A band that accomplishes the feat of putting a new spin on the garage rock revival with dance-punk means? Hard to imagine these days. But this review of DZ Deathrays' third disc, "Bloody Lovely" (2018), speaks volumes: "Anyone familiar with their first two albums knows by now that DZ Deathrays have only one thing on their mind: Fun. The Brisbane duo aren't looking to reinvent the wheel either, instead sticking to their successful formula: big riffs, thunderous drums and harsh vocals." In other words, they don't make big plans and they don't love change. Shane Parsons, Simon Ridley and, more recently, Lachlan Ewbank prove to every critic just how serious they are with their mix of danceable punk and noisy indie rock.Parson and Ridley know each other from their time together in Brisbane rock band Velociraptor. In 2008, they decide to go it alone as a twosome. They chuck their jobs after graduating from university for their music, because gigs are more rewarding than an office job. "It's the only job where you get a case of beer at the beginning of the shift and applause from a bunch of people at the end. We've had a lot of jobs, but we've never gotten anything like this; not even coffee", Ridley says of their lifestyle. They initially only perform at house parties, where they also record their first EP, Ruined My Life, live, which is released in 2009.
NAfter two more EPs ("No Sleep" and "Brutal Tapes"), they are invited by the Foo Fighters on their world tour in 2011. In 2012 they record their debut CD "Bloodstreams" in just two weeks with producer Richard Pike in Queensland. The debut album immediately wins the "Independent Music Award" in the category "best independent hard rock album" and the most important Australian music award, the ARIA Award, as "best hard rock/heavy metal album" and is celebrated by the local media as well as the British press. The prestigious NME wrote in May 2012, "This album has the potential to make your little sister shave her head and buy faux leather hot pants. It's the authored seduction for a weekend of irresponsibility and a Monday of bad excuses." In January 2014, with producer Burke Reid near Sydney, the second record "Black Rat" is created in just two weeks once again, which Parsons describes as a record that "doesn't really hit its stride until after 9pm". Before "Black Rat" is released in the US and Europe in May 2014, they play in the UK for the first time. "Black Rat" also wins the ARIA Award. The duo have now completed not only a number of Australian tours, but also over 20 international tours, sharing the stage with bands such as Blood Red Shoes, Cerebral Ballzy and Band Of Skulls. DZ Deathrays can also be seen at some of the world's most renowned festivals, including appearances at Reading & Leeds, SXSW, CMJ, CMW, The Great Escape internationally and Falls Festival, Splendour In The Grass. In 2016 they released two singles: 'Blood On My Leather' and 'Pollyanna' are not, however, included on their third album, Bloody Lovely. This is released in February 2018, is again produced by Burke Reid, has two more hits to offer in 'Shred Of Summer' and 'Total Meltdown' and lands at #4 in the Australian charts. To quote another review, "Is it too early to pick this album as the best of the year?" The fourth album, by the way, is ready and should be available for the September tour.
Lyrics source and more information about the event: https://batschkapp.tickets.de/de/tour/1002018-dz_deathrays
