DZ Deathrays


DZ Deathrays are an Australian dance-punk trio from Brisbane, Queensland. Composed of Shane Parsons, Lachlan Ewbank and Simon Ridley, they put out two EPs before releasing their debut album, Bloodstreams, in April 2012. The album went on to win the Best Hard Rock/Heavy Metal Album award at the 2012 ARIA Awards. To date they have released four studio albums: Bloodstreams, Black Rat, Bloody Lovely and Positive Rising: Part 1.

History

Early years (2008–2011)

Parsons and Ridley were initially the founding members of Brisbane band Velociraptor, and continue to play with the group. Following the formation of DZ Deathrays, the band's first performances occurred at Brisbane house parties. The debut recording for the band was an EP, titled Ruined My Life, that was released in 2009 and its entire content was recorded live at a house party. The band's sophomore EP, Brutal Tapes, was released in January 2011 on their Bandcamp. A Re-issue containing more songs was released by label I Oh You, in 2014.

''Bloodstreams'' (2012–2013)

DZ Deathrays released their debut album, Bloodstreams, in mid-2012 and received praise from Pitchfork Media, with reviewer Laura Snapes writing that the album is "more than worth going deaf to." The album was co-produced by electro artist Richard Pike and was recorded in Queensland during a two-week period. It was released in the UK in May 2012 on the Hassle label and NME reviewer Kelly Murray explained: "This album has the potential to make your little sister want to shave her head and invest in mock leather hotpants. It’s the penned seduction of a weekend of irresponsibility and a Monday full of inferior excuses."

''Black Rat'' (2014–2016)

The band's second album was recorded with producer Burke Reid at the Grove Studios complex, located adjacent to the Strickland Forest, north of Sydney, Australia, in January 2014. The band recorded with Reid for a two-week period—a 9 January Facebook post from the band read: "Producer Burke Reid tinkering away at about 3am. Sounding brutal." The band's press release for the album states that the recording is "a rich, deep collection of sounds, textures and arrangements". In the promotional material that accompanied review copies of the album, Parsons described the album as "definitely a night-time record. After 9pm; that's where it finds its place."
In early April 2014, the band signed with the Infectious Records music company for the release of Black Rat in the United Kingdom. The band toured the UK during April 2014, appearing at the Liverpool Sound City event, prior to the UK release of the album in August 2014. The duo released their second studio album Black Rat in both Australia and the United States in May 2014.
In early May 2014, writing for the Australian newspaper, music journalist Andrew McMillen awarded Black Rat 3.5 stars out of a possible 5. McMillen describes Bloodstreams as comparatively juvenile alongside Black Rat, and writes that the more mature sound better suits the duo, as they move beyond their "trash party" origins. McMillen further praises the album's 11 songs as a "significant step forward" and concludes: "... it's the sound of a confident band torn between its populist, party-friendly beginnings and a new-found ability to embrace glimpses of beauty amid the sonic destruction." On 18 May, the album peaked at No. 23 on the ARIA Charts for one week.

''Bloody Lovely'' (2017–2018)

The duo released the single "Shred for Summer" in August 2017, it placed within Australian radion station Triple J's Hottest 100, 2017 at no. 67. Their next single "Bad Influence" was released in September, with another, "Total Meltdown" following in November. "Total Meltdown" just missed out placing no. 109 within the Hottest 200 of 2017. The three singles would later be included in their third studio album.
Their third studio album, Bloody Lovely, was released on I Oh You Records on 2 February 2018. Triple J picked it as their feature album of the week. Three days after the album was released the single "Like People" included in the album was released. The music video for the single featured one of the original members of The Wiggles, Murray Cook. On 18 February, the album peaked at No. 4 on the ARIA Charts and remained there for a total of two weeks. Then-touring guitarist Lachlan Ewbank helped in writing the album and was considered a fully-fledged member of the band. He was later officially inducted as a full-time member of the band.
On 14 September the band joined with The Gooch Palms for Like a Version on Triple J where they played their original, "Like People", and their cover of "Love Shack" by the B52s.

''Positive Rising: Part 1'' (2019–present)

On 10 January 2019, via DZ Deathrays' Twitter, the trio stated that they were about to commence recording their fourth studio album. On 14 January, it was announced that DZ Deathrays would perform a national tour titled "Tour With the Lot". The tour is set to run from March to April with support from Moaning Lisa and Good Doogs. On 4 February, they confirmed that their fourth studio album was completed, further details are yet to be announced.
On 1 March, coinciding with the beginning of their Tour With the Lot, DZ Deathrays released a new single entitled "Front Row Hustle". A reworking of their track "Afterglow" from their 2018 album, Bloody Lovely, remixed by Trials of A.B. Original. It features Briggs, also of A.B. Original, and rising star Jesswar. An accompanying music video preceded the single's release. On 14 June, their fourth studio album Positive Rising: Part 1 was confirmed for a release of 30 August. On the same day, the trio released a new single "IN-TO-IT" alongside an accompanying music video.

Touring

DZ Deathrays have toured throughout over 15 countries, including Australia, the UK, the USA and Canada. In the promotional material for the band's second album, Parsons explained that the band had spent the preceding two years drinking and touring, a period in which the songs for Black Rat were created.
To promote Bloodstreams, the DZ Deathrays performed at festivals such as the Reading and Leeds Festivals, the A Perfect Day Festival, Splendour in the Grass and St Jerome's Laneway Festival, and headlined the NME stage at The Great Escape Festival, held in Brighton and Hove, UK. The band's performance at the US South by Southwest event in Austin, Texas was shortened, due to the extreme volume of their music. Musical touring partners include Blood Red Shoes, TRUST, Foo Fighters and Unknown Mortal Orchestra.

Awards

They won Best Independent Hard Rock album at the 2012 Independent Music Awards and Best Hard Rock/Heavy Metal Album at the 2012 ARIA Awards, winning over bands such as Frenzal Rhomb and Buried in Verona for the latter award. The band was completing a European tour when the ARIA ceremony occurred, but in response, Ridley wrote: "this award only means something because we all did it as friends instead of business partners. Looking forward to getting back and having some well-deserved congratulatory drinks together”, while Parsons stated, “the whole thing is pretty unexpected which makes it a nicer surprise."
In 2019 DZ Deathrays won the Best Independent Hard Rock, Heavy or Punk Album AIR Award.
At the ARIA Music Awards of 2019, Positive Rising was nominated for ARIA Award for Best Hard Rock or Heavy Metal Album.

Influences

In April 2014, Ridley identified seven albums that "changed his life" for the Australian "Tone Deaf" music website. Included in the list are Smash by The Offspring, which was not only the first album that Ridley owned, but "also the first album with swearing on it"; The Bronx's first self-titled album, "a psych up album for nights when I'm too tired but need to party"; Air's Moon Safari, which is an album that was listened to after Ridley would "come home from work every day" and "melt into the couch"—he stated that he now listens to the album on a weekly basis; and Rust In Peace by Megadeth, praised by Ridley for being "Metal how it should be!"

Members

Former touring members

Studio albums

Extended plays

Singles

Music videos