Death From Above 1979, ‘The Physical World’ – Album Review

There's a very grungy force driving Death From Above 1979's new dance-punk album, 'The Physical World,' that seems to give it just enough ferocity to make it the perfect comeback album for Jesse F. Keeler (bass, synths, backing vocals) and Sebastien Grainger (vocals and drums). The intense 35-minute explosion is complete with muffled synth, heavy cymbal crashes and as many strung-out bass riffs as you could ever need.

The new LP is the duo's first studio record in nearly a decade -- mainly due to their 2006 breakup. Despite the band's disheartening announcement, their debut album, 'You're A Woman, I'm A Machine,' continued to sell and their rapidly growing fan base continued to demand more. In the interim, Keeler went on to form the duo MSTRKRFT and Grainger put together some solo work under the alias Sebastien Grainger and the Mountains. After reuniting in 2011 and taking the stage once again, the band found their groove almost instantly.

There's something about the songs on this album that makes you want to get up and dance, or rock out, or whatever your thing might be. It's universality gives it the ability to be appreciated by almost any music fanatic.

The first half of the album opens up in a very epic way -- which is saying something, since the near-flawless single, 'Trainwreck 1979,' doesn't play until the seventh track. The distorted bass riff that propels the record's lead tune, 'Cheap Talk,' is enough to get you moving in your seat for sure.

The second track, 'Right On, Frankenstein!,' picks up some speed and turns into one of the greatest punk songs on the album. Next up is 'Virgins,' a song that sounds like something the Black Keys might put out -- which is a nod to the band's musical diversity on 'The Physical World.'

The repetition in 'White Is Red' is a clear example of Death From Above 1979's Daft Punk influences, which shine on throughout the bulk of the record. Then comes the LP's first single, the aforementioned 'Trainwreck 1979,' which when it dropped, was a clear foreshadowing of the quality that 'The Physical World' would bestow on fans. While the album might fizzle out a bit toward the end with less-engaging tracks, fans may actually welcome the chance to mellow out a bit.

The bottom line is this: give the album a spin and be your own judge, but we doubt you'll be disappointed. If Death From Above 1979 were looking to impress with their comeback album, they surely do, and we can't wait to hear what else they have up their sleeves. Our sentiments quickly became what 'Trainwreck 1979' espouses: "Cause I want it all / I can't get enough."