For a band who started as a tongue-in-cheek spin-off, Brisbane thrashers DZ Deathrays have found the recipe to longevity in invigorating live performances.
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The duo, whose sound treads a fine line between punk, metal and dance, have toured relentlessly since the release of their first record Bloodstreams in 2012.
The project started as an offshoot of Brisbane surf-punk band Velociraptor, however the slimmer outfit has gone onto outshine their original act, taking home an Aria for best hard rock act following the success of their debut.
While their albums have gained a wide audience through frequent airplay on national youth broadcaster Triple J, the band’s steady rise to fame has truly been on the back of their sweaty, raucous live performances.
Preparing to tour their third album Bloody Lovely, frontman Shane Parsons and drummer Simon Ridley will play Ballarat’s Karova Lounge on one of the only regional stops on their Australasian tour.
Now more than six years on from the band’s formation, Ridley said DZ evolved as a two-piece due to the simple fact they couldn’t find other members willing to dedicate their time and money to the project.
However he added that work had already begun on a follow-up to the duo’s 2018 effort, which would see the band add a permanent second guitarist.
“The main reason is it was hard to find someone else who was on the same page as us,” Ridley said. “We’d work full time jobs and use that money to travel to Sydney and Melbourne and play shows to noone.
“It’s easy to ask someone to join your band now but when your band sucks then it’s a lot harder.”
The boys from Queensland have gone on to become staples on the national festival scene, and will get the opportunity again to present their electrifying live show to a new audience at the 2018 Byron Bay Splendour in the Grass in July.
“It’s so cool because (guitarist and vocalist) Shane and myself just go to these festivals anyway and for last couple of years we’ve been getting offered spots on the bill and getting paid.”
Despite their continued success, the pair have found a home away from home in Ballarat, where they have played on almost all of their national tours.
Coming on the back of a tour in South Africa, the drummer said venues like Karova were reminiscent of the bandrooms DZ Deathrays play to when they head abroad.
“We’ve always maintained a good fan base in Ballarat and we still play those kinds of venues overseas.”
DZ Deathrays play Karova Lounge on Thursday, May 17.