The concept album; rarely is it seen in hardcore. Most bands keep it simple, penning lyrics that the listener can easily relate to, as they usually deal with everyday struggles and emotions. Defeater is not one of those bands. In 2008, the band dropped their first full-length, Travels, that told the life story of a fictional man born in the middle of the 20^th Century, who winds up killing his father and his brother. This was a rather daring move in the world of hardcore, as it’s not often for a band to have an entire record devoted to telling a single story. However, between great songwriting and well-crafted lyrics, Defeater created one of the best and most creative Hardcore records of 2008.

Fast-forward to 2009, where Defeater is set to release their Bridge 9 debut, Lost Ground, a double 7” EP that continues the trend of telling a story. The story, this time, is about a young man who enlists to fight in World War II, as his father had in World War I. It opens with “Red, White and Blues,” where the protagonist is pounding down shots of whiskey the night before he is deployed. The part about Defeater that has always attracted me as a listener is that despite the lyrics being fictional, the delivery from Derek Archambault, the vocalist, is so passionate it makes you feel like he actually lived through all that he’s screaming about. “Red, White and Blues” is absolutely exemplary in this aspect, especially in its closing moments when the protagonist reveals his mission, “I’m gonna make my momma proud, her hopeful new recruit/And just like my daddy done, I’m gonna bleed red, white and blue.”

The second track, “The Bite and the Sting” takes place during the war itself. It’s hard to say this is the most emotional track on the record, as they all have a strong overbearing feeling to them, but it certainly stands out in this regard. The protagonist is shot, and when he finally wakes in a hospital bed, he realizes everyone in his infantry has died, with the obvious exception of himself. “A Wound and Scar” takes on a much slower pace, and opens with the cries of “I stand next to an empty grave, where my friends will lay/I’ll put their bodies down into their resting place.” He begins to feel a heavy sense of guilt as a result of being the only one who lived, and seeing the faces of the fallen soldiers’ loved ones.

The final three tracks cover his return home and the burden he carries with him wherever he goes. He becomes a drifter, and there is a definite tie between the protagonist and “The Prophet in Plain Clothes” from Travels, especially as evidenced by the muted chords that play faintly at the end of “Beggin’ in the Slums.” The way they managed to tie the two records together to tell one big story is outstanding, and I can’t think of any other band in hardcore doing something this original.

Musically, this record is tremendous. Creative songwriting is highlighted by intricate guitarwork, a thick and present bass and booming drums. The production works extremely well in the context of the record in that it’s not overly polished, but not obnoxiously raw, either. The songwriting is excellent, and while it is reminiscent of Witness-era Modern Life is War, it’s very much their own. The highlight is certainly the catchy guitar lines that appear throughout the entire record.

Overall, this record is definitely worth a listen. Defeater are doing something different in hardcore, which is more than welcome, especially when it’s done this well. It’s not just that they’re telling a story, but they’re telling a very intriguing story and telling it in great detail, making the listener relate to it. The presentation of the record itself is also done well. It is a double 7”, and the liner notes contain little blurbs between each song’s lyrics that further explain the story. Many bands tend to go into “sophomore slumps,” but Defeater apparently wanted nothing to do with this, and if they plan to keep writing music this good, I’ll be anxiously awaiting every release they put out as I did with this record.

(8.0/10)