Dead II Society Turn Grief and Anger Into Outlaw Punk on “Dead and Buried”
Dead II Society was born during the pandemic, when vocalist and guitarist Buzz found himself isolated at home in Chelmsford, Ontario. After years of fronting metal band Garden of Bedlam and performing as a solo artist in Toronto, he set out to fulfill a lifelong goal: writing and recording a full album of original songs.
Buzz began building demos in his basement and gave the project its name—Dead II Society—a reflection of music created while the world felt shut off from society. He enlisted his childhood friend, bassist Torg, whose musical resume includes Barrie punk staples The EpiFats and Grant Boyer’s alt-rock trio, making him the obvious choice despite their distance.
After relocating to Sault Ste. Marie, Buzz crossed paths with guitarist Yak at one of his band The Northwest’s shows. The chemistry was immediate, and Yak’s riffs brought the songs to life. The final piece arrived with drummer Chuk, a veteran of the Northern Ontario music scene best known for laying down the groove in acclaimed alt-country outfit The Billy Bastards.
The first rehearsal confirmed it: Dead II Society had found its lineup. And now, they’re excited to release the first of many new songs, “Dead and Buried.”
“‘Dead and Buried’ was written about a close friend’s experience losing her father at too young an age, and dealing with an evil person who tried to strip her and her brothers of their inheritance,” the band says. “When she was going through this loss, she couldn’t find the words to express her anger and grief. So Buzz wrote this song in honour of her and her father.”
With an outlaw punk/skate punk sound, “Dead and Buried” is a relentless freight train of emotion, pain and love. It’s the first time Buzz has written a song inspired by the story of someone so close to him, making its meaning even more powerful.
“Always love hard,” says the band. “Treat people like you want to be treated. Never back down. And never shy away from grief. It’s all the unused love and words you didn’t get a chance to express or say.”