Contemporary Post-Punk Albums You Should Definitely Listen To

Are you looking for a new album to listen to? Are you really into post-punk? Well, here are four post-punk albums from some of the best bands in the genre today. From Fontaines D.C. and IDLES to newcomers Man/Woman/Chainsaw, these albums are sure to scratch that itch for chaotic yet lyrically dense and musically unique post-punk.

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Eazy Peazy — Man/Woman/Chainsaw

Man/Woman/Chainsaw released their first EP this year, and it’s a chaotic triumph of a post-punk debut. Eazy Peazy takes the genre back to DIY garage punk, imbuing it with a delightfully youthful essence—everyone in the London-based five-piece is around 19 years old, and their endless energy on the record reflects that. There’s a deliberate sloppiness to the EP that walks the fine line between chaos and beauty. Including a violin elevates the post-punk sound and balances everything out wonderfully. Eazy Peazy is a unique and strong debut, and I can’t wait to see what Man/Woman/Chainsaw does in the future.

Romance — Fontaines D.C.

Admittedly, Romance was my first time hearing Fontaines D.C., and I have to say, they’re delightful. This Dublin-based band reminds me a bit of IDLES in the way they blend post-punk with shoegaze and even touches of hip-hop. They’re not quite as overwhelmingly brash, and Grian Chatten doesn’t have the ultra-distinctive growl that Joe Talbot has, but they’re just as singular in their sound. Every track is a winner on Romance, but the standout for me is “Starburster,” which is the prime example of the band mixing their post-punk roots with an essence of hip-hop.

Tangk — IDLES

Initially, I was introduced to IDLES through their album Ultra Mono. This was mainly because the track “Kill Them With Kindness” was featured on the Peaky Blinders soundtrack. Their fifth album Tangk came out in February, and it took the band in a new direction. Namely, in the direction of love. Tangk is a softening of IDLES’ usual edges as frontman Joe Talbot focused on love and healing this time around. “I needed love,” Talbot wrote in the album announcement, adding, “So I made it. I gave love out to the world and it feels like magic. This is our album of gratitude and power. All love songs. All is love.”

Formal Growth in the Desert — Protomartyr

Detroit-based post-punk band Protomartyr released Formal Growth in the Desert in 2023. On the surface, the album explores narrative, fourth-wall breaks, and being worthy of love. There’s also a line about mourning doves, a sunset, and a half-full Baja Blast in a parking lot behind the Coney Island. This showcases vocalist Joe Casey’s densely illustrative lyrical style. With stunning guttural vocals and a steady, percussive sound, Protomartyr’s recent album is a cornerstone of post-punk for established fans and new listeners alike.

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