I'm listening to the new Dinosaur Jr. record and thoroughly enjoying it. They are one of my favourite, dearest, bands. Yet despite it sounding much like much of their earlier, or, frankly, all other, work, I'm not mad about it as I might be with other artists who might attempt the same thing- sounding the same over and over and over again.

Fans of... stuff in general... seem to be of two camps; 1) those wanting/demanding change/development and 2) those wanting more of the same old familiar thing.

I think it's also to do with what a band gets their fanbase accustomed to... a band like Radiohead, for example, is fairly forward-moving, not really rehashing what they'd already done really, always experimenting... and fans have come to expect that... While other bands maybe did somewhat the same thing for 2-3 albums and then fans continue to want more of that and actually get upset if they deviate too much. So it can go either way I guess.

If anything, it's the exception, that fans want more of the same, and Dinosaur Jr. seems to fall in that camp- they seem exempt from any such criticism that they might've stagnated, frankly, because they're genuinely just too fucking cool. But also, how far can what they are really be taken? I don't think sonic experimentation quite like that is their niche, and that it's okay for them to stay in their wheelhouse.

Maybe they're an anomaly and the only band to fit this, idk?

I don’t think they’re the only band artist to fall into that category, AC/DC and Adele come to mind. Sometimes people really just want more of what they’re doing and nothing else.

Godflesh is still pretty highly regarded for a band who have been releasing similar-sounding music for over 30 years.

Everyone follows their own path.

Some play one style all their lives and love it.

Others continue experimenting and learning.

I do primarily enjoy a good career arc, it's a beautiful thing. But have you heard the new Fear Factory. I'm not The Fan, but I've always loved just checking out their music and feeling smashed in the notes.

Apparently Clutch are also brewing something up, I'll probably check that out.

I think artists with concept albums like Kendrick, MGMT, The Beatles, Taylor Swift or Tyler the Creator have more pressure to make stuff that feels new (but familiar)

Artists like Beach House, Drake, The Rolling Stones seem to make music that is more familiar and explores a specific vibe

I have no source or credentials

To me, I have zero interest when a band starts copying themselves : AC/DC past the eighties, the Stones past the 70s,... the list is endless really. When bands or artists start to write music 'in the style of themselves', that to me is the death of art and creativity, and that's just turning your music into a commodity, or your band into a business.
But at the same time, some bands would be better off if they'd stop trying to change their sound too much, and stick to what made them successful in the first place.
I have no clear answer or opinion on this one...

Definitely Ramones fans never required progress/development.... fortunately.

The reaction I've seen to the new Fear Factory has been mostly negative. I think they're a case where people were hoping for more evolution, especially with having a new vocalist.

I had the opposite impression, that the fans usually just want the sound to be about the same over time. It's more the artists' own artistic motivation that has them putting pressure on themselves to find something new again and again. I feel like usually when a band tries too hard to redefine their sound it actually gets worse, often to the point of ruining their whole appeal. Of course there are exceptions if you look at some of the all time greats.

I've seen mostly positive reactions, and i enjoyed it. soul of the same machine as it were

"had the opposite impression, that the fans usually just want the sound to be about the same over time"

This was a lot of the frustration Chester Bennington had with their fans

Feels like this is heavily dependent on the nature of your contract with the label.