Hairy Australians DZ Deathrays already released the first half of this story in 2019. Given the name of the album, it’s ironic that they view the sequel to what Alcopop! calls their ‘… sprawling rock saga’ as moodier than the prequel. Surely the moody bit should come first, followed by the, ahem… positive rising, no?
As the story goes, for this album DZ is viewing the world from an enlightened place. Yet with enlightenment comes greater awareness of the good, the bad and unfortunately, the ugly. Many bands have begun to notice the ugly recently given our globally vulnerable state. This album is therefore about hope, hope that from somewhere, anywhere there will emerge the catalyst for change, a positive uprising.
First thing I notice as I listen is the languid, unhurried sound. Sounds like they’re a bit more stoner rock than dance punk to me. It’s a party either way and working the room at the core of DZ are Queensland pair Shane Parsons (vocals, guitar) and Simon Ridley (drums, percussion, vocals), also of Velociraptor, who began the band by playing at Brisbane house parties. In fact, the first EP, ‘Ruined My Life’, released in 2009, was recorded live at one of these. Party punk it is. Lead guitarist Lachlan Ewbank originally supported the band on tour before recently becoming a fully-fledged member. There must be something about DZ as they’re featured favourably in NME and Rolling Stone Australia. In fact, ‘PR: P1’ seems to have been internationally well received. ‘Positive Rising: Part 2’ is DZ’s fifth album to date. Let’s hear what experience has taught them.
Aptly named ‘Skeleton Key’ opens the album with the promise of unprecedented and clandestine access to the depths of the system, in a funky way. Yet, on the surface, this is nothing to look at. We are all controlled and living a repetitive, boring and meaningless life. The Skeleton Key can release us, and maybe we’ll escape once the drugs wear off. Thankfully, in the cold dawn of the morning there is a plan as ‘Fear The Anchor’ rises up promising that the fear won’t hold us down. Featuring ‘enigma’ Ecca Vandal, a jazz musician turned rapper who contributed aspects of the melody and for whom the key of the song was altered, it faces down the hatred, with a punk edge, sharpened with the promise of retribution.
Favourite for me is ‘All Or Nothing’ which has swagger that sticks, ‘My guitar’ dah dah dah. Simple but unforgettable guitars to die for, attitude to match and a chorus that won’t let go. It’s indie rock with balls enough to enter the territory of rock rock and get away with it. I’ve warmed to ‘Kerosene’ after several listens as well, especially the stonking bass rhythm that holds this together. The prospect of what might be, the anticipation of something different, often appears better than reality but, fuck it all ‘I’ll be right here, adrenaline in my heart. You’ll be the spark’. It’s going to appear in your head (again) and you will be singing along.
Here come the lads to tell us how hard they are in ‘Fired Up’, or so it seems on the surface. Musically it’s Cast or Happy Mondays. Message-wise it’s a bit deeper about settling and being controlled. Cities go to waste and we let it happen, then complain about it. Check your pulse, get fired up. Fade into ‘Riff City’ a place where it seems safe enough to release that pent up anger in a blaze of guitars.
Oh, I love ‘You Make Yourself So Mad’ because I know so many people, including myself, that it describes. About sitting on the internet bitching at other people and getting on your high horse but doing fuck all about it, classic. In ‘Golden Retriever’ we finally hear some more punk, though it’s in the vocal timbre and attitude more than anything else. Try starting the song with the bass guitar. Great song, don’t know what it’s got to do with dogs. A distinctly Black Keys-esque intro leads into ‘Swept Up’, about being caught up in the type of moment when you feel a… positive rising towards someone else.
Although I’m not entirely sure what ‘Run The Red’ is about, I can guess at maybe spending more than you have, pushing things more than you should, living life to the edge. Is it the girls fault or is it that of society? Once we get home we’d better sober up because there’s a really serious message coming up. Outro ‘Positive Rising’ is about rising up from your underground hell. It’s languid and unhurried, like trudging through sand, but works to an epic crescendo. This track also has a hidden and extended instrumental section at the end whose abrupt ending is designed to make you ponder.
Having listened to the album in full now I regret passing DZ off as a stoner band, but you’ve got to admit that, while the concept for the album of an uprising of positive change was communicated well, heads were turned by a few passing lassies on the way. It doesn’t matter at all though. DZ Deathrays work it all out with the way they craft songs into epic, emotional and, in this album, rock infused sing alongs. What charisma they have. Perfect for a party I’d say. Ok, I see the draw, pass it on please.
- ‘Positive Rising: Part 2’ is out now. You can get your copy HERE.
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