Drop Dead Gorgeous 'The Hot N Heavy' album

DROP DEAD, GORGEOUS are set to return with THE HOT N’ HEAVY, an explosive thrill-ride of a record due out June 2 on Suretone. Bolstered by the same crushing intensity that first earned the Denver-bred band a loyal global following, DDG’s electrifying and adventurous new studio disc and third album overall--appropriately dubbed THE HOT N’ HEAVY--will leave its metalcore peers in the dust.

DROP DEAD, GORGEOUS--DANNY STILLMAN (lead vocals), KYLE BROWNING (lead guitar/backing vocals), JAKE HANSEN (bass), DANNY COOPER (drums/percussion) and DAN GUSTAVSON (rhythm guitar)--are currently on tour with Alesana debuting new songs for fans (see dates below). In June and July, the five-piece will launch a headlining U.S. trek with He Is Legend, Before Their Eyes and Then There Were None supporting.

The disc’s first single “Two Birds, One Stone” stays true to DROP DEAD, GORGEOUS’ patented heavy style while possibly netting the group its first bona fide radio anthem. Although the song is airwave worthy, frontman DANNY STILLMAN explains, “We’ll never compromise our beliefs of how any of our songs should sound for the radio.” Likewise, guitarist KYLE BROWNING adds, “Although it’s poppier than any song we’ve ever written, it unmistakably ours.” “Two Birds, One Stone” is set to impact radio June 1. Look for more news soon on the forthcoming video for the band’s smash-in-waiting.

Joining forces with Atlanta-based producer Matt Goldman (Underoath, The Chariot, Copeland), DROP DEAD, GORGEOUS ups its creative ante on the follow-up to its 2007 breakthrough Ross Robinson-produced offering Worse Than A Fairy Tale. Drawing lyrically on real life experiences while fusing unexpected twists and turns to its forceful anthems, THE HOT N’ HEAVY is diverse, yet cohesive. Disc highlights include the relentless and powerful opener “Killing A Classic;” “Fame,” whose mix of haunting metal with electronic touches balance the song’s abysmal tale of drug abuse; and the stunning, “We’re Planning, God’s Laughing” which reveals an epic, emotional orchestration and closes out the disc in triumphant form.

In the four years since DROP DEAD, GORGEOUS first emerged--with members then ranging in age between fifteen and eighteen--the group’s discography has been heralded in spite of its own dissatisfaction. Outburn championed Worse Than A Fairytale, a dark concept album with a strong cult following as “an impressive effort that never lets up on intensity” and gave it an 8-out-of-10 rating. Meanwhile, their influential debut In Vogue was touted by Alternative Press magazine as “an expertly mangled mélange of serrated guitars, blast beat breakdowns and sharp-tongued sarcasm.”

Having clocked in thousands of miles, bringing their incendiary and awe-inspiring performances to post-hardcore fans across the globe, these Vans Warped Tour, Taste of Chaos, Bamboozle and Saints and Sinners, vets have shared stages with dozens of kindred metalcore ensembles like Every Time I Die, Aiden, Bullet For My Valentine, From Autumn To Ashes, Saosin, Senses Fail, The Devil Wears Prada, Scary Kids Scaring Kids and Haste the Day to name a few.

Drop Dead Gorgeous tour dates
With Alesana and I Set My Friends On Fire
Tue 4/14 St. Paul, MN Station 4
Wed 4/15 Madison, WI Majestic Theatre
Thu 4/16 Milwaukee, WI The Rave
Fri 4/17 Chicago, IL Reggie’s Rock Club
Sat 4/18 Pontiac, MI The Eagle Theatre (at The Crowfoot)
Sun 4/19 Cleveland, OH Agora Ballroom
Mon 4/20 Millvale, PA Mr. Smalls Theatre
Tue 4/21 Buffalo, NY Xtreme Wheelz
Thu 4/23 Toronto, ON Opera House
Fri 4/24 Montreal, QUE Underworld
Sat 4/25 Portland, ME The Station
Sun 4/26 Providence, RI Club Hell
Tue 4/28 Virginia Beach, VA Peppermint Beach Club
Wed 4/29 Carrboro, NC Cat’s Cradle

meet the band Drop Dead Gorgeous
Danny Stillman – Lead Vocals
Kyle Browning – Lead Guitar, Backing Vocals
Jake Hansen – Bass
Danny Cooper – Drums, Percussion
Dan Gustavson – Rhythm Guitar

