We Speak Music
Deadset deal with mental health and addiction with raw new single ‘Heavy Eyes’
Deadset emerged from the creative synergy between guitarist James Massey and vocalist Sam Mellors. Their collaboration gave way to a sound which evolved into a darker, more intense direction when bassist Adam Arnold and drummer Rio Campbell joined the ranks. These additions formed a fully-fledged band and elevated the indie sensibilities of the original duo into rawer, grittier realms. Striving to avoid monotony and maintain a progressive sound, Deadset focus on fluctuating in genre. But are a post punk outfit at heart. Pulling influences from Joy Division, Fontaines DC and Interpol.
New single ‘Heavy Eyes’ is a raw, vulnerable evaluation of a battle against mental health and addiction and how that bleeds into relationships leaving a devastating and fatal aftermath. The song, which was mastered by Howie Weinberg (Nirvana, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Daft Punk), fluctuates between a morbid sadness and palpitating anger, a conscious decision made by Deadset to emphasise the unpredictable, unsteady impact birthed by poor mental health. ‘Heavy Eyes’ is a staple for Deadset existing in their set from day one. It’s the song that spawned the sound and feel of the band.
‘Heavy Eyes was the first song I came to Deadset with’, says Adam Arnold. I was listening to Spiderland by Slint on repeat at this point. I wanted to recreate that jarring juxtaposition of tempos and riffs that are synonymous with their sound. Obviously in a more commercial sense. At this point however James and Sam had a completely different direction in mind. Heavy Eyes was my attempt to change that. I’m sure they hated it at first and it took a lot of persuasion. But now it’s a cornerstone of our sound and a constant reference for me’, he further explains.
In “You Never Do Shit,” Brooklyn’s Dead Tooth deliver a snarling, urgent post-punk single that distills their barbed energy into under four minutes of sharp-tongued wit and scuffed-up sonics. It’s a track that bristles with disdain—Zach Ellis’ vocal delivery is acidic, at times theatrical, and often more spoken than sung. There’s a punk rock immediacy here, but with the knowing wink of someone who’s watched the scene curdle and still wants to dance through the ashes.
The song began its life in a different medium—written for a fictional band on City on Fire—but the real-life iteration carries more weight. There’s a palpable satisfaction in Ellis’ decision to reclaim it, and that freedom seeps into every detail: the unkempt rhythm section, the jarring saxophone lines from John Stanesco, and the deliberate looseness that characterizes its structure.
Dead Tooth are at once participants and commentators in the culture they inhabit. Their songs are alive with noise, but also with intent—tracking the psychic hangover of nightlife, subcultural collapse, and underground scenes that burn bright and disappear too soon. Ellis’ lyrical observations land like tossed-off critiques, but underneath the smirk is something deeper, almost desperate: a desire for connection, even through chaos.
With their debut album looming, “You Never Do Shit” feels like a thesis statement. Not just of sound, but of ethos: reject slickness, embrace noise, tell the truth—even if it’s ugly. In a year when punk has mostly whispered or wandered, Dead Tooth has chosen to scream.
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