...And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead

If you dig this cult phenomenon band, chances are you saw them in all their Epic Glory during their first ever headline tour of Australia in 2009, after a joint stint around the country with Mogwai in 2002; and would have experienced first-hand the brilliant chaos that is integral to a Trail Of Dead show.


Formed in late 1994 by singers/guitarists/drummers Conrad Keely and Jason Reece, Trail of Dead has taken many formats over the years. Though band members have come and gone, the Core Sound has been developed and maintained by Keely and Reece. Friends since they were just kids, the boys started playing music in Olympia, WA. They eventually relocated to Austin, TX where they started …And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead.

Their first release was a self-titled album in 1998, followed by Madonna in 1999. In 2002 they released the critically acclaimed Source Tags and Codes - a record that received a stunning 10.0 on Pitchfork and spawned the incredible singles ‘Another Morning Stoner’ and ‘Relative Ways’. Pitchfork reviewer Matt LeMay praised the album as “dense, beautiful, intricate, haunting, explosive, and dangerous”.

Worlds Apart and So Divided followed in 2005 and 2006 respectively. In the Spring of 2008, …And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead launched their own Richter Scale Imprint, where they were able to release sixth album The Century of Self in February 2009.

…And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead are known for their Extremely Physical live show, featuring snarling refrains; fervent stage diving; epic Anthem Jams; multiple instrument changes and the odd bout of Stage Destruction. Flailing limbs, Keely and Reece’s ping-pong vocal exchanges and hooks in Overdrive have kept punters coming back for more since the band’s formation.

Trail Of Dead unleashed their latest release TAO OF THE DEAD in February 2011, which Conrad Keely described as his “favourite one so far”. Don’t miss the band on their return tour to Australia this September.