- The local lads are back with a little less Jaeger, a little less fuzz and an album’s worth of songs to break your neck to. DZ Deathrays seem to have traded in the sheer debauchery of their previous album for a few more hooks and songwriting strengths, but by no means have they ‘matured.’ They may have a couple softer moments like Northern Lights but the derisive snarl of frontman Shane Parsons is too full of youthful disdain and irresponsibility to make you wanna put your drink down. And don’t worry, there are still bits where everyone gets to shout ‘yeah.’

Black Rat wastes no time getting down to business, hitting a chorus within forty seconds after a couple hits of huge guitar tones. If possible, the guitars are louder than ever before and any guitar fanatic will spend hours trying to get their sound anywhere to close to the pure awesome of these tones. It seems like producer Burke Reid took DZ’s sound and turned it up to 11 on this album; all the songs get to the point as soon as possible, the guitars punch you in the chest at jet engine volumes, and the party vibe that makes these guys so much fun is soaked through every track. Just like Death From Above 1979, the narcotic fuelled fun you can imagine having while these songs play in the background is an essential factor and it comes packaged between brutal riffage and tonnes of attitude.

Less Out of Sync has that bratty sneer that makes me feel like I need to be drunk and in the Valley right now or I’m not really living. But then it gets serious for just long enough to make me realise I never wanted that. But what the hell, I could still use a drink. Gina Works At Hearts has lost none of its appeal after a few weeks of radio play and similarly to Less Out of Sync, has all their old and new strengths at the same time. Both tracks feature the kickass riffs and impassioned yelling they were known for alongside a (slightly) softer, moody moment and a couple cool guitar melodies. If anything, DZ have just added stuff on top of their balls to the wall approach to making music. And it just makes me like them more. In my books, Black Rat puts DZ Deathrays on a pedestal right next to Violent Soho and paves the way for bands like Dave’s Pawn Shop to give Brisbane a cohesive rock scene that can really crush skulls.

- Krishan Meepe.