Propagandhi - At Peace (May 2nd, 2025) • Page 3

Alum is pretty slow and boring to me, musically. They don't even seem angry anymore. And Todd should not be allowed to have so many songs on here, especially back to back in the middle of the album zzz.

 

they've slowed down here but the writing is still top notch. love most of the chris songs.

 

Fucking love old guy heavy punk rock

 

So many beautiful moments on this album. “Stargazing” stands out to me.

 

a little disappointed overall, especially as I loved the three singles, and the rest is... different. But get that this is the album they wanted to make. If I want TETA, LTMR and Supporting Caste again I can go and listen to them. I still like a lot of the album, but (for me) nothing touches the title track. It would have been great to have one more absolute banger like that on the back half, maybe instead of Vampires or Day by Day.

I do love some parts of some songs that maybe I don't love as a whole, "No-one's angry, no hard feelings, these things happen, to humans being..." on Stargazing, "Her hair is in flames..." denouement on Prismatic Spray.

 

There were moments in Victory Lap that made me want to hear the band explore a scaled-back ambient sound ("Adventures in Zoochosis" is the main track that made me want more of that sound from the band). It kind of seemed like a logical extension after that album.

I love what they're offering here on At Peace. It's pleasant to hear them lean into a mid-tempo, prog sound, which makes the heavier, driving moments more impactful. They're great at building atmosphere and texture. Throughout the album I find myself savoring those spaces they carve out and absorbing the emotional landscape in each song.

Also cool to hear more Todd - he's on fire with bass, vocals and lyrics. And for a band that doesn't really write choruses, it's cool to see them change things up here. If anything, there are refrain they return to in a few songs, more than before. And as much as the lyrics confront an overwhelmingly grim landscape, there's this message of carrying on, being grateful to be still present and caring about the world around you. I think this might be my favorite Propagandhi album. I'll definitely be revisiting a lot in the years ahead. If anything, I'm grateful to have this band around and grow old with their music.

 

This album is pretty cool. Maybe just because it’s overcast and rainy (and/or because I’m a big doom/sludge/stoner metal guy) but this slower pace is really hitting for me.

My minor gripe is that it’s a little too long. I’m not sure which tracks I’d cut, but if they got this down to 10-11 songs and 38-40 minutes it would’ve been ace.

 

Feels weird to say this about an album that's coming off of one of their longer absences, but it feels to me like a transitional album, kind of in the way Failed States did to me also - thinking their way through a new register they haven't quite mastered yet. It's not as killer as Victory Lap for me but now that Chris and Todd are over 50 there was always going to be change and this is not a bad direction for them to evolve in. Hope the next one's not another 7 years out.

I continue to enjoy the Todd songs as being very much their own thing with their own special charm and that's no different here. I was half-expecting a Sulynn-led number...maybe next time!

 

This isn’t near my favorite gandhi record, but it’s still very good. I’ve been enjoying my time with it

 

Chris released a nearly hour-long Patreon-video about the album. can't wait to check that out!

also, the Unscripted Moments podcast recently released a compilation episode containing interviews with band members and engineers about the album. here's the link for anyone who missed it.

 

The more I listen to the album, the more I like it, even if it won't end up among my favourites from them. What a gem of a band.

 

Had to give this one a few spins but It's very good.
Rented P.A. makes me sad. Stargazing is unreal.

 

“You say that god has chosen you, well I’ve been busy choosing too”

what an album. Early contender for aoty

 

I’m a monthly contributor to a local alt-weekly. Couldn’t help but write about the new album. So here’s my little essay on it.


(i wanted to title the essay "Something Must Die But Maybe It's Not You" but apparently that's too long. Also, on Patreon, Chris said that's what he wanted the album title to be but the other band members weren't into it - maybe they thought it was too long too, lol. Anyway, such a good title that's trying to get out there!)