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10.0
134141
10.0 |
The Skinny
Sonically, the sixth album from Detroit-post-punk-quartet Protomartyr is one of their densest efforts yet, and features frontman Joe Casey's finest vocals
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9.0
134151
9.0 |
Loud And Quiet
Must be their tenderest moment to date
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8.4
134155
8.4 |
Spectrum Culture
For all of its pitiless malevolence, Formal Growth in the Desert is an engaging, cathartic listen throughout, peppering up-tempo punk tunes as little lamps in Protomartyr’s dark, continuous tunnel
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8.2
134142
8.2 |
Sputnik Music (staff)
Every member audibly leveled up with each LP and Formal Growth in the Desert again takes it up a notch. There are bits of everything the quartet crafted so far and more, all incorporated into a cohesive and intense narrative. As the instrumentals become more evocative, so does the storytelling
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8.0
134143
8.0 |
Slant Magazine
The album expands the scope of the band’s music by incorporating disparate styles and dynamics
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8.0
134144
8.0 |
NME
The Detroit post-punks expand their sound with their sixth record, manifesting growth from barren places
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8.0
134398
8.0 |
PopMatters
In Formal Growth in the Desert, Protomartyr have subtly evolved their sound into something not as claustrophobically volatile as previous efforts
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8.0
134146
8.0 |
Uncut
Following the pattern of 2020's Ultimate Success Today, this is more expansive and less claustrophobic than previous Protomartyr releases, but no less intense
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8.0
134147
8.0 |
All Music
Formal Growth in the Desert plays like another State of the Union essay from this band of intelligent malcontents, and what they have to say is strikingly effective as editorial commentary and as music
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8.0
134149
8.0 |
Northern Transmissions
The sadness that permeates so much of Protomartyr’s music isn’t quite in the rearview mirror, but Formal Growth In The Desert shows them learning how to coexist with it
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7.6
134145
7.6 |
Pitchfork
Under a gray sky of grief, the Detroit post-punks’ sixth album makes space for skulking grooves, shoegaze-y experimentation, and a Baja Blast that’s always half full
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7.0
134148
7.0 |
Exclaim
The group's musical evolution is clear, but they clearly can (and should) push even further into this heavier direction
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