Self Defense Family (sometimes shortened to Self Defense and previously known as End of a Year) is a post-punk outfit with members from across the United States and England, origin Cohoes, New York, United States. The band started in 2003 as a side project for a number of Albany musicians already involved in full-time bands. Having spent time in heavier bands, the initial End of a Year line-up was interested in trying something more overtly melodic.