DZ Deathrays - Positive Rising: Part 2

On the second part of DZ Deathrays’ ‘rock saga’, the Aussies want you to know they haven’t given up hope. While describing the two records as separate parts of a single whole may be a bit of a stretch, the overarching belief in the need to retain faith and push through adversity does unite both releases. On ‘Part 2’, the band’s well-oiled formula of cavernous riffs and Shane Parsons’ rising vocals is truly dialled up to 11. Nuances are trundled over on occasion, such as on ‘Make Yourself Mad’, which fails in confronting internet addiction, but the closing title track provides a far more engaging narrative, in which contemporary political discussions of foreign ‘aliens’ inspired Shane to imagine an actual one crash landing on earth and living underground. ‘All Or Nothing’ and ‘Fear The Anchor’’s formidable resolve only make DZ Deathrays’ case all the more clear; as things turn to shit, it’s important to become active participants for good if we’re going to make things right.