Dead or American:
A Modern Biography
Colin Morrison – guitar/vox
Chris Cusack – guitar/vox
Rich Carlin – drums/vox
Pete Flett – bass
DorA formed in Stirling, Central Scotland, in the first week of January 2000 and have spent seven years writing, recording and frequently forgetting original and challenging rock music. The strong music scenes that currently exist in Glasgow and Dundee have given DorA the opportunity to support and befriend many luminaries of the UK underground such as Jetplane Landing, Charlottefield and Oxes. Fans of the band also include Biffy Clyro, Blood Red Shoes and Reuben. DorA's dedication to DIY touring and promotion has also brought them into contact with many rising (and falling) stars of contemporary music on their travels across the United Kingdom.
To date, a few EPs, including 2003's "Subdivide", have been released to considerable acclaim and airplay. In 2005 DorA began work on their debut album, which (thanks to a change of bass-player and some technical mishaps) finally saw the light of day in November of 2006. In keeping with their DIY ethics, "Ends" was self-produced by the band then mastered in New York City by Alan Douches at West West Side Audio. It was released through DorA's own imprint Predestination Records in conjunction with Dundee's much-touted Pet Piranha label, and distributed through Cargo. The album was also accompanied by a promotional video (again self-produced) for opening track "Flame Out", which attained substantial time on music television and attracted a number of new fans to the band.
In early 2006 DorA immediately began writing an entirely new arsenal of material and in October of the same year, as they prepared to release "Ends", the band travelled to Salem, Massachusetts, USA, to record their second album with Kurt Ballou, guitarist in hardcore legends Converge and producer of many superb contemporary rock and metal albums by the likes of Cave In and Isis. This 2nd album was mastered by Nick Zampiello at New Alliance Audio, MA. Provisionally titled "Thaumaturgy", DorA hope to release the new recording in the first half of 2008.
Release date and details for 'Thaumaturgy': TBC
"Thaumaturgy" track listing:
1. Rodomontade
2. Creep Eastward
3. A Border Crossing
4. Potboiler
5. Shibboleth
6. Hot Shapes For Autumn
7. Ne Plus Ultra
8. Vox Humana, Vox Celeste
9. St. Thomas' Well
10. Lupine Tuition
Contact
E-mail: theband@deadoramerican.com
Website: www.deadoramerican.com or www.myspace.com/deadoramerican
(*for telephone contact details please drop us an e-mail*)
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"Ends" in Review:
"…their sound is nothing short of compelling. Their songs are intelligently arranged and layered with thick textures and angular instrumentation that make for a thoroughly absorbing listen. Should they step out of the shadows of their forebears, this band are capable of greatness." (ROCKSOUND Magazine, November 2006)
"Ends is, to summarise succinctly early on, fairly breathtaking at times and consistently satisfying throughout. These songs bounce and bomb like the best Biffy Clyro efforts so-far laid to tape, albeit mercifully without the over-egging, and resonate with the proper post-hardcore emotional force of Small Brown Bike, Burning Airlines, At The Drive-In, et cetera. Never overly complex, they're immediate affairs that suck you in swiftly and choose not to let you loose 'til the always-worth-it climax." (Drowned in Sound, November 2006)
"At last a British hardcore band who actually sound like they could mix it up with the big boys stateside" (new-noise.net, November 2006)
"Like all great bands, they defy categorisation … There is such an abundance of ideas on display here that it's not until they swing back to good ol' ass kicking rock or a catchy vocal melody you notice that they've been messing with your head so fiercely. " (CMU Music Network, October 2006)
"Searing and soothing at a well balanced pace, DoA are seemingly possessed by the threat of imminent and absolute collapse that The Jesus Lizard subscribed to, as well as the unusual soaring harmonies of Murmur era REM. All of this equates to an intimidating debut." (The Skinny Magazine, November 2006)