Sumerian Records

ABOUT

ome bands truly defy the odds of innovation spinning the wheels of creativity to venture into previously unchartered waters without any hesitancy with only one objective in mind: uninhibited artistic creativity and open mindedness. This sentiment perfectly describes DEAD LETTER CIRCUS who have just inked a deal with Sumerian Records. The label issued the group's debut effort, This Is The Warning, in North America on July 26th. Never content to settle for mediocrity or banality, this Australian sensation set out from the start to establish a fresh sound that pushed the boundaries of alternative rock that quickly captivated the masses.

Head over now to www.facebook.com/deadlettercircus in order to stream new tracks, view new promotional videos and get an inside visual tour into the making of this stunning debut effort. DEAD LETTER CIRCUS will also made their North American touring debut this past July alongside Animals As Leaders to rave reviews.

The Brisbane, Australian based act released their first EP in 2007, which quickly received massive critical acclaim nationwide. The band immediately upped the ante by teaming up with Australian super producer Forrester Savell (Karnivool) to record their much anticipated debut full-length release, This Is The Warning. The offering debuted at #2 on the Australian charts alongside a #1 iTunes debut, pushing DEAD LETTER CIRCUS to the top of the Australian rock scene. Numerous sold-out tours around the country quickly followed, which was capped off with stadium support shows with Muse and Linkin Park. This Is The Warning is quickly approaching gold certification for the Australian territory.

Ash Avildsen (Sumerian Records Founder) states: “I am beyond honored to work with such an incredible group of songwriters and musical visionaries. There is a new decade of rock upon us and this is the future.”

DEAD LETTER CIRCUS further comments: “We're all super pumped about our recent signing with Sumerian Records. Their passion for the project was undeniable and really made us feel at home. The release of the record in the United States marks the next stage in our career and we can't wait to unleash This Is The Warning to the American rock fans.

“Thematically, This is the Warning is a first person account of awakening to the construct that has been put in place in an attempt to control and mold us. However, it's also about refusing to be a subject of it and forging your own path. We are part of the next wave of bands that grew up listening to rock bands like Tool, Deftones, Soundgarden, Radiohead, Pearl Jam etc., as well as electronic acts like Massive Attack, NIN and UNKLE. While we don't sound like a mash up of these bands, they have all definitely infused our minds with a love for writing epic, layered and high energy songs.

“The great thing about this genre of music is knowing you are part of the soundtrack to the more intense moments in people's lives, but ultimately what we live for is the connection and transferral of energy from the live show. Our experience here in Australia is that the songs seem to have resonated with people to a level where it feels like a toe-to-toe standoff between us and the crowd, both seeing who can scream the song the loudest at each other. We are really pumped about taking this to the U.S. and giving a little back for all the amazing music your country has delivered us.”

When DEAD LETTER CIRCUS blasted onto Australian airwaves in 2007, their bombastic yet nuanced take on alternative rock left most observers struggling to process what they were hearing. It was epic, it oozed confidence, it was intense and open all at once. It was the debut of a sound so fresh and unique that it was hard to classify. The self-titled EP launched a wild ride of sold out shows, massive radio airplay, festival sing-a-longs and international airports. Barely a moment was spent at their Brisbane home as the band criss-crossed the country satiating hard-core fans and building an ever-growing army of DLC disciples. 

Everywhere the band went, that army sang every word of the EP back, loud and clear – it was music that clearly resonated with many, capturing an angst of the everyday and an emotional link to the yearning for a freedom unknown. Completely independently, the band shifted well over 13,000 units of the debut EP. Live, the band were festival favorites, with the choir of voices roaring both approval and vocalist Kim Benzie’s lyrics with the passion of a frantic soccer crowd. 

The band were well aware of the standards they had set for themselves. The four members looked inwardly, critically, at every element of every song written in the run to the album, and took an uncompromising stance when it came to writing, re-imagining, refining and ultimately recording their debut, This is the Warning. They also brought in the producer who had been onboard since the first EP – Forrester Savell, who is thought of as an honorary fifth member of the band for his significant contribution in weaving the elements together, providing song-writing input, and adding a touch of “special sauce”. Expectations were high - Savell’s last two projects had been certified Gold (The Butterfly Effect, Karnivool), and after a lengthy pre-production, writing and re-writing phase, he brought the band to Melbourne’s famous Sing Sing studios to track This is the Warning. 

Set up in four separate working environments within the Sing Sing complex, each member of the band worked tirelessly over their individual parts and contributions, conducted by maestro Savell, in a unique and ultimately successful experiment in sonic creation. The process was intense to say the least. Over an incredible 18 month gestation period, with every deadline pushed, every note analyzed, every resource pooled and every avenue of exploration exhausted, This is the Warning was injected a transfusion of every ounce of available energy that the band possessed. 

The sound of DEAD LETTER CIRCUS on This is the Warning is more than just a singular representation – rather, it is the redefining of how adrenaline and emotion can be blended seamlessly into works of sonic art; of how soaring melodic adventures can be let fly above a mountain range of raw but somehow channeled rhythmic power. It also catches the light of your reflection and beckons you to look inside yourself. It’s music that lures you towards your speakers, then seizes you by the throat. It’s love, loss, betrayal, humanity, societal norms, questioning and the search for meaning. It’s simply unlike anything you’ve ever heard.