Drop Dead Gorgeous biography
Danny Stillman – Lead Vocals
Kyle Browning – Lead Guitar, Backing Vocals
Jake Hansen – Bass
Danny Cooper – Drums, Percussion
Dan Gustavson – Rhythm Guitar

Hard rock heroes DROP DEAD, GORGEOUS have returned with an explosive thrill-ride of a record. Bolstered by the same crushing intensity that first earned the Denver-bred band a loyal global following, DROP DEAD, GORGEOUS’ electrifying and adventurous new studio disc--appropriately dubbed THE HOT N’ HEAVY (Suretone)--can’t help but leave its metalcore peers in the dust.

Crafted with the guidance of Atlanta-based producer Matt Goldman (Underoath, The Chariot, Copeland), DROP DEAD, GORGEOUS--who incidentally sport the coolest moniker in rock--ups their creative ante with the follow-up to 2007’s heralded concept disc Worse Than A Fairy Tale. Drawing lyrically on real life experiences while fusing unexpected twists and turns to its forceful anthems, THE HOT N’ HEAVY is diverse and cohesive. “To be blunt,” notes frontman DANNY STILLMAN, “it’s a song cycle that sucker punches listeners and then sucks them in like a Hoover.”

Case in point is the disc’s first single, “Two Birds, One Stone” which stays true to DDG’s patented heavy style while possibly netting the band--which also counts guitarist KYLE BROWNING, bassist JAKE HANSEN, drummer DANNY COOPER and rhythm guitarist DAN GUSTAVSON--its first bona fide radio anthem.

“That began as an acoustic song STILLMAN had pegged for his side project, Scarlet O’Hara, but took on new life with DROP DEAD, GORGEOUS,” says KYLE of the disc’s smash-in-waiting and first video. “We kind of took it and amped it up a few notches and made it our own. It’s poppier than any song we’ve ever written, but we put our own energy on it. It sounds unmistakably like us.”

Although STILLMAN acknowledges the song is airwave-worthy, he insists, “We’ll never compromise our beliefs of how a song should sound for the radio, but we’re definitely not against the idea. At the same time, I grew up on ‘90s alternative rock, and to me the song pays tribute to that time. I love Nirvana and The Smashing Pumpkins, Oasis and Third Eye Blind, and we don’t mind showing that side of us.”

The band’s reputation for blistering material is upheld by the bulk of THE HOT N’ HEAVY. Be it “Southern Lovin’ (Belle of the Ball)” which starts with a ferocious discordance that soon shifts to an enormous hook or “Killing A Classic,” where a relentless beginning gives way to a memorable refrain, DROP DEAD, GORGEOUS prides itself on packing a wallop.

“It’s a strong statement,” BROWNING says of “Killing A Classic.” “It starts off kicking your ass a little bit and then it brings you into a melodic chorus. I think that we all knew pretty quickly that song would open the record. It has a little bit of everything that follows on the album. It’s a melting pot of everything on the record.”

“That particular song is about being on the road and references Shakespeare, who I’m heavily influenced by,” says STILLMAN. “A lot of what I’ve experienced on tour and in my life with girls–and I’ve seen guys do it too–is about manipulating and wrapping people around their fingers. And then disposing them however they will. I’ve had my heart broken several times and I think everyone can admit to that and it plays into the storyline of the song. But I don’t want anyone to think I’m still heartbroken and sad--I’m heartbroken and pissed off.”

Said rage is felt in a scorching, maniacal rant like “(The) Internet Killed the Video Star”–which is destined to be a fan favorite–and the careening, unorthodox roll of “Sue Simmons! Watch Your Mouth” (which pokes fun at the veteran New York anchorwoman who let the F-word fly in prime time last year).

