Labels: Nerve Altar
Review by: Kunal Nandi
New York killing machine Defeatist just went and defeated themselves by playing their last ever gig on December 19th, 2011. They did manage to squeeze this out, their second album proper on their own label, and it’s a tribute to and progression from their previous efforts. Singles collection “Sharp Blade Sinks Deep Into Dull Minds” and “Sixth Extinction” were both especially relentless for grind, with a strong emphasis on short blasting songs incorporating memorable riff structures, sudden shifts in stop-start tempos and a rhythm section that is practically lockwelded together. That modus operandi still rules the roost, but everything’s amped up to include more expansive songwriting (some tracks even verge on the three minute mark!), some unusual skronking guitar work and a generally heightened level of variability that keeps it interesting and addictive. It’s an album that’s over before I want it to be, and I’ll flip it a good few times before I’ve had my fill. It’s not often you get that with this genre, and I sincerely hope these guys get some new bands rolling out of the ashes ASAP. R.I.P. Defeatist.
Defeatist
Nerve Altar