DZ Deathrays songs hit like a wall of distortion with a hook buried right in the center of it. The Brisbane outfit started life as a stripped-down duo of guitar and drums before growing into a trio, and that scrappy, noisy foundation still runs through everything the band has released since. This rundown of the 20 best DZ Deathrays songs pulls from every era, from the lo-fi grit of their earliest tapes to the sharper, more dynamic writing on recent records.
Few Australian rock acts have stayed this consistently loud and this consistently fun for over a decade. Anyone who wants more guitar-driven song rundowns like this one will find the band’s evolution genuinely rewarding to trace release by release. Crank the volume and dig in.
Like People
Off 2018’s Bloody Lovely, Like People pairs a stomping rhythm with one of the band’s more melodic choruses, proof that DZ Deathrays could write a genuine hook without sanding off the grit. The guitar tone stays thick and distorted throughout, but the vocal melody cuts right through the mix. It is one of the tracks that best shows the band’s growth from pure noise into something closer to songcraft.
Shred for Summer
Shred for Summer, a 2017 single that landed on the Need For Speed: Payback soundtrack, is built for maximum energy at high volume. The riffing is fast and direct, with barely a wasted second across its runtime. It is the kind of track that makes total sense blasting out of a car stereo on a long drive.
IN-TO-IT
IN-TO-IT, from 2019’s Positive Rising Pt 1, leans hard into the band’s noisier garage rock instincts. The track moves with real urgency, driven by a rhythm section that refuses to let up for even a bar. It captures the chaotic live-show energy the band has built its reputation on.
All Or Nothing
All Or Nothing, from 2021’s Positive Rising Pt 2, is a driving, all-in anthem with a chorus built for shouting along in a packed room. The production on this record is noticeably tighter than the band’s earlier work, giving the riffs more punch without losing any of the aggression. It is one of the clearest examples of the band’s growth in songwriting across a decade.
Say It To My Face
Say It To My Face is confrontational by design, with sharp dynamic shifts between a restrained verse and an explosive chorus. The vocal delivery carries real bite, matching the directness suggested by the title. It is a standout from Positive Rising Pt 2 for anyone who likes their rock songs with an edge.
Still No Change
Still No Change channels restless frustration into a relentless rhythmic drive, another highlight from Positive Rising Pt 1. The guitar work stays gritty and unpolished even as the songwriting gets sharper, striking a balance the band has clearly worked hard to find. It rewards a close listen on headphones, where the layered guitar tracking becomes much more obvious.
Front Row Hustle
Front Row Hustle, a standalone 2019 single, captures the chaotic energy of the band’s live shows about as well as any studio recording can. The tempo stays high and the mix leans raw, favoring energy over polish. It is a great pick for anyone wanting a taste of what a DZ Deathrays gig actually feels like.
Kerosene
Kerosene lives up to its combustible title, another cut from Positive Rising Pt 2 that burns fast and hot. The rhythm section locks into a groove early and never lets go, giving the guitar work room to get increasingly unhinged. It is one of the album’s more explosive moments.
Year Of The Dog
Year Of The Dog, also from Positive Rising Pt 1, shows the band’s knack for locking into a groove and riding it hard. The riffing here is gritty and forward, with a hook that sneaks up after a couple of listens. It fits comfortably alongside the record’s more aggressive tracks while still standing out on its own.
Feeling Good, Feeling Great
Feeling Good, Feeling Great, off Bloody Lovely, is built on one of the band’s most infectious choruses, powered by a bright riff and an unshakeable groove. Is there a better summary of the band’s whole appeal than a title this blunt paired with a hook this catchy? It has become one of the most reliably requested tracks at their live shows.
Guillotine
Guillotine is sharp and aggressive, with an unrelenting rhythm section pushing every section forward without pause. The Bloody Lovely track leans into tension rather than release, keeping the energy coiled tight from start to finish. It is a good example of how the band uses restraint even within a genuinely loud song.
