Band: Defeater
Album title: Empty Days & Sleepless Nights
Label: Bridge Nine Records
Distributor: Bridge Nine Records - Suburban
Release date: 08/03/2011
Release: CD

Formed in Massachusetts in 2004, but only really out there with a steady and complete line up in 2008 is Defeater. A modern hardcore band with more to them than just your typical mosh and headbang parts.
Since then the band has been on tour to conquer the world, but not only that. The band exists of all environmental people who like to be as green as the can. For example Drummer Andy Reitz co-runs a company, which rents out vans that run on waste vegetable oil to other bands. Meanwhile, Defeater also tours in a converted veggie van and has been known to record a record on 100% recyclable materials.
Their new record that’s called ”Empty Days & Sleepless Nights” is truly one of a kind. It has 14 songs in total witch you can divide in 2 genres. 10 Songs being their hardcore self and 4 being acoustic. This is 50/50, because the songs (the hardcore and the acoustic ones) all sound good. Combination wise it does sound strange but on the other hand bring s a nice change for people who cant listen to this genre all the time.
The hardcore songs are not that typical as there are songs on this record that have more of a melodic feeling to them. I would even date to say that sometimes you can catch parts of melodic death metal in certain riffs and tracks. In the end solid good hardcore with a few bonuses.

87/100

Jeroen.