Death from Above 1979

Death From Above 1979 not only prove that less can be better, but it can also be louder—much louder. Formed in 2001, the Canadian duo, comprising bassist/synth player Jesse F. Keeler and vocalist/drummer Sebastien Grainger, built their dance-punk sound on little more than heavy rhythm and raw noise, blending up the raucous energy of hardcore with the debauched spirit of electroclash. Their 2002 EP, Heads Up, and 2004 debut album, You’re a Woman, I’m a Machine, were both filled with sweaty sprints through gnarly bass, beats, and bluster. A follow-up collection, 2005’s Romance Bloody Romance, featured remixes by Justice and Josh Homme and landed on the Electronic Albums chart. But just as quickly as the band rose, they fell apart, disbanding in 2006. Keeler focused on his electronic project MSTRKRFT with producer Al-P, while Grainger went solo. The two eventually reunited and returned with 2014’s The Physical World. The decade between albums brought a hint of refinement, if not more sonic twists and turns. It also creatively revitalized the duo, who continue to offer some of the most dissonant, dizzying dance-rock—just see 2021’s self-produced thriller Is 4 Lovers.