DZ Deathrays

DZ Deathrays (previously DZ) is an Australian thrash pop duo from Brisbane, Queensland. Made up of Shane Parsons (vocals/guitar) and Simon Ridley (drums), 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.

History

Parsons and Ridley, both from Bundaberg, Queensland, Australia, 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.

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.»

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 «a rich, deep collection of sounds, textures and arrangements».

In early April 2014, the band signed with the Infectious Records music company for the release of Black Rat in the United Kingdom (UK). 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 (US) in May 2014.

The band’s press release for the album states that the recording is a «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 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 [Black Rat] 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.»