Yo, so, Self Defense have a new album coming very soon titled Have You Considered Punk Music? which is that title isn’t enough to hook you in I’m not sure what will.
It’s also quite an ironic title, as while SDF used to be a full-blown post-hardcore/punk band when they first started as End of a Year, as the years have gone on they have slowly refined their sound to something closer to atmospheric post-rock/indie as these already released tracks will attest:
They are for me one of the best (and most underrated) bands out there, perhaps because they’re caught in that between world of “punk” and “indie” which both crowds are often difficult to please (which is silly given they come from the same place originally). I find Patrick Kinlon one of the most engaging frontmen in all of rock music today, while guitarist Andrew Duggan is a brilliantly inventive player, especially given his hardcore background. The rest of the band are something of a worldwide cult, with recording members rotating depending on where the core duo are (there are some UK members for instance)
as a primer, here’s a best of I made for that thread we did a while back:
I’m excited about this, although isn’t it like four weeks away still, darn it?
We met the singer on getting a bus to Paddington once, after a Drug Church gig. He seemed pretty friendly, although we were probably drunk and annoying.
I’m more of a Drug Church man but I’m quite looking forward to this - a lot of stuff from their flurry of eps/singles since Heaven is Everywhere has felt really slight and left no impression on me but I expect them to focus a bit for the album. And I do like the title track.
But yeah I kinda agree about what they’ve released since, apart from Colicky which is a monster
However you are also quite right in your assumption, it seems the singles in the interim were experiments towards the final album which is way better and focused
right? That’s one of the biggest things about this record, Patrick’s like actually a good singer now, which I appreciate could always be a bit of a stumbling block. The bit halfway through where he suddenly lets rip is so good
That amazing Drug Church song from the end of last year seemed to be the turning point.
I’ve always liked his non-singing voice but it definitely feels like a step up. I love that he always seems to be pushing at his boundaries and working to do more, be better. He’s like a one man war against complacency.
Can’t wait to hear the whole thing now. I’ve gone straight back to Heaven is Earth now that track is over.
oh man, i’m so excited but waiting for an actual physical release.
Agree they are just one of the best bands - the way they have evolved over the years has been great and really interesting to follow. I loved End of a Year but the last SDF lp in particular is so much stronger.
They seem to have released it early on Bandcamp for anyone who’s into that kind of thing. Gonna listen to it first thing in the morning and will be back with #opinions
