Product Code Database
DZ Deathrays (previously Denzel then DZ) are an Australian dance-punk trio from Brisbane, Queensland. Composed of Shane Parsons (vocals/guitar), Lachlan Ewbank (lead guitar/vocals) and Simon Ridley (drums), they put out two EPs before releasing their debut album, Bloodstreams, in April 2012. The album won the ARIA Award for Best Hard Rock or Heavy Metal Album at the ARIA Music Awards of 2012. To date they have released six studio albums: Bloodstreams, Black Rat, Bloody Lovely, Positive Rising: Part 1, Positive Rising: Part 2 and R.I.F.F..
In early April 2014, the band signed with the Infectious Records music company for the release of Black Rat in the United Kingdom (UK). The band toured the UK during April 2014, appearing at the Liverpool Sound City event, prior to the UK release of the album in August 2014. The duo released their second studio album Black Rat in both Australia and the United States (US) in May 2014.
In early May 2014, writing for the The Australian newspaper, music journalist Andrew McMillen awarded Black Rat 3.5 stars out of a possible 5. McMillen describes Bloodstreams as comparatively juvenile alongside Black Rat, and writes that the more mature sound better suits the duo, as they move beyond their "trash party" origins. McMillen further praises the album's 11 songs as a "significant step forward" and concludes: "... it's ''Black the sound of a confident band torn between its populist, party-friendly beginnings and a new-found ability to embrace glimpses of beauty amid the sonic destruction." On 18 May, the album peaked at No. 23 on the ARIA Charts for one week.
Their third studio album, Bloody Lovely, was released on Mushroom Group and Alcopop! Records on 2 February 2018. Triple J picked it as their feature album of the week. Three days after the album was released the single "Like People" included in the album was released. The music video for the single featured one of the original members of The Wiggles, Murray Cook. On 18 February, the album peaked at No. 4 on the ARIA Charts and remained there for a total of two weeks. Then-touring guitarist Lachlan Ewbank helped in writing the album and was considered a fully-fledged member of the band. He was later officially inducted as a full-time member of the band.
On 14 September the band joined with The Gooch Palms for Like a Version on Triple J where they played their original, "Like People", and their cover of "Love Shack" by the B52s.
On 1 March 2019, coinciding with the beginning of their Tour With the Lot, DZ Deathrays released a new single entitled "Front Row Hustle". A reworking of their track "Afterglow" from their 2018 album, Bloody Lovely, remixed by Trials of A.B. Original. It features Briggs, also of A.B. Original, and rising star Jesswar. An accompanying music video preceded the single's release. On 14 June, their fourth studio album was confirmed for a release of 30 August. On the same day, the trio released a new single "IN-TO-IT" alongside an accompanying music video.
In October 2020, the band released "Fired Up", the lead single from , which was released on 9 July 2021.
On 5 April 2023 The band announced the forthcoming release of their 6th studio album R.I.F.F, proceeded by the singles "Paranoid", "King B" and "Tuff Luck".
In an album review, Ellie Robinson from NME said "The title stands for Remember It's for Fun, and here DZ Deathrays wholeheartedly embody that ethos."
To promote Bloodstreams, the DZ Deathrays performed at festivals such as the Reading and Leeds Festivals (UK), the A Perfect Day Festival (Villafranca di Verona, Italy), Splendour in the Grass (Australia) and St Jerome's Laneway Festival (Australia), and headlined the NME stage at The Great Escape Festival, held in Brighton and Hove, UK. The band's performance at the US SXSW event in Austin, Texas was shortened, due to the extreme volume of their music. Musical touring partners include Blood Red Shoes, TRUST, Foo Fighters and Unknown Mortal Orchestra.
Current touring musicians
Former touring musicians
| + List of studio albums, with selected chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:11em;" | Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:16em;" | Album details ! scope="col" colspan="1" | Peak chart positions |
| + List of extended plays ! scope="col" style="width:8em;" | Title ! scope="col" style="width:20em;" | Details |
|- | rowspan="2" | 2012 | rowspan="2" | Bloodstreams | Best Independent Album | |- | Best Independent Hard Rock or Punk Album | |- | 2014 | Black Rat | Best Independent Hard Rock or Punk Album | |- | 2019 | Bloody Lovely | Best Independent Hard Rock, Heavy or Punk Album | |- | 2020 | Positive Rising: Part 1 | Best Independent Punk Album or EP | |- | 2022 | Positive Rising: Part 2 | Best Independent Punk Album or EP | |-
! |- | 2012 | Bloodstreams | Best Hard Rock/Heavy Metal Album | | |- | rowspan="2"|2014 | rowspan="2"| Black Rat | Best Hard Rock/Heavy Metal Album | | rowspan="2"| |- | Best Cover Art | |- | 2018 | Bloody Lovely | Best Hard Rock/Heavy Metal Album | | |- | 2019 | Positive Rising: Part 1 | Best Hard Rock/Heavy Metal Album | | |- | 2023 | R.I.F.F | Best Hard Rock/Heavy Metal Album | | |-
|- | 2018 | "Like People" | Australian Video of the Year |
|- | rowspan="2"| 2016 | themselves | Live Hard Rock Act of the Year | |- | Simon Ridley (DZ Deathrays) | Live Drummer of the Year | |- | 2019 | themselves | Live Hard Rock Act of the Year | |-
(wins only)
|-
| 2011
| "Gebbie Street"
| Rock Song of the Year
|
|-
| 2012
| themselves
| Export Achievement Award
|
|-
| 2020
| "Still No Change"
| Heavy Song of the Year
|
|-
| 2023
| "Paranoid"
| Heavy Song of the Year
|
|-
| 2024
| "My Mind Is Eating Me Alive"
| Heavy Song of the Year
|
|-
|}
|
|
