D.R.I. - 40th Anniversary Tour w/ special guests Bulletbelt
Impaler Records proudly presents, a deadly double, crossover bill… DRI & Bulletbelt + supports TBA
Valhalla, Wellington - Tuesday Feb 27th
Whammy, Auckland - Wednesday Feb 28th
Formed in ’82 in Houston, Texas, DRI recorded their first release that year, packing 22 songs into 18 minutes of their cult classic EP debut “THE DIRTY ROTTEN EP”. With only 1000 copies pressed, demand caused the EP to be released on LP in 1983… and so was born the DIRTY ROTTEN LP. A huge inspiration for new bands at the time and a recording that had the band named the fastest band in the world.
In ’84 they released a follow up EP “VIOLENT PACIFICATION”. Then came the release of their second, full length album “DEALING WITH IT” (1985) saw the band take a distinct METAL direction, whilst still remaining utterly HARDCORE. And so their Crossover Thrash years began, to a now cult status. Supported by such fans as DAVE LOMBARDO (SLAYER), who is often heard shouting out DRI as a huge influence on him.
Their aptly-named third album “CROSSOVER” (1987), further confirmed their redirection to a more thrash metal sound - with the songs becoming slower, longer and more complex. Henceforth, DRI became the leaders of the “crossover” movement, a style that combined PUNK, HARDCORE and METAL. Albums followed including “FOUR OF A KIND” (1988), THRASH ZONE (1989), DEFINITION (1992), LIVE (their first live album, released in 1994) and FULL SPEED AHEAD (1995).
Understandably, a busy decade of touring the world, extensively, followed. In 2015, the band made it back to the studio, recording the long-awaited “BUT WAIT THERE’S MORE” EP (released 2016). And once again, this hard-working band began touring the world again for their, pun intended, hardcore legion of fans - many of whom have been fans for 40 years! Thrashing as hard as ever, NZ get ready for some DRI mayhem in FEBUARY 2024!!!
Joining them are BULLETBELT, who have been tearing it up in NZ supporting Arch Enemy, Sacred Reich, and Vio-Lence as well as preparing for their first onslaught into Europe in October 2023!
The band first struck fear and awe into the hearts of New Zealand’s metal-loving audiences in 2009. With music featuring on the soundtrack to cult-classic movie, Deathgasm, international touring and four records of brutal, beautiful sonic assault, it’s a solid foundation, and a decade of brand-building, blood, sweat and... beers ...tears, Bulletbelt are flying the flag high for NZ Metal.
