Ded in Concert
Conventional wisdom says that trends are cyclical. Where music is concerned, this is especially true: In the early 2010s, nu-metal — the late '90s/early '00s approach to rock music based on down-tuned guitars, rap-inspired vocals, and aggressive grooves — made a ferocious comeback. One of the revival's biggest names is Ded, an Arizona-based troupe that pulled no punches on their 2017 full-length debut, Mis•an•thrope.
Produced by John Feldmann, the record is punishing, with its sharpened metallic riffs, rumbling low end, and confrontational vocals. Yet to classify Ded as merely nu-metal does the band a disservice. Vocalist Joe Cotela alternates screaming his throat raw with ferocious rapping, while songs such as "Anti-Everything" are radio-friendly hard rock with melodic hooks.
Ded's pedigree is unparalleled. The band coalesced in 2015, with two members of the now-defunct group Man Made Machine (Cotela and percussionist Matthew Reinhard) teaming up with two members from Greeley Estates, guitarist David Ludlow and bassist Kyle Koelsch. Ded's first single, "FMFY," arrived in December 2016, and a record deal with Suretone Records — a label run by Jordan Schur, who shepherded Limp Bizkit to success back in the day — followed the next year.
Schur isn't the only nu-metal patriarch with whom Ded's rubbed shoulders. Limp Bizkit's Fred Durst directed the video for the band's single "Anti-Everything," and the group has toured with Korn and P.O.D. Yet Ded also fit in well with the modern hard rock scene. They've hit the road with rock bands like Stone Sour and In This Moment, and they've played at heavy festivals Epicenter, Carolina Rebellion, Rocklahoma, Chicago Open Air, and Aftershock.
Live, Cotela is a magnetic rapper with crisp flow and a commanding presence. His confidence provides a steady counterpoint to his bandmates' shredding and headbanging. Ded celebrate the past — but are much more interested in moving existing sounds forward in fresh ways.
