Ded Mis-An-thrope releases on 7/21/17
By Cathy Moore of Moore Rock Shots & Reviews
For Rock All Photography and Music
I remember the first time I heard Ded’s hit “Anti-Everything” on Sirius XM Octane. I was in my car and I kept turning it up louder and louder. When it was over I was like nooooo! Play it again! I’ve since listened to that song more times than I can count and watched the band play it live at both Carolina Rebellion and Rock on the Range. The energy of their live show was absolutely infectious and it allowed me to get a taste of what else Ded had to offer. Believe me. I was so hooked.
Ded was born in the music scene of Phoenix, Arizona and has been together for two years. Band members Joe Cotela (vocals), David Ludlow (guitar), Kyle Koelsch (bass), and Matt Reinhard (drums) developed a friendship and ultimately a musical partnership that mixes horror and dark imagery to develop a familiar, yet unique sound that sets them apart from other bands. As if I wasn’t already completely impressed by “Anti-Everything”, the rest of Ded’s debut album Mis-An-thrope sealed the deal.
The entire album is aggressive and volatile. It kicks off with the song “Architecht” which is fierce and invokes images of pure insanity. When you hear Cotela growling the lyrics “when I say go – go psycho” you can’t help but feel a little madness seeping into your skull.
Next comes my personal anthem, “Anti-Everything”, a song that has hit the Top 20 and continues to climb on Active Rock radio and is on standout Hard Rock & Metal playlists at all major streaming services including Spotify, Apple Music, Pandora and Google Play Music. It’s frequently played on Sirius XM Octane and marked as one of my “favorites” so that I never miss it. The video for “Anti-Everything” is at almost 1 million views on YouTube.
The band just released a new lyirc video for “Dead To Me” which is the third track on the CD and it is chaotic and crazy cool. It has a range of vocal pyrotechnics from whispers to growls to screams to some surprising melodic moments.
Another stand out track for me on Mis-An-thrope is “Remember the Enemy.” I love the electronic undertones and the pounding heartbeat of the drums throughout the song. It grabs you right in the gut and doesn’t let go.
“Hate Me” is an anthemic tune with lyrics that taunt like a kid standing up to a school ground bully. “Hate me, hate me, you will never break me” is a chant that anyone listening is sure to belt out right along with Cotela.
And there at the very end of this amazing album is “Beautiful” an impassioned and haunting ballad that tells the tale of imperfection and resentment. The piano pulses in your head and the lyrics grip your heart. Cotela’s vocals on this one remind us that he can do more than scream and growl. It’s a gorgeous song.
Song after song on Mis-An-thrope just blows your mind. It amazes me that these guys can maintain the kind of full-throttle energy that they put into every song. The lyrics are timely and resonate with an audience navigating the chaotic world we live in. If you’re not pissed off, then you’re not paying attention. Heavy music is alive and Ded is bringing back the aggressive spirit that is authentic to the genre.
“There is an honesty and a “fuck you” about hard core music that I don’t feel as often anymore,” says Cotela. Ded is loud and aggressive, but it serves as a positive outlet. These guys aren’t afraid to confront the bullshit of life through their brutally honest music, which is admirable in a world of pop rock sellouts. These guys are hard-core and they make no apologies for it. And I say….fuck yeah!
Ded – Upcoming Tour dates
June 30 – Mesa Amphitheatre – Mesa, AZ (KUPD Show)
July 13 – Rock USA – Oshkosh, WI
August 9 – Diamondz Events Center – Jerome, ID (KEDJ show)
August 10 – 3rdWheel – Lewiston, ID (KOZZ show)
August 11 – Knitting Factory – Spokane, WA (KHTQ show)
August 12 – Knitting Factory – Boise, ID (KQXR show)
DED Festival Appearances (More coming this fall)
7/16 — Chicago Open Air – Bridgeville, IL
7/22 — Rise Above Festival – Bangor, ME
9/9 – Revolution Rock Festival – Foxwoods Resort, CT
9/22 – High Elevation Rock Festival – Denver, CO
9/30 – Louder Than Life -Louisville, KY
10/1 – Sonic Boom – Janesville, WI
10/7 – Rock Allegiance – Camden, NJ
10/15 – Houston Open Air – Houston, TX
10/21 – Aftershock – Sacramento, Ca
DED with Korn, Stone Sour and more
07/19 – Syracuse, N.Y. — Lakeview Amphitheater
07/20 – Mansfield, Mass. — Xfinity Center
07/23 – Hartford, Ct. — Xfiniity Theatre
07/25 – Toronto, Ontario — The Molson Amphitheatre
07/26 – Camden, N.J. — BB&T Pavilion
07/27 – Holmdel, N.J. — PNC Bank Arts Center
07/29 – Noblesville, Ind. — Klipsch Music Center
07/30 – Clarkston, Mich. — DTE Energy Music Theatre
08/01 – Cincinnati, Ohio — Riverbend Music Center
08/02 – Cleveland, Ohio — Blossom Music Center
Connect with DED
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dedofficial
Twitter: https://twitter.com/weareded
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dedofficial
Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/album/0EJ8q62CX4O52UjTN2bAEx
iTunes Pre-order link: http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/mis-an-thrope/id1238486219
