DZ Deathrays - Positive Rising, Pt.2 (2021)

On Positive Rising: Part 2, DZ Deathrays sound far heavier—musically and emotionally—than they did on Part 1, released just under two years prior. While conceptualizing the release, the Brisbane trio had liked how a double album felt bigger and more ambitious than anything they’d attempted on their three previous records. Obviously, they couldn’t have anticipated what would happen to the world in between the release of each half, and though Part 2 was recorded in 2019, there’s a cynicism and intensity to it that feels all the more pointed as the world grapples with ending the pandemic and ongoing political turmoil.

Opener “Skeleton Key” is crunchy, punky, and deeply disgruntled: “We live a lie/If it’s only for tonight, I can make it up again/’Cause I’ve given up on trying,” sings Shane Parsons. “Where’s the static, where’s the pulse?/I’m going nowhere slow/The motor feels like it’s dying.” Likewise, the understated “Kerosene” feels resolute and bluntly honest about a souring relationship: “You know what the problem is/It’s greener on the other side/All we do is hope for the best/Yearning for what we had/Still don’t know what’s next.” “Make Yourself Mad” points a finger at those who watch TV or scroll online, knowing full well it’ll antagonize and upset them, while “Golden Retriever” is an introverted, sensitive account of someone who sees their ex out with a new lover. “Swept Up,” on the other hand, is all swagger, with its big, bluesy rhythm and spread-out layers. It’s about that moment you lock eyes with someone across the room, discovering an instant, mutual, feverish attraction and fantasizing about a future together. It’s a warming moment of romance that adds lightness and hope to a gripping account of unease and agitated self-awareness.