Songs make statements at just the right time. Born at the intersection of insurgency and inspiration,
music props up a sounding board for the people to be heard. Theory Of A Deadman amplify this voice on
their seventh full-length offering, Say Nothing [Roadrunner Records/Atlantic Worldwide]. The awardwinning
multiplatinum Los Angeles-based Canadian band—Tyler Connolly [lead vocals, guitar], Dave
Brenner [guitar, backing vocals], Dean Back [bass], and Joey Dandeneau [drums]—flip the pulse of the
world into scorching songcraft, integrating experimental vision, rock ‘n’ roll attitude, and clever pop
ambition.
In the midst of this storm, Connolly and Co. speak up like never before.
“This album allowed me to say all of the things that were on my mind earlier, but I was too afraid to
say,” the frontman admits. “Our previous material was pretty much all relationship-driven. Everything
was about me being unhappy. This one was about what’s going on in the world, the state of American
politics, and everything else. It was a completely different way of writing for us. I remember Dave asked
me, ‘Hey dude, did you watch a lot of CNN or what?’,” he laughs.
A whirlwind two years awakened this feeling in the group. After nearly two decades together, Theory
landed their biggest career hit in the form of “Rx (Medicate)” from 2017’s Wake Up Call. Not only did it
receive a platinum plaque, generate 100 million-plus streams, and become their third number one on
the Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, but it also received a nomination in the category of
“Rock Song of the Year” at the iHeartRadio Music Awards.
The musicians quietly reached this high watermark by remaining consistently prolific. To date, their
discography encompassed the double-platinum single “Bad Girlfriend,” platinum single “Not Meant To
Be,” platinum album Scars & Souvenirs, and gold singles “Angel” and “Hate My Life.” Plus, they notched
two Top 10 debuts on the Billboard Top 200, namely Truth Is… [2011] and Savages [2014], as well as
eight top tens on Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks Chart. In addition to selling out shows
worldwide, they’ve toured with everyone from Alter Bridge and Bush to Stone Sour and Big Wreck and
more.
In 2018, Connolly turned his attention towards the next chapter. It started at a Los Angeles dinner with
Wake Up Call producer Martin Terefe [Jason Mraz, Yungblud].
“I went out to dinner before Halloween with Martin, began discussing the record, went home, and had a
panic attack,” recalls Connolly. “After ‘Rx (Medicate)’, there was a lot to figure out. It was really
fantastic, but I don’t think we had a lot of time to live in it and digest it. There was pressure. I was like,
‘Okay, I have to get to work’. One day when I woke up, I knew what I needed to communicate. I was
motivated to talk about things I want to talk about and not just write about girls. It’s not where I was 15
years ago, but here I am now.”
“What makes this record important is the content,” Brenner elaborates. “Tyler approaches some really
tough topics like domestic violence and racism. We never did that in the past. ‘Rx (Medicate)’ opened
the door though. This is almost a continuation. There are real discussions happening in the tracks backed
by heavy stuff to make you think.”
Once again, the group hopped a plane to London and worked out of Terefe’s Kensaltown studio. Staying
in an Airbnb for six weeks, they pushed themselves creatively like never before, incorporating new
sounds and sonics.
Theory introduce Say Nothing with the single “History Of Violence.” Finger-picked guitar by Brenner
brushes up against the singer’s searing snapshot of a woman afflicted by abuse at the hands of her
husband. Between sweeping strings and airy solos, Connolly sings, “She need a sedative to get her
straight, ya know she need a cigarette, she got the shakes, put them sunglasses on her, hide her face,
such a waste…maybe the way out is a .38.”
“It’s a story about a woman who gets beat by her significant other, shoots him, kills him, and goes to
jail,” he explains. “Even though she’s in jail, it’s still a better place to be than being imprisoned in real life
by this man. It’s very similar to stories we hear in the news all the time, unfortunately.”
A pilgrimage to Abbey Road Studios left its fingerprints on “Ted Bundy.” Swaggering piano and
boisterous horns resound beneath a Sgt. Peppers-gone-Silence-of-the-Lambs story.
“We did a private tour of Abbey Road, and I got to play on The Beatles piano,” recalls Connolly. “We
went up to the room where they played ‘A Day in the Life’. When we got back to our studio, we were so
inspired. We put tuba on ‘Ted Bundy’. After six albums, we don’t want to be complacent or stale. We try
different things. Lyrically, it’s funny. I watched a documentary and got inspired to write about Ted Bundy
falling in love.”
Elsewhere, a gospel choir kicks off “Quicksand,” adding yet another dimension to the aural palette.
Meanwhile, the orchestration on “Black Hole Of Your Heart” moves in lockstep with an arena-ready beat
punctuated by creaky guitar, nodding to Silverchair’s Diorama.
“All around, we really pushed ourselves in terms of the sound,” adds Brenner. “It’s like we finally fit the
square peg in the round hole here!”
In many ways, “Strangers” encapsulates a pervasive feeling and strikes a chord with its powerful and
provocative prose.
“It’s about what’s going on in America with politics,” says Connolly. “You have to pick a side. It’s
interesting how people stick to their party and forget the country. We’re all like strangers now. It’s
gotten too nasty.”
However, Theory’s music might be something everyone can ultimately agree on.
“I look at the record as a microcosm of our current era,” Brenner concludes. “It’s a reminder to look
inward at what’s happening and what we’re becoming. I hope everyone dives into the words. At the
same time, music is still an escape. Maybe we can give the world a little solace and encourage everyone
to treat each other better.”
“We just want to write what speaks to us,” Connolly leaves off. “The best thing is when people sing lyrics
back to you, or if a song gets somebody through a tough time. There’s something we all might be able to
dig here.”