The Dead Century - "Ten Ton Summer" | New Music

These guys have been quiet for too long. But if this is what they've been secretly working on, maybe it was worth the wait?

The Dead Century are a St. Paul quartet of folk and indie rockers, who just happened to put out one of favorite singles of 2018. We've missed them dearly. But finally, they're back with a stellar new song. Originally, it was debuted almost a year ago during a live session for the University of Thomas. "Ten Ton Summer" lives.

It debuts a newly electrified sound, which the band says they will continue to pursue in the studio (this August!). All the elements that made the Dead Century such a fantastic presence are still there: Nick Check's howling and weathered lyricism, Austin Peterson's fiery yet almost nonchalant lead melodies, and the lockstep rhythms of JP Check and Rob Muelhbauer. This more classic rock-ist sense of instrumentation is purified in holy fire and brought to life. I don't know if the band was holding back in the past, but they've really uncorked. Desperate for survival during the exceptionally frigid winter of 2019, the Dead Century came back ready to create enough friction to set this whole town ablaze. They're almost responding to one of Check's stand-out lyrics: "I'm running out of fire but I'm kind of getting used to the cold." Ain't no way these guys are freezing to death.