Death From Above 1979

A noise-rock and dance-punk project formed in Toronto in 2001, Death From Above 1979 brings together bassist Jesse F. Keeler and drummer-vocalist Sebastien Grainger as a duo built around a saturated bass and very upfront drumming. Originally called Death From Above, the band adopted the name Death From Above 1979 after a name dispute with DFA Records, while keeping the same abrasive, rhythm-driven aesthetic. After an initial EP, Heads Up (2002), the band drew attention with the album You’re a Woman, I’m a Machine (2004), which blends punk energy, dance-oriented grooves and noisy textures, all propelled by the rhythm section and a tense vocal delivery. The duo split in 2006 but reformed in 2011, returning to tour the indie rock circuits in North America and Europe. They followed with The Physical World (2014), Outrage! Is Now (2017) — where they slightly expanded toward hard rock and abrasive pop — and Is 4 Lovers (2021), which explores more melodic structures without abandoning the minimalist duo setup. Meanwhile, Keeler and Grainger have remained active in the Canadian electronic and alternative rock scenes through other projects, feeding the band’s evolution while maintaining a sound centered on rhythmic impact.