HEALTH

Stemming from a D.I.Y. noise scene based around the downtown L.A. art space The Smell, HEALTH make mathy indie rock with tribal drums, squealing guitars, asymmetrical basslines, and a homemade guitar pedal/microphone called a Zoothorn. As a four-piece led by Jacob Duzsik, the band played its first show after practicing together for six months, and started making a go in Los Angeles, playing ten-minute sets with like-minded local bands like Ex Models, No Age, and Mika Miko. After a few tours and a slot at SXSW, they returned to home base and started recording their debut album at The Smell. Capturing the cavernous brick acoustics with vintage microphones, HEALTH featured a unique brand of aggressive and concise songs, and was released by Lovepump Records in 2007. Later, they started touring with pals Crystal Castles, an aggressive electro duo that had previously shared a 7" with the band. HEALTH also remixed their song "Crimewave" that year. To repay the favor, Crystal Castles contributed to a full album of HEALTH remixes, titled //DISCO. In 2009, the group unleashed its muscular and crunchy second full-length, Get Color. Following tradition, the songs from this album were remixed for 2010's ::DISCO2. HEALTH composed the score for 2012's Max Payne 3, which earned nominations for Best Score in a Game and Best Song in a Game (for the track "Tears") at that year's Spike Video Game Awards. They continued their foray into video game music in 2013 with "High Pressure Dave," a song inspired by the Units' "High Pressure Days" that appeared in Grand Theft Auto V. HEALTH returned with new material in 2015, premiering the single "New Coke" a few months in advance of their third full-length, Death Magic.