Aussie duo DZ Deathrays feel a few years too late. Their trashy sound falls in line with the growing number of bands adopting '80s hardcore tropes. But at base, these guys are mid-level early 2000s garage rockers. That's not to say they don't put on a good show, though. Onstage, singer/guitarist Shane Parsons is a bit tied to his massive phalanx of pedals, but that didn't stop him from setting up his mic in the crowd and playing to drummer Simon Ridley during one track, and the sheer force of their tunes did win over many in the crowd. Still, the duo operate on one speed, making songs indistinguishable from one another, and Parsons's over-processed guitar ensures each song feels like a new rewrite of the White Stripes' "Blue Orchid."
DZ Deathrays
Wrongbar, Toronto ON June 15
BY Ian GormelyPublished Jun 17, 2012