John Dwyer’s Oh Sees have leaked details of their next album, Protean Threat, and shared the first single, “Dreary Nonsense.” The record, which serves up 13 tracks, is due out September 18, 2020, via Castle Face Records. “Dreary Nonsense,” is anything but dreary. You can listen to it below.

At the onset of the March 2020 coronavirus lockdown, Dwyer and gang gave fans a sneak preview of the album. They posted a video of a rehearsal shot at Zebulon LA where they fired through the new songs. “Dreary Nonsense” was in the mix. It was the ninth song on their setlist. Seeing as it’s the second song on the record, they apparently didn’t play the album as packaged. You can find the complete tracklisting for Protean Threat below.

Of the record, the band shared the following statement:*

WITNESS THE EVER-CHANGING, EVER-MUTATING THREAT THAT IS
REALITY
PERCEPTION IS UNDER DURESS
SENSIBILITY IS BENDING EVERYDAY UNDER THE BARRAGE OF NONSENSE
WE MUST MAKE NOTE OF WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE HAVE BECOME
LOOK INTO THE MIRROR OF THE PLANET-KILLERS
PSYCHIC CANNIBALS INFILTRATE AND CONTAMINATE ONCE FAMILIAR AND SEEMINGLY SECURE TERRITORIES
FORMIDABLE FOES INDEED
WHAT POWERS THESE BEASTS?
WHAT FUELS DISCORD AND HATRED?
THE BEHEMOTH OF A “CIVIL” SOCIETY?
WHAT ARE THE WEAPONS AT OUR DISPOSAL?
GENEROSITY IS YOUR AEGIS AGAINST GREED
EMPATHY IS YOUR ARMOR TO DEFLECT APATHY
LOVE IS YOUR CLUB TO ABATE HATE
THE FOG IS LIFTING AND HUMANS ARE OPENING THEIR EYES

AND SO WE OFFER THIS FIELD RECORDING FROM THE PITS
AS A QUICK BOOSTER BETWEEN PROTEIN PILLS AND RECYCLED SWEAT BEVERAGE
ANTHEMS TO ASSIST YOU
TO NOT WORSHIP AT THE ALTAR OF VIOLENCE AND GREED
TO NOT OFFER YOURSELVES UP FOR FREE
TO STAND UP AND BE VIGILANT
TRUTH WILL NOT BE FOUND IN THE SPEECHES AND PHOTO OPS OF YOUR OVERLORDS
STAND STRONG AND TOGETHER UNDER THE GAZE OF YOUR OPPRESSORS
STAND VIGILANT, UNITED WITH THOSE WHO DON’T HAVE THE SAME PRIVILEGE AS YOU.
DEMAND RESPECT AND A PEACEFUL LIFE FOR ALL

THIS RECORDING IS AT THE APOGEE OF SCUZZ
PUNK ANTHEM AMULETS FOR YOUR EARS AND HEART
A BATTERY FOR YOUR CORE
BE STRONG
BE HUMAN
BE LOVE

Graphic designer/illustrator Dylan McConnell, who has been keeping busy during the pandemic, came up with the artwork for the album. Protean Threat was recorded and mixed by Eric Bauer, Enrique Tena Paddila, Mario Ramirez, and John Dwyer at Sonic Ranch in April 2020.

Dwyer appears to be reconsidering the name of the group, again. Recently, he’s been sharing songs under the moniker Osees, which had been the label he gave his synth side project with Tomas Dolas (aka Mr. Elevator). Thee Oh Sees tag has also returned.

Besides the new album, the band contributed a song to Be Gay, Do Crime!, a Girlsville benefit compilation for Prism Health in Portland, Oregon. Osees’ “Blood on Your Boots” is the lead track on the record, which comes out on August 1, 2020. You can stream the song below.

The band’s 2020 Europe tour, initially planned for May, has optimistically been rescheduled for November 2020. Their U.S. tour is postponed to 2021. New dates to be announced.

Protean Threat is available for pre-order now on Bandcamp. However, we suggest waiting until the next Bandcamp Day when the website waives its fees. The next one is coming up on Friday, August 7, 2020.

Protean Threat Tracklisting
1. Scramble Suit II
2. Dreary Nonsense
3. Upbeat Ritual
4. Red Study
5. Terminal Jape
6. Wing Run
7. Said the Shovel
8. Mizmuth
9. If I Hade My Way
10. Toadstool
11. Gong of Catastrophe
12. Canopnr ’74
13. Persuaders Up!

*Updated after publishing with the statement from the band

Photo credit: John Dwyer