Primitive Man share new single / video "Natural Law"New LP Observance out October 31 via Relapse Records

For twelve years, Primitive Man have been the undisputed titans of nihilistic doom, crafting a legacy from pure sonic punishment. Now, as they prepare to unleash their new album, Observance, they’re not just aiming to be heavy—they’re aiming to be honest. Staring into the abyss of a music scene and a world they find "worse in every conceivable way," the band has forged their disillusionment into a weapon.

Today, we get a taste of that weaponized despair with the new single, "Natural Law." Frontman Ethan McCarthy calls it one of their more "trance-like" and "dark psychedelic" tracks, but don't let that fool you. The song is a cold-blooded meditation on betrayal and the ever-present option of violence. As McCarthy puts it, it’s a "call out to anyone that the lyrics apply to," exploring how hatred can either fuel your progress or land you "dead/in jail.”

But Observance is more than just raw anger. Finding themselves isolated and unbound by any scene, the trio—McCarthy, drummer Joe Linden, and bassist Jon Campos—became "obsessed," tearing down their sound and rebuilding it. The new material breathes with more space, weaving in acoustic passages and electronic soundscapes that only make the inevitable explosions of sludge feel more catastrophic. Citing influences from Swans and Crowbar to Slowdive and U2, this is the sound of a band unshackled.

While previous records were a roiling pool of rage, Observance is imbued with a profound sadness. Yet, in a twist only Primitive Man could deliver, McCarthy calls this their "most positive" record to date—a desperate, howling search for a path towards the light, even if it means crawling through miles of darkness to find it.

Brace yourself. Watch the video for "Natural Law" below, and prepare for Observance later this month.

See Primitive Man on tour in North America in November and December— tickets on sale here. More news soon.

Primitive Man, American Observance tour MMXXV:

11/24 - Salt Lake City, UT @ Aces High Saloon #

11/25 - Boise, ID @ The Shrine #

11/26 - Seattle, WA @ Chop Suey #

11/27 - Vancouver, BC @ Astoria Pub #

11/28 - Portland, OR @ Star Theater #

11/29 - Eureka, CA @ Savage Henry's #

11/30 - Oakland, CA @ Stork Club #

12/1 - Los Angeles, CA @ Lodge Room $

12/2 - San Diego, CA @ Brick By Brick $