Engine Down

by John Vallier"Groove-oriented emprise brushed with shades of Drive Like Jehu and grounded in a rocking emo sensibility" begins to characterize Engine Down's musical demeanor. The Richmond quartet met in Harrisonburg, VA, before embarking on their eastward migration to the Virginian capital. Comprised of former Sleepytime Trio, the Weak Link Breaks, and Bughummer members, Engine Down debuted at a murder mystery flick. They first released a self-titled 7" through Lovitt in 1998, their full-length Under the Pretense of Present Tense following later that year. After that, the band -- comprised of Jonathan Fuller (guitar/vocals), Jason Wood (bass/vocals), Keeley Davis (vocals/guitar) and Cornbread Compton (drums) -- put out 2000's To Bury Within the Sound and 2001's A Sign of Breath EP, touring with such acts as Four Hundred Years, Speedwell, and Three Penny Opera. Also in 2001 came their third album, the moodier Demure. By way of their recordings and live performances, Engine Down nurtured a bevy of adoring fans that helped them chart in CMJ's Top 20 for eight weeks. Engine Down was keen of rhythms in six-eight time, not hesitating to augment their bass, drum, guitar, and vocal setup with such instruments as the cello, vibraphone, and piano. Even without the addition of these acoustic instruments, Engine Down's core sound -- its propulsive triplet-ridden beats, weighty bass lines, pugnacious guitar salvos, and languorous vocals -- made the band worth seeking out. By 2004, Engine Down had jumped from Lovitt to Lookout Records to release their fourth disk, Enginedown. The band toured Europe in early 2005 before announcing that they would be breaking up (amicably) later that year. Following a fall U.S. farewell tour supported by Bella Lea and Des Ark, the members of Engine Down went their separate ways.