DZ Deathrays
Factory Theatre
Sydney, AUS
December 15, 2016
DZ Deathrays are essentially a duo.
An Australian “dance-punk” duo that is, that emerged from the ashes of the band Velociraptor. The fact that their debut EP Ruined my Life from 2009 was recorded live at a house party gives an accurate impression of their DIY approach to channeling their alchemy.
In 2012 their debut full length Bloodstreams saw the light of day and was warmly received and heralded as the appropriate, uncontrived soundtrack for a weekend of debauchery.
With the band signing with Infectious Records, a second album followed in 2014 and demonstrated that the band had arrived at more refined stage with more textured, dense and structured arrangements while still honoring their trash party origins and aversion to mainstream culture.
While not being derivative of any singular source band, as far as influences are concerned, DZ Deathrays have created their own signature concoction by skimming the cream of the crop of melodic punk and hardcore from the mid-'90s, enriching it with the beach-party blowout vibe of Air’s debut and topping it up with a nod to classic metal and alternative music standouts from 1990s.
Along with Violent Soho, DZ Deathrays are one of the spearheads of a new Australian scene that injects fresh blood into tested and tried rock archaisms - an injection that was direly needed and is leapt up by tonight’s mosh pit, consisting of a young, hairy, sweaty, beer drenched crowd of young hopefuls circle pitting, stage diving and overall having a fantastic time.
From the time the houselights dimmed and give way to DZ Deathray’s epileptic attack inducing strobe lights, there was a noticeable buzz among the crowd unleashing their anticipation and erupting with excitement – a reflection of the band’s vibrance, exuberance and their very own strain of radiation sickness.
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Photo by T
