Song of the Day: Defects – ‘Lockdown’

Let us take you back a few years to a time when the world stood still, where we were isolated from normality. In short, living through lockdown sucked and it’s that pent-up aggression that Defects pour out on ‘Lockdown’. The rising UK band provide a dense, pounding slice of melodic metal that takes influences from both heavy and harmonious sides of the genre.

The release of ‘Lockdown’ comes as the quintet prepare to release their debut album, ‘Modern Error’, on 24th May via Mascot Records. With the versatile voice of Tony Maue delivering growls and soaring lines, Luke Genders and James Threadwell produce razor-sharp riffs. While Harry Jennings’ pummeling drums and David Silver’s bass lines merely add to ‘Lockdown’s heaviness.

However, the track’s lyrical side captures the relatable frustration many of us experienced just only several years ago. “The lyrics are probably some of my favourites on the album as it captures frustration towards a government and the rules we were made to follow,” says Defects vocalist Tony Maue.

‘Lockdown’ captures the raw emotion that threads ‘Modern Error’ together. One element that influenced the album is Tony Maue’s traumatic experience of being taken into care at a young age. “The traumatic memories of going into care, losing my family when I was very young, and having to deal with that and adjusting myself to that kind of lifestyle, at the time was brutal. The only thing that helped me, and I’m not just saying this, was music,” Maue explains.

However, ‘Modern Error’ also allows the other members of Defects to put their personality into its 13 songs. For example, drummer Harry Jennings fell out of love with music yet the formation of Defects, and the bond they have formed, reignited his passion. Whereas Luke Genders spoke about the trust and respect each member has for one another has allowed him to “channel negativity into something positive.”

‘Modern Error’ is the next stage in Defects‘ growth, having made some major strides over the past 12 months; appearing at Bloodstock, 2000Trees, The Great Escape, and touring with Of Mice & Men. With their first album due out in the spring, Defects will continue to hit the road hard with a UK and European tour supporting Orbit Culture before appearing at several festivals over the summer, including Download, Graspop in Belgium, and Germany’s Rockharz.

March (supporting Orbit Culture)
6th The Cathouse, Glasgow
7th Exchange, Bristol
8th Rebellion, Manchester
9th Asylum, Birmingham
10th The Underworld, London
June
14-16 Download Festival, Derby

‘Modern Error’ by Defects is released on May 24th on Mascot Records. Pre-order/pre-save here.

1. Intro
2. Scapegoat
3. End of Days
4. Dream Awake
5. Another Heart To Bleed
6. Recurring
7. Lockdown
8. Echo Chamber
9. Interlude
10. Modern Error
11. Broken Bloodlines
12. Second To None
13. Gone To Waste