noise and guitar drones provide a chilling presence, with Linden’s drumming bringing a vibrant kick to the track’s dreary air. Such dreadful atmosphere persists throughout Observance, with one of its most nerve-racking experiences taking place in “Social Contract.” Between the high-pitched, distorted guitar tone, the pummeling of drums, the eerie sample it employs and the thundering distortion that roams throughout, the band steamrolls with volume.
As with the sinister intensity of the band’s sonic onslaught, McCarthy’s lyrics have a way of sticking with you. Inspired by the poet and activist Tongo Eisen-Martin (in particular, his book Blood on the Fog), McCarthy writes using haunting, violent allusions that elicit unease and fascination. McCarthy’s anger rages with each word, such as in “Transactional” where he howls, “I do not want your camaraderie, companionship, associations, advice, or words/ I do not want your empty promises or stories of your greatness/ I do not desire acceptance/ I want the laments and wails of the clowns that follow your every move.”
Listening to Primitive Man is an act of stepping outside one’s comfort zone and experiencing the weight of anger and sadness. Their music is confrontational, giving us a glimpse at the horrors of systematic violence up close. Yet, for as much as they lean into doom, Primitive Man never fall into absolute despair. While McCarthy’s lyrics may contain some pessimism, there’s never a hint of apathy. To feel is to live, to inspire fight and hope, a crucial fact of which Primitive Man’s Observance stands as a ferocious reminder.
Label: Relapse
Year: 2025
Similar Albums:
Primitive Man : Observance
Note: When you buy something through our affiliate links, Treble receives a commission. All albums we cover are chosen by our editors and contributors.
