Preoccupations understands the disenfranchised coldness of late ’70s and early ’80s post-punk very well, which proves they’re great listeners. But their unrelenting attachment to it makes their sound inflexible, and the interesting personality quirks that the original, experimental scene brought out aren’t audible in Viet Cong—and that’s the real strength of post-punk.

Viet Cong is post-punk as a genre, not as an ideal. I can get both from those classic albums Preoccupations also appreciates. Still, there’s very competent songwriting on this album, even if it’s a follower.