biography.
The Violet Burning: drop-dead
Michael J Pritzl: voice, guitars, programming
Daryl Dawson: bass, backing vocal
Jason lord Mize: drum kit, backing vocal
“All my life I have been looking for light I cannot find within me.”
This is not only a lyric from Drop-Dead, the latest record from The Violet Burning, it is a theme that has connected with thousands of loyal fans who call this groundbreaking artist one of the great and influential rock groups of this era. With ten years of touring the United States and Europe , the Long Beach , CA. based band have established themselves as a great band that can deliver a moving experience live, as well as in the studio. Drop-Dead continues this path; a connection with the listener by putting ones heart on display.
Drop-Dead is a return to the aggressive sound of their early releases and the themes that have made The Violet Burning stand out among traditional modern rock acts. Produced by Michael J. Pritzl, singer and songwriter of The Violet Burning, and co-produced by Gabriel Wilson and Chris Greely (a.k.a. The Glitter Twins) of the Portland based band, The Listening. Played by Michael, Gabriel, Jason lord Mize and Josiah Sherman, Drop-Dead is reminiscent of The Violet Burning Self-Titled and Demonstrates Plastic and Elastic while integrating the indie pop elements of Michael ’s side project, The Gravity Show. Integrating his iconic guitar tones, with his love of electronics, Michael and the Violets have created a unique sound all their own, part William Reid, part Gillian Gilbert. Some in the Southern California press have hailed The Violet Burning in recent years as “the new New-Wave,” this time around, New-Wave gets a kick in the teeth.
Drop-Dead , Michael states “is a deeper, darker sounding recording than any Violets record to date. Sonically, it is more like Radiohead’s Kid A or Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon.” Thematically, Michael cites romance and tragedy, but ultimately it is a record of love. “ Love hoped for, love found, love questioned, love left, love longed for, love sacrificed for, love never told, love lost, love searched for…” Although influenced by The Cure, Depeche Mode, and Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Drop-Dead ultimately brings long-time fans back to the guitar-driven rock that has always been at the heart of The Violet Burning.
The title of Drop-Dead pans the obvious as it juxtaposes the positive, literal meaning (sensationally striking or attractive) with the negative
(when the
two words are not hyphenated). This apparent double meaning is used to illustrate that both attraction and heartbreak together serve as our reminder of our need for love; a deeper, love. Despite the struggle, throughout Drop-Dead, Michael has found his sanctuary as is evident as the band sings the gorgeous closing refrain…
“Yeah, you’re my heart, you’re my home”.
-The Violet Burning's songs have been featured on MTV's "Real World" and "Road Rules" shows as well as on film and television soundtracks.
The Violet Burning:: drop-dead Valentine's Day, 2006
The Violet Burning :: The Loudest Sound in my Heart, Live 2005
www.thevioletburning.com
www.northernrecords.com