Protomartyr Check In to Hotel Usona and Find Every Room Haunted

Joe Casey has imagined his country as an aging hotel. Each song on Hotel Usona is a room haunted by its own troublesome guest. The album was recorded with Dave Fridmann at his Tarbox Road Studios in western New York, and it finds Protomartyr reckoning with the horrors of the current moment without flinching from any of them. It is not easy listening. It is essential.

Lead single “Sounds We Cannot Hear” examines the slow paralysis of modern life with Casey’s characteristic gallows clarity. The video stars Nate Varrone of The Bear. Guitarist and co-producer Greg Ahee builds worlds within worlds here, drawing new influence from the Middle East and 1950s exotica, finding common ground between dread and joy. Alex Leonard’s drumming is rendered more tangible and terrifying than ever by Fridmann, whose son Jon contributes horns throughout. The band has never sounded more powerful.

Protomartyr tour North America this fall and hit the UK and Europe in February. A full world tour routing is below. Pre-order the album now.

Pre-order Hotel Usona ↗

1“The Old Hotel”

2“Sounds We Cannot Hear”

3“Converts”

4“Exalted Eagles”

5“The Knife Dream”

6“Feed the Sewer”

7“Lavender – Gospel”

8“Third Country”

9“Checking Out”