Another side of the band is revealed on the pensive but piercing opus called “We’re Planning, God’s Laughing.” It’s a momentous but haunting song that’s propelled by an emotional orchestration and closes out the disc in triumphant form. “When all was said and done we felt like it was so powerful that we wanted anyone who heard our record to be blown away,” KYLE explains. “Like, ‘Oh fuck. What just happened?’”

That type of reaction will likely occur for most within an earshot of THE HOT N’ HEAVY, a disc that’s as brutal as it is beautiful. “That’s because it’s about real life. This is not a concept album, it’s biographical.” STILLMAN continues. “The lyrics are about things that have gone on in my life or have inspired me--whether it’s past drug abuse or alcoholism or just being on the road around the world.”

Those demons are chronicled to blistering, frenzied effect on “There’s No Business Like Snow Business.” “It’s a song about drug abuse, but its not as if we’re advocating it by any means” says KYLE. “It’s hard when something so strong consumes you. And then once you kind of get the right head on your shoulders and get past those spots it’s fairly easy to see all the wrong it was creating in your life.”

Which, of course, has left more time for the men of DROP DEAD, GORGEOUS to focus on their art and evolve as a band, something producer Matt Goldman helped nurture. “It was a phenomenal experience working with Matt,” KYLE says. He’s a great producer who puts his ideas on the table, but he totally respects if you decide to go in a different direction. He let’s you have total creative control. It was very much what we needed and what we were looking for. We created the record that we wanted to and needed to make.”

It’s been little secret that DROP DEAD, GORGEOUS was displeased with its last album Worse Than A Fairy Tale, which was produced by Ross Robinson (Slipknot, At The Drive-In, Norma Jean). In a recent Outburn feature, KYLE and STILLMAN criticized Robinson’s overbearing influence on Worse Than A Fairytale. Although they blame themselves for being too young to stand up to Robinson (who drastically rewrote many of the songs on the group’s Suretone debut in pre-production) the band is thankful to have emerged from the experience stronger than ever.

DROP DEAD’s loyal followers--who bought over 30,000 copies of Worse Than a Fairytale, 47,000 copies of its 2006 debut full-length album In Vogue and the 9,000 copies of its 2005 EP Be Mine, Valentine--seem to be grateful for the independent spirit and maturity that drives the new material based on early reactions online.

“After we posted the first new song on our webpage, we received so many comments from kids saying it sounds closer to In Vogue and our first EP,” says KYLE. “They’re happy to have DROP DEAD, GORGEOUS back, which makes us feel great. But at the same time our new album shows how much we’ve grown creatively.”

“We’re not the same people we were when we made In Vogue,” drummer COOPER injects. “We’re older, wiser and we’ve got to keep moving forward.”

In the four years since the band first emerged--with members then ranging in age between fifteen and eighteen--DDG’s discography has been heralded in spite of its own dissatisfaction. Outburn championed Worse Than A Fairytale a dark concept album with a strong cult following as “an impressive effort that never lets up on intensity” and gave it an 8-out-of-10 rating. Meanwhile, the influential In Vogue was touted by Alternative Press magazine as “an expertly mangled mélange of serrated guitars, blast beat breakdowns and sharp-tongued sarcasm.”

Having clocked in thousands of miles, bringing their incendiary and awe-inspiring performances to post-hardcore fans across the globe, these Vans Warped Tour and Taste of Chaos vets have shared stages with dozens of kindred metalcore ensembles like Every Time I Die, Aiden, Bullet For My Valentine, From Autumn To Ashes, Saosin, Senses Fail, The Devil Wears Prada, Scary Kids Scaring Kids and Haste the Day to name a few.
Returning home to Denver last year, DROP DEAD, GORGEOUS worked diligently to perfect the songs that ultimately comprise THE HOT N’ HEAVY. The end result is an epic disc that the quintet poured its heart and soul into.

“We gave this album our all,” STILLMAN explains, before firing off this credo: “If you can’t give it your all, don’t give it at all.” When pressed for a different parting sentiment, the singer fires back with a demonic but playful chuckle, “If you don’t like DROP DEAD, GORGEOUS, then fuck you!”

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Drop Dead Gorgeous - The Hot N Heavy