DED's 'School Of Thought' calls for self-reflection and healthy living

From the evocative vocals on “Kill Beautiful Things” to the anthemic “Half Alive,” it’s clear that DED are embracing their sonic growth and maturity as a rock outfit. In an interview with Alternative Press, singer Joe Cotela spoke about the themes at play on the new release.

“This album is all about thinking about what you do, being cognitive, being conscious and being aware of what you consume and what you support,” Cotela says. “That angle comes from me because I’ve had some really tough bouts of anxiety over the last 10 years. I’ve gone to cognitive therapy and a lot of different things, and it’s made me take a step back. It’s changed my whole viewpoint on things. It makes me want to tell people to take control of their brains, their thought process, their bodies and be healthy, everything that changed my life because I was really struggling with anxiety and bouts of depression.

“All the lyrics are about taking a step back, thinking about yourself, thinking about what we take as everyday stