Primitive Man unleash first single “Social Contract” from upcoming album “Observance”

Denver sludge-doom giants Primitive Man have released “Social Contract,” the crushing first single from their forthcoming album “Observance”, which arrives on October 31st via Relapse Records. The track sets the tone for what’s to come, diving into themes of authoritarianism, erased histories, and the collapse of society’s fragile bonds. According to frontman Ethan Lee McCarthy, the pounding strikes at the start of the song symbolize a ticking clock, reflecting his belief that life as we know it is on the verge of drastic change.

The single arrives alongside a video that intensifies its message, pointing toward the systems and powers that benefit from social unrest and what McCarthy refers to as techno-feudalism. Rather than a call to arms, the track feels like a howl of frustration and despair at the state of the world.

With “Observance”, the band pushes their sound further than ever before. The record embraces both crushing heaviness and unexpected expansiveness, weaving in acoustic passages, electronic textures, and psychedelic touches. Recorded with producer Andy Nelson at Bricktop Recording Studio in Chicago and mastered by Arthur Rizk, the album pulls influences as far apart as Swans, Crowbar, Slowdive, and even U2.

The writing process was deeply collaborative, with McCarthy, bassist Jon Campos, and drummer Joe Linden immersing themselves in shaping the material after their 2022 EP “Insurmountable”. The result is seven tracks that showcase both the band’s unrelenting heaviness and their newfound willingness to experiment.

Despite Primitive Man’s reputation as one of the heaviest bands on any bill, the new album carries a different emotional weight. McCarthy has described it as the most positive record they’ve created, not because it’s lighthearted, but because even while dissecting disillusionment, it still searches for a path toward hope.

1. Seer
2. Devotion
3. Transactional
4. Iron Sights
5. Natural Law
6. Social Contract
7. Water