DZ Deathrays
Black Rat


3.5
great

Review

by Jordan M. EMERITUS
May 7th, 2014 | 12 replies


Release Date: 2014 | Tracklist

Review Summary: Year of the DZ

Though somewhat facetious in definition, there's really no better way to describe DZ Deathrays than the thrash pop label they're bombarded with. With a keen ability to write memorable vocal hooks matched by riffs that would make Andreas Kisser and Kerry King proud, Deathrays make a gentle journey into their power pop great with songs escalating from the passive title track to the jarring thrash and melody of "Less Out of Sync". It wouldn't be correct to say that this is a thrash metal album by any stretch of the imagination (more an update on the power pop formula), but the harsh, jagged, yet highly concise method with which they handle their craft is enviable; when Shane Parsons effortlessly dives between chaotic riffing, clean/shouted vocals and a standard stop-start noise pop riff in the verses of "Ocean Exploder", you'll be too busy having fun to be noticing the technical skill that he employs. The Aussie 2-piece may be preoccupied lyrically with sleeping and going on drug runs, but they more than make up for it in their subtle musicality; you'd be forgiven for not noticing how limited they are comprised musically as they make their sound so massive in the meantime. It's huge, it's dumb, it's rudimentary and it's hardly innovative- it's also the most fun you'll have in 2014.



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user ratings (33)
3.7
great

Comments:Add a Comment 
klap
Emeritus
May 7th 2014


12409 Comments


power pop sign me up

Butkuiss
May 7th 2014


7030 Comments

Album Rating: 2.5

Wasn't the album "Black Rat" and not "Black Rats"?



Hope this is as good as Bloodstreams. Spent my NYE with these guys and it was amazing.

MaskAtTheMasquerade
May 7th 2014


2924 Comments


band is ttight

WhiteNoise
May 7th 2014


3887 Comments


I wasn't a huge fan of the first album since everything sounded the same (and not in a good way) but I've heard this is much stronger a I'll probably check this out.

Wouldn't really call the band obscure though...

Butkuiss
May 7th 2014


7030 Comments

Album Rating: 2.5

Are you fuckin crazy Whitenoise Bloodstreams was fucking killer.

Butkuiss
May 7th 2014


7030 Comments

Album Rating: 2.5

DZ Deathrays playing a room with 100 people in a halfpipe two minutes from New Years' while I was drunk off my fucking nut > BDO.

WhiteNoise
May 8th 2014


3887 Comments


Fuck yeah I must be hip!

I've always wanted to see them live in a small venue (not an arena supporting Foo fighters...), I saw
Velociraptor (pretty sure these guys were there) that was a bit of a party on stage.

Butkuiss
May 8th 2014


7030 Comments

Album Rating: 2.5

There's a pic of me backflipping off their stage right as the New Year hit check and mate. :L

djunior
June 27th 2014


882 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Digging this. pretty fun listen

Butkuiss
August 29th 2014


7030 Comments

Album Rating: 2.5

It's not as thrashy or wild as Bloodstreams, which disappoints me a little.

Butkuiss
August 30th 2014


7030 Comments

Album Rating: 2.5

Yeah, nah, after more listens I'm definitely not feeling this as much as the debut. Nowhere near as thrashy, a lot slower, and where are Shane's screams?. It feels like they're aiming for more commercial appeal. It's not bad, but not Bloodstreams.

Butkuiss
October 14th 2014


7030 Comments

Album Rating: 2.5

So torn on this. I want to like it as much as I liked their debut but it's just not happening.



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