With jury-rigged equipment and fuzzed-out distortion laden vocal elements The Death Set genre-smash through their U.S. debut, To, with a fierce intensity that is so joyously abrasive your finger becomes itchy on repeat over and over.
Originally formed in Sydney, Australia, The Death Set has traversed the world to settle in the US and release their debut EP: 'To' through RabbitFoot Records (a new specialty imprint of Morphius Records). Comprised of U.S.-repatriate visual artist Beau Velasco and gifted engineer/playboy Johnny Siera, both of whom sing blistering co-lead and play guitar against ingeniously crafted post-casiotone backing tracks, reminiscent of digitized robot nightmares. The Death Set entice listeners with an addictive parody of pop-art that ruptures tympanums and excites even the most jaded heard-it-all-before record slaves. Sometimes harmonizing, other times curdlling with raw emotive vigor, the Death Set defy classification yet manage to appeal to the most diversely comprised audiences in recent memory.
Born out of Sydney’s experimental rock outfit, Black Panda, The Death Set’s “To” will appeal to fans of Japanther, xbxrx, Lighting Bolt, and early Cibo Matto. Aggressive yet sweet there is a lonely desperation hidden in the fuzzed-out vocal and occasionally genderless narratives. “Negative Thinking”, the standout single from the EP, is an exploration of self-loathing and realization punctuated with the unforgettable individualist refrain “in hindsight, I don’t want to be like the people I’ve liked”. With timelessly catchy mantras like this, the music manages to speak to all ages of the disenchanted and disenfranchised.
CD features original artwork by Beau Velasco on gorgeous gatefold cardboard packaging. First 1000 copies includes limited edition signed poster inside package.