DZ Deathrays

After spending the last few months touring the USA and receiving a huge reception at showcases at SXSW and CMJ, DZ DEATHRAYS (formerly just, DZ) followed it up with a trip to the UK showcasing at The Great Escape and touring with New York punk outfit Cerebral Ballzy. What they came back with, was a response larger than any of them could have expected, garnering 8th position in NME Magazine's Top 50 Bands of 2011, Q Magazine Track of the Day and a spot on Q's top ten bands from The Great Escape.

It's no wonder, the band has received personal kudos from Mark Ronson, airplay on BBC1, Radio 1 and XFM, been Radar artist with full-page feature in NME Magazine and other features in Artrocker and the Big Cheese. They were one of Blare Magazine's 40 Must-Hear Bands at SXSW and have toured Australia with Crystal Castles, Ratatat, The View, Biffy Clyro, The Temper Trap plus more, and are about to go out again with Dananananaykroyd. So what's all the fuss about?

DZ DEATHRAYS consists of only two parts, that being Shane Parsons and Simon Ridley. While it may be hard for some to comprehend a mere two piece with the ability to create a massive wall of sound, this is a feat which DZ DEATHRAYS have been able to conquer with results fashioned from a statically charged mix of influences like Death From Above 1979, The Bronx, Justice, Sunn 0)) and Lightning Bolt. With this combination of musical mentors as ammunition, they create a blend of driving monster beats firing over an avalanche of guitar similar to the sound of a squadron of attacking Panzer tanks.

The band has had two releases since the end of 2009. The first EP being 'DZ Ruined My Life' (Useless Art / Inertia) and the second and most recent EP being 'Brutal Tapes', a mix of studio and house party recordings as well as some remixes from Yacht Club DJs and Surecut Kids.

They tour relentlessly, selling out shows on their own back and touring with high-end international and national artists. They've also played to thousands at festivals across the country such as Big Day Out, Parklife, Field Day, Sunset Sounds, Playground Weekender and more.

In accolades, they have had four songs on rotation at triple j and various community radio stations across Australia, for 'Gebbie Street', 'The Mess Up', 'Blue Blood' and 'Teeth'. Their 1st EP sold over 600 copies in pre sales alone, even before the lead single from the release received rotation. In September 2009 DZ were 'Unearthed' by triple j and they were shortlisted for two separate competitions for Tooheys Extra Dry, in particular the Ted The Lab competition where they were runners up and received personal kudos from Mark Ronson. They were also awarded 39th position on the Rip It Up Magazine's Fresh 50 in 2010 and have been buzzed about in various US and Australian based blogs.

Not bad, for a band designed for playing drunken house parties in Brisbane. DZ DEATHRAYS may have moved on to larger prospects, but that refreshingly palatable gritty-indie sound still prevails. Armed with the additional blinding flashes of strobe lighting, the smell of sweat and alcohol and with a taste for mayhem and carnage, their live shows are a treat for all of the senses.