07/03/2026
Having released Plastic Psalms' debut album, "dutch amonia plant", in 2018, it is a rather surreal feeling to release their final album, "hostile architecture" in 2026. "dutch amonia plant" was the 42nd Cult Love release, debuting almost exactly 8 years before "hostile architecture" (also) in July. It stayed in our playlist rotation that whole summer, we still think it is an overlooked album of Tulsa DIY music. "hostile architecture", the trio's second full length album and Cult Love's 134th official release, highlights the maturity of the band's songwriting as well as their ever exceptional musicianship: aggressive, technical, and oddly ethereal.
With nearly a decade time under the band's belt, Plastic Psalms have been a staple of Tulsa DIY and underground over the years. Surviving the rise and fall of scenes, the closure of venues, and even beating Covid's lockdown period, Plastic Psalms is synonymous with Tulsa music. Purveyors of what could only be best described as "math punk", their sound is a blend of intricate musical composition, ambient noise, hardcore punk, and even some stylings reminiscent of older emo music or post hardcore. Over their almost ten years of playing, these eccentricities have held them quite distinctly from any other Oklahoma act, drawing no real exact, or even close, comparison. Plastic Psalms sounds like Plastic Psalms.
"hostile architecture" sees the solidification of a hardcore punk emphasized energy in the band's song writing, the latter half of the album delivering a much more traditionally aggressive, punk sound than previous releases. A well oiled machine, to be a little cliche. However, "hostile architecture" in its entirety capitalizes on the overall sentiment of upbeat, fast paced punk rock and there is an erratic but thoughtful undertone that pervades Psalm's technical playing. The emotionally evocative riffage that defined their first album, "dutch amonia plant" is still just as present though, and their 2nd full length is saturated with a healthy amount of the hazy sonic sentimentality that has been a definitive quality of the band's playing since their inception. The trio's affinity for ambient and noise is also delivered in healthy doses throughout their newest release. Rather than merely acting as outros or intros, their thoughtful scaping really rounds out "hostile architecture" as a whole work of art, in a somewhat world building sense; a perhaps historically overlooked facet to Plastic Psalms over the years has been their tasteful sensibilities towards these sort of avant-garde, droney sonic miasmas and is a highlight of their compositions in a way that is much larger than mere ornamental intent.
Overall, "hostile architecture" is arguably the magnum opus of Plastic Psalms and sees a fully matured evolution of the band that was well in the works with their two previous EPs, "Self-Stained Slate" and "An Affront to Reason". Again, Plastic Psalms have found themselves in a wholly unique world musically and as with "dutch amonia plant" there is an overarching sonic "vibe" that is both melancholic, emo-sque yet also hopeful and dreamy. The greater amalgamation is hard to appropriately describe, but is 100% Plastic Psalms. Existential lyricism coping with the realities of modern American living carried on the wings of post-hardcore intricacies, the sounds of humid Oklahoma summer evenings coupled with outstanding musicianship. Immediate release, but also a slow burn; worthy of many repeated listens.
"this land was not made for you and me"
"hostile architecture" is dedicated to the memory of Joel Hoyt.
Limited run of 50 hand numbered cassette tapes.
