100 Bands in 100 Days Presented by Verity Credit Union — Day 34: Deadcode
Ladies and gentlemen, and all local music enthusiasts, welcome back to the fourth annual outing of our year-end daily local music spotlight, 100 Bands in 100 Days, where every day until December 31st, we’ll be showcasing a new band or artist on the cutting edge of the Northwest, presented by Verity Credit Union. Make sure to check the #100Bands100Days hashtag at Twitter daily to stay on top of all the bands featured, and make sure to follow Verity on Twitter and NW_Music_Scene as well. Some days the featured act could be an established and locally-adored Northwest-based musician and other times they could be a band with a small following that just hasn’t had their deserved time in the sun yet. Either way, we’re fairly confident you can come away from this daily segment with plenty of new favorites. Today we’re taking our showcase to the underappreciated Portland metal scene, to look at one of the city’s heaviest-hitters, Deadcode.
Ever since their formation in 2014, Deadcode has carved out a style in their hometown all their own, one that sits at a perfect crossroad between the melodic grandeur of arena-ready hard rock and the heavy, sweeping punishment of a great metal band. Dual guitarists Eric Happe and Tyler Nitzke shred throughout every track, one fiery, finger-blistering riff after another. All the while, Brandon Happe’s grimy bass lines and Davis Brown’s rapid-fire drums provide the perfect added punch. Vocalist Matt McGuire has a simultaneously large and reserved sense of scale; one moment he’ll be quietly singing over hushed, paced accompaniment, and the next he’ll get louder and more passionate, perfectly topping the epic instrumentation in these moments. At times, McGuire’s singing is reminiscent of that of Maynard James Keenan from Tool, but he has a unique delivery and tone that sets him apart.
Deadcode’s self-titled debut was released in November of 2016, and remains a dynamic and compelling effort for the band. Lengthy jams that aren’t afraid to go over the seven-minute mark are contrasted with songs that are more focused in on their viscera and emotion. Songs like “Kingbreaker” and the multi-faceted “A Well Fed Lie” are great highlights on the record, songs that feature tough guitars, exciting drumming, but are also constantly in search of something new. Since the release of the album, the band has played with other local heavyweights, including Ten Miles Wide, Veio and Devils Hunt Me Down. Deadcode is in the process of writing their next EP to follow up the self-titled, which they’re hoping to release in early 2018.
(Listen to Deadcode below; you can keep up with Deadcode via Facebook and ReverbNation.)
Submissions for 100 Bands in 100 Days are still open to any Pacific Northwest band interested in submitting. If you would like to submit for a chance to be featured in this segment, consult this link for more information on how you can do so.
A huge shoutout to Verity Credit Union for doing so much for the music community and for being such a great partner.
