Armitage burst onto the scene with the bombastic single "Victory Or Defeat" from their brand-new concept EP, "Robusuta." Marion, IL quartet Jason Walker (drums), Dan Turnquist (guitar), Mark Holderfield (bass), and Jesse Condra (vocals) are raw soul power and DIY grit to the heartbeat, delivering an aural punch that's as unrestrained as it is deeply personal.

From its first riff, "Victory Or Defeat" casts you into the midst of Armitage's kaiju-charged story, a story of destruction, refusal, and inner tumult. Jesse Condra's vocals are raw and powerful- fluctuating between poignant melody and guttural scream. It's the sort of performance that stages the sound of lived-in, not merely performed. You believe every word.

The group's metalcore influences of the 2000s think Killswitch Engage and Atreyu are palpable but not derivative. Instead, Armitage strains their influences through a homegrown, contemporary mode. The song is as lean and purposeful as a Black Flag anthem, with a chorus that sticks, verses that rumble like tectonic plates, and breakdowns that call and command a headbang or two.

Recorded and written in Jason's home studio, "Victory or Defeat" is built on collaboration. The band's distinctive writing process, jamming, recording, reviewing, and refining have led to a track that's as sonically ambitious as it is emotionally grounded.

Though "Victory or Defeat" may sound like a description of a monstrous battle with apocalyptic stakes, it's ultimately about the very real struggle of making art within limitations and prevailing despite that. While it's not groundbreaking for metalcore lovers who like an actual heart beneath the well-executed heaviness, Armitage provides a loud, proud world.

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