Fired Up
Fired Up is a high-octane cut built for setting a room in motion, with a shouted hook that sticks fast after just one pass. This Positive Rising Pt 2 track wastes no time getting to its most explosive moments, leaning into the band’s strengths as a live act. On a strong pair of headphones that can handle distorted low end, the layered guitar tracking really opens up.
Bad Influence
Bad Influence, from Bloody Lovely, snarls its way through a riff-driven arrangement with lyrics that lean into the band’s mischievous streak. The vocal performance stays loose and confident, matching the track’s playful defiance. It is a good showcase of the personality that runs through the band’s writing beyond pure volume.
Hot Potato
Hot Potato appears on 2022’s ReWiggled, a playful reinterpretation project that shows the band’s willingness to have fun with its noisy garage rock sound. Hearing the band’s aesthetic applied to more unexpected source material is a genuinely entertaining left turn in the catalog. It is proof the band does not take itself too seriously, even while the musicianship stays sharp.
L.A. Lightning
L.A. Lightning, from the band’s 2012 debut Bloodstreams, captures the original duo’s stripped-down guitar and drums attack at its rawest. The mix is deliberately unpolished, letting the sheer noise of the arrangement carry the track. Longtime fans often point to this era as the purest distillation of the band’s early identity.
Play Dead Till You’re Dead
Play Dead Till You’re Dead is a gnarly, distorted cut with a title as blunt as its riffing, another highlight from Bloodstreams. The track leans fully into fuzz and grit, with barely a clean tone in earshot. It is a good reminder of how far the band’s sound has traveled since 2012 while still keeping that same aggressive core.
Teenage Kickstarts
Teenage Kickstarts is a fast, youthful burst of energy that helped define the band’s early sound on Bloodstreams. The tempo rarely lets up, and the guitar and drums trade off with an almost frantic urgency. It remains a favorite for anyone who discovered the band through their scrappier early material.
Rad Solar
Rad Solar comes from 2011’s Brutal Tapes, an early, lo-fi release that shows the raw foundation the band later built on. The recording quality is intentionally rough, which only adds to the track’s chaotic charm. It is a fascinating listen for anyone curious about where the band’s sound actually started.
My Mind is Eating Me Alive
My Mind is Eating Me Alive, from 2023’s R.I.F.F, pushes the band’s noisy sound into darker, more tense territory. The arrangement carries real urgency, with the rhythm section building pressure that never fully resolves. It shows a band still finding new angles on a sound they have owned for well over a decade.
Paranoid
Closing out the list, Paranoid brings a jittery, high-energy feel that matches its title, another standout from R.I.F.F. The nervous, twitchy guitar work pairs well with a vocal performance that sounds genuinely on edge. Whether streaming it on the go through a solid set of earbuds built for distorted guitar tones or blasting it at home, it closes the catalog on a suitably restless note.
Frequently Asked Questions
What genre is DZ Deathrays?
DZ Deathrays play a loud, distorted mix of garage rock, punk and noise rock, built around drums, guitar and shouted gang vocals rather than a traditional full band lineup.
Is DZ Deathrays a duo or a trio?
DZ Deathrays started as a two-piece of guitar and drums before adding a bassist, which is why the band is often described as a trio on more recent releases like Positive Rising.
What is the best DZ Deathrays album to start with?
Bloodstreams from 2012 is the rawest entry point for fans of noisy garage rock, while Positive Rising Pt 2 from 2021 offers a more polished, dynamic version of the band’s sound.
Where is DZ Deathrays from?
The band formed in Brisbane, Australia, and has built its reputation largely through relentless touring and a chaotic, high-energy live show.
What is DZ Deathrays’ most popular song?
Feeling Good, Feeling Great and Like People from Bloody Lovely are among the band’s most streamed and most requested live tracks.
Does DZ Deathrays have new music out?
Yes, the band released R.I.F.F in 2023, which includes tracks like Paranoid, King B and My Mind is Eating Me Alive.