A New Single Signals a Focused Vision

Death Dealer Union returns with Beneath the Surface, a tightly honed second single and the first track revealed from the band’s forthcoming self-titled LP. The Los Angeles alternative heavy metal outfit pairs muscular guitar work with a modern, melody-forward vocal presence, placing the song squarely in the space where contemporary metal heft meets accessible hooks. Produced, mixed and mastered by guitarist and studio architect Valentin Voluta, the track underlines the group’s emphasis on precision, dynamic contrast and clarity.

Formation and Creative Core

Formed in late 2019 by drummer and founding member CC McKenna, Death Dealer Union took shape in Los Angeles as McKenna and guitarist Doug Weiand began writing and recording in early 2020. The pair tested the material with multiple vocalists before Voluta, serving as producer and later second guitarist, connected the band with Lena Scissorhands. Her arrival completed a lineup built to balance impact and refinement, rounding out a core that now features Jonny Heinz on bass alongside the two-guitar attack of Weiand and Voluta.

Sound, Performance and Production

Beneath the Surface leans into the band’s alternative heavy metal identity. The arrangement favors interlocking guitars, a punchy low end and vocal melodies that cut through the mix without sacrificing weight. Rhythmically, McKenna’s drumming anchors the track with tight, forward-driving patterns and deliberate cymbal accents, while Heinz’s bass thickens the foundation and enhances the song’s sense of momentum.

Weiand and Voluta build tension through contrast: chiseled, palm-muted passages give way to broader, melodic figures, and layered textures add dimension without crowding the vocal. The guitars occupy a wide stereo field, leaving space for Scissorhands to shift from intimate, clear-toned lines to a more muscular delivery as the song escalates. The result is a structure that invites repeated listens, revealing small production choices—subtle harmonies, strategically placed breaks, precise transitions—that reinforce the song’s architecture.

Voluta’s production prioritizes definition. The mix foregrounds vocal articulation and guitar clarity, with drums that feel crisp and immediate. Mastering choices sustain impact while preserving detail, allowing the chorus to land with force and the quieter moments to breathe. It is a studio approach that mirrors the band’s ethos: direct, modern and intent on balance.

Themes Suggested by the Title

While the band keeps the focus on musical execution, the title Beneath the Surface points toward self-examination, resilience and the search for authenticity. It hints at the push and pull between the image one projects and the truths that lie underneath, a perspective that aligns with alternative metal’s long relationship with introspection. That thematic tension informs the performance: the verses feel intent and coiled, while the hooks aim for catharsis.

Positioning Within Their Catalog

Beneath the Surface follows the band’s first release, Borderlines, which arrived in April 2022 accompanied by a music video. Together they sketch a clear trajectory: concise songwriting, a dual-guitar framework, and a vocalist capable of carrying both the melodic center and the song’s heavier emotional load. As the opening reveal from the upcoming self-titled LP, the new single frames the album as a statement of identity rather than a quick genre exercise.

Band Lineup

  • Lena Scissorhands – Vocals
  • Valentin Voluta – Guitars, producer, mixing and mastering
  • Doug Weiand – Guitars
  • Jonny Heinz – Bass
  • CC McKenna – Drums

Music Video Credits

  • Director: Ron Underwood
  • Producer: CC McKenna
  • Editor: Ron Underwood
  • Set Production: Alexandria Lore
  • Hair and Makeup: Meg Wilbur
  • Set Design: Frank Mazzotta
  • Gaffing: Ron Underwood, Alexandria Lore, Drklghtclothes
  • Production Assistant: April Denise Scott
  • On-Set Photographer: Jack Lue
  • Pre-Production: Light Black Productions by CC McKenna, Rob Black and Doug Weiand

Acknowledgments and Gear Support

Doug Weiand thanks:

  • Mesa Engineering
  • Gibson/Kramer Guitars
  • Fishman Pickups
  • ISP Technologies
  • Mogami
  • Sophia Tremolos
  • Godlyke Inc
  • Celestion Speakers
  • Eventide
  • Lehle
  • Reunion Blues
  • Effectrode
  • Voodoo Lab

CC McKenna thanks:

  • DW
  • Zildjian
  • Paiste
  • Vic Firth
  • Ahead
  • Pro Drum Hollywood
  • Allen Barton
  • Mia Christou and Art Cohan
  • BHP
  • Mike, Ken and Maureen

What Comes Next

With Beneath the Surface, Death Dealer Union sharpens its profile and sets the tone for the self-titled LP. The band remains active and engaged with its audience, signaling more music and updates on the horizon.

Image of Death Dealer Union Ft. Lena Scissorhands – BENEATH THE SURFACE

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