Just two Brisbane lads who make a fucktonne of noise that gets them kicked off stages, DZ Deathrays have spent the better part of the past two years touring the world alongside the likes of Foo Fighters, Unknown Mortal Orchestra and Crystal Castles and playing festivals like Reading, Leeds and South by Southwest. They also picked up a little ARIA for their debut album ‘Bloodstreams’.
Now with their follow up LP ‘Black Rat’ hot off the press, guitarist/vocalist Shane Parsons took us through the through the album one track at a time, detailing what makes this one bigger, badder and accidentally more Limp Bizkity than the last.
01) Black Rat
This is a minimal track in the lowest guitar tuning we have ever done. Kinda fantasizing about the ghosts of lost souls running around cities still looking for love in grimy pubs bars. Chucked some bendy guitars on top to try make you feel a little drunk from the get go.
02) Gina Works at Hearts
After touring in the States you end up at some seedy strip clubs when they are all that’s left serving booze. One day I might actually get to meet Gina.
03) Less Out of Sync
A personal piece about trying to keep everything in life locked together although everyone has their own agenda. Touring eh…
04) Reflective Skull
Fix up, look sharp. Gross dance floors of debauchery.
05) Keep Myself on Edge
The first song we wrote for the record. Tried to sell this song to Violent Soho for a carton of beer but they said no.
06) Northern Lights
Recorded in London with producer Andy Savours. Easily our softest moment on record. This song came together very quickly so we recorded it and got it out there to try showcase that we could be pussies. Fun fact: verse and chorus all have an extra two bars kinda like Outkast’s ‘Hey Ya’.
07) Nightwalking
This was something put together in the studio. Drums changed a lot from the initial demos. We actually didn’t want to record this song but Burke Reid made us and in the end it came up really cool. Very different for us as it’s quite pop but still has a good sense of urgency. Our inspiration for the final product was The Walkmen’s ‘The Rat’. So many rats.
08) Fixations
This song started being written on tour in 2012. Tried to go for a mean sounding minimal hip hop thing. Originally there was a different chorus but it was too Limp Bizkit. So we went rave instead. I’m glad we did.
09) Ocean Exploder
Written in an old house in the country. Recorded once in the UK then again for the album. This track hasn’t changed much since we felt its initial brute force and rattled the walls of that house. We added the slow down part on this version which now when we play live is the closest to a breakdown we have ever gotten. Grinding and fun as hell to play live.
10) Tonight Alright
This track was in many different variations before it finally came together in pre-production. I love playing the main riff.
11) Night Slave
This track was originally a lot slower than it is on here. We sped it up so it sat nicely on a dance floor. Total cheeses lyrics to go with the dance vibe. The bridge is one of my favorite parts of the entire record. We sat up until 4am working out that beast one night just drinking coffee and getting frustrated but now it’s all done and I can play it without fucking up, I love it.
DZ DEATHRAYS’ BLACK RAT ALBUM TOUR
Thursday 15 May, Karova Lounge | Ballarat (18+ only)
Tickets via www.oztix.com.au | 1300 762 545
Friday 16 May, Corner Hotel | Melbourne (18+ only)
Tickets via www.cornerhotel.com.au | 1300 724 867
Saturday 17 May, Jive | Adelaide (18+ only)
Tickets via www.moshtix.com.au | 1300 GET TIX
Thursday 22 May, Prince of Wales | Bunbury (18+ only)
Tickets via www.oztix.com.au |1300 762 545
Friday 23 May, The Indi Bar | Scarborough (18+ only)
Tickets via www.oztix.com.au | 1300 762 545
Saturday 24 May, Amplifier | Perth (18+ only)
Tickets via www.oztix.com.au | 1300 762 545
Sunday 25 May, Newport | Fremantle (18+ only)
Tickets via www.oztix.com.au | 1300 762 545
Thursday 29 May, Transit Bar | Canberra (18+ only)
Tickets via www.moshtix.com.au | 1300 GET TIX
Friday 30 May, Rad | Wollongong (18+ only)
Tickets via www.oztix.com.au | 1300 762 545
Sat 31 May, Oxford Art Factory | Sydney (18+ only)
Tickets via www.moshtix.com.au | 1300 GET TIX
