The over-saturation of post-punk of these times has made it a harder sell standing out as a band of that variety, albeit even upon entering their best era and putting out their newest effort through a legendary label like Sub Pop. Deeper have transcended assimilation from their peers, however, through articulation. The wavy electrical currents that flow fluidly rather than jolt jagged, as they did on their 2020 breakthrough sophomore effort, Auto-Pain, demonstrated an artful precision even with its repetitive, brutalist outlines.

The Chicago four-piece’s third album, Careful!, furthers their position as a post-punk band malcontent in retreading familiar territory as well as mankind’s tired trappings. On this circuit, vocalist and guitarist Nic Gohl, guitarist, Drew McBride, bassist Kevin Fairbairn, and drummer Shiraz Bhatti interconnect their guitar and rhythm-based amperage with synth-driven power lines, which adds another dynamic layer to their sound that is their most luminous in spite of the darkness and isolation in confronting the reality that is modern existence’s increased technological simulation.

It’s rather meta in that respect, as Deeper themselves are blurring their own boundaries between their mechanical architecture of post-punk with frigid, synthetic waves predicted of futuristic currents. There’s that cautionary tale of Nietzsche warning all about the perils of the abyss, and with Careful!, Deeper test its waters without hesitation.

Highlights: “Build a Bridge”, “Everynight”, “Airplane Air”

Deeper’s Careful! is available now on Sub Pop.

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