Introducing: Die Tired

American band Die Tired derived their name from the old Marines adage, “You can run, but you’ll just die tired,” and adapted it into a punk rock “carpe diem” methodology. The band draws on classic rock, heavy metal and pop-punk to harness a foot-tapping, singalong rock’n’roll style.

The trio of Matthew DeAngelis (vocals and guitar), Jamieson (Jim) Lee (bass) and Brandon Ballantyne (drums) come from various parts of Pennsylvania and bring their own slightly different music influences. But combined, they blend perfectly to, in Brandon’s words, “breathe new life into some amazingly addictive alternative and pop rock sounds.”

The band sent us Need To Feed, a single released in March. It opens up with twinkling guitars that give way to a funky light lick and laid-back drums that continue under Matthew’s engaging vocals. Heavier guitars kick in and lively drums usher in a powerful chorus “Will you pull the trigger? You’re so close now, Down to the wire now, Don’t let it out, Now that you have found yourself in doubt.” Another laid-back and heavier chorus, accompanied by a piercing guitar lick, drop into a chilled section of light bassline and drums, before building up to a final blast of the chorus.

On the track, Brandon told us: “Need to Feed has done really well for us! It has introduced our listeners to a new side of our style with a more dynamic and rock/ballad type approach to songwriting. We also opened up some creativity on this one with our instrumentation and tones; such as different guitar effects and adding more keys. The ending product is something we are really proud of and people seem to connect with. Fans also really got into the video, where we made an attempt to put the band’s performance front and center. The entire video production team were fantastic and this visual medium really brought the song to life.

“For anyone who hasn’t heard it yet, definitely expect a musical journey! We leaned into our love of dynamics as you will hear some moody verses with a heavy chorus and outro. The lyrical theme is based on the movie Good Time, which adds a gritty and almost ominous feel to the track. It’s a great introduction to the band as it gives a glimpse into everything we are about; dynamic songwriting, thought-provoking lyrics, and great production.” Check it out in the video here:

That track is the latest in a series of singles over the last few years, including the lively Play and a personal favourite Slow Down, which has a bit of a heavier edge to it with chunky riffs and more intense vocals. Their latest release is Open Hearts Club, which came out in August. It opens up with lively guitars that feed into engaging vocals supported by stabbing guitars, which flow into a big singalong chorus “All lies tear into the scene, Leaving bad taste in our memories, How can we all find change? It’s all in the secrets of the Open Hearts Club.” Check it out in the lyric video here:

The Die Tired sound has been influenced by bands like Alice in Chains, Dave Matthews Band, Blink 182, Silverchair, Manchester Orchestra, Pantera and Pink Floyd. And on what inspires them to write music, Brandon told us: “We write music because it helps us express who we are and how we feel. Our songs become a vessel to help communicate in an ever-changing and ever-complicated life. In a way, it’s our own little form of self-care.

“In this, we hope that the themes we need to talk about and the things we want to convey connect with others who may be thinking and/or feeling something similar to us. Then, we can all connect and relate to Die Tired’s music in a meaningful way. Many of our themes are about mental health awareness, breaking through boundaries, and becoming who you are meant to be no matter how bad things get. Although we do try and stay positive, it would be unrealistic not to delve into some darker themes such as dealing with negative thoughts or feeling uncertain about the world around us. Covering the full spectrum of emotions and ideas is essential to us.”

There’s plenty more to come from Die Tired, who are in the process of recording music that will lead up to their debut album, set for release by this Autumn/Fall. That will include a series of singles and shows across the US to support the release – so if you want the band to play a show in your town, hit them up!

And Brandon added: “Our band name represents living life to the fullest and giving it everything you have. Don’t hesitate, don’t falter, stay confident; no matter how hard things seem to get. Think about it… if you die well-rested, did you really live at all? With that, remember, it’s always a great day to Die Tired.”

You can follow Die Tired on Facebook and Instagram, and check out their music on Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube.