Defeater
Defeater is a hardcore band from Massachusetts, USA. To date they have released three full-length albums, two EPs and a single. The band lineup consists of Derek Archambault (vocals), Jay Maas (guitar), Jake Woodruff (guitar), Joe Longobardi (drums) and Mike Poulin (bass). All of the band's works have been released via Bridge 9 Records, aside from the album Travels, which was initially released via Topshelf Records, but was later reissued on Bridge 9 Records. Their latest studio album, Letters Home, was released on July 16th, 2013 and debuted at number 72 on Billboard Top 200 chart, number 1 on the vinyl chart and number 13 on the Current Alternative Album chart.
They have toured with the likes of La Dispute, Carpathian, Comeback Kid, Bane and Miles Away. They supported August Burns Red in 2013.
They played the second stage at Hevy Music Festival 2011 and appeared on the second half of the 2013 Vans' Warped Tour, playing on the Monster Stage.
Musical style and lyrics:
Defeater is a hardcore punk band who like to take "creative liberties" when crafting songs. According to guitarist Jay Maas, "There's a prevalent thing in this genre where if you're not doing what hardcore bands have been doing for the last 25 years almost verbatim, you're fucking up." Defeater also showed their softer side with the four acoustic tracks at the end of their second studio album Empty Days & Sleepless Nights.
Lyrically, Defeater is a concept band. All of their music serves as narration over one overarching story, telling of the struggles of a working class New Jersey family in the Post-World War II Era. Vocalist Derek Archambault stated in a 2009 interview that all of Defeater's work would take place within this story. Their debut album, Travels, established the story and characters. Travels tells of a the younger brother, born to an abusive father and innocent older brother and addict mother, who runs away from home and becomes a drifter after killing his father in a fight, later to return and face redemption. The Lost Ground EP tells the story of the "Prophet in Plain Clothes," a homeless street performer whose song inspires the protagonist of Travels to stop running from his past and problems. Lost Ground reveals the Prophet's past, an African American World War II veteran that returns home only to be shunned for the color of his skin. Hopeless, he becomes an alcoholic train hopper and street performer, singing of his struggles in order to survive. Empty Days & Sleepless Nights returns to the New Jersey family, this time centered around the older brother of the protagonist of Travels, who spends his life waiting to get revenge on his younger brother for murdering their father. Letters Home features the life of the father of the family.
Band members:
Current members:
Derek Archambault - lead vocals,
Jay Maas - guitar, backing vocals,
Jake Woodruff - guitar,
Mike Poulin - bass guitar,
Joe Longobardi - drums
They have toured with the likes of La Dispute, Carpathian, Comeback Kid, Bane and Miles Away. They supported August Burns Red in 2013.
They played the second stage at Hevy Music Festival 2011 and appeared on the second half of the 2013 Vans' Warped Tour, playing on the Monster Stage.
Musical style and lyrics:
Defeater is a hardcore punk band who like to take "creative liberties" when crafting songs. According to guitarist Jay Maas, "There's a prevalent thing in this genre where if you're not doing what hardcore bands have been doing for the last 25 years almost verbatim, you're fucking up." Defeater also showed their softer side with the four acoustic tracks at the end of their second studio album Empty Days & Sleepless Nights.
Lyrically, Defeater is a concept band. All of their music serves as narration over one overarching story, telling of the struggles of a working class New Jersey family in the Post-World War II Era. Vocalist Derek Archambault stated in a 2009 interview that all of Defeater's work would take place within this story. Their debut album, Travels, established the story and characters. Travels tells of a the younger brother, born to an abusive father and innocent older brother and addict mother, who runs away from home and becomes a drifter after killing his father in a fight, later to return and face redemption. The Lost Ground EP tells the story of the "Prophet in Plain Clothes," a homeless street performer whose song inspires the protagonist of Travels to stop running from his past and problems. Lost Ground reveals the Prophet's past, an African American World War II veteran that returns home only to be shunned for the color of his skin. Hopeless, he becomes an alcoholic train hopper and street performer, singing of his struggles in order to survive. Empty Days & Sleepless Nights returns to the New Jersey family, this time centered around the older brother of the protagonist of Travels, who spends his life waiting to get revenge on his younger brother for murdering their father. Letters Home features the life of the father of the family.
Band members:
Current members:
Derek Archambault - lead vocals,
Jay Maas - guitar, backing vocals,
Jake Woodruff - guitar,
Mike Poulin - bass guitar,
Joe Longobardi - drums
