Protomartyr releases new concept album ‘Hotel Usona’

Detroit-based post-punk band Protomartyr has released their seventh studio album, titled ‘Hotel Usona’. The record is a concept album produced by Dave Fridmann, known for his work with artists such as MGMT and Nick Cave.

The album utilizes a cinematic and atmospheric sound to explore themes of a decaying American landscape, metaphorically represented as a crumbling hotel. Tracks such as ‘Exalted Eagles’ and ‘The Old Hotel’ highlight the band’s signature blend of muscular rhythms, stark realism, and shifting instrumental dynamics. Frontman Joe Casey’s lyrics delve into societal issues, ranging from creeping fascism to technological madness, maintaining the band's reputation for intense and intelligent songwriting.