AUTO PAIN

Description

Hailing from Chicago, Deeper debuted with a powerful first album in 2018, quickly establishing themselves as a rising force in the current US post-punk scene. As the dreaded second album approached, the band avoided falling into any traps, delivering a second album titled "Auto-Pain" that is remarkably effective. Singer and guitarist Nic Gohl, bassist Drew McBride, and drummer Shiraz Bhatti – all originating from Chicago's rich DIY scene – bonded over their shared love for Wire, Devo, Gang of Four, and Television. While this new record remains true to their beginnings and the post-punk tradition of the Great Lakes, it is not as "stuck" as its predecessor. Guitars enter the compositions with precision, and locked-in bass grooves propel the tracks forward. Drummer Shiraz Bhatti, who is half Pakistani and half Native American, embraced the percussive rhythms he heard growing up, channeling the anxieties of his heritage into his playing. The result is an album that is both more nuanced and catchier than its predecessor, to the delight of genre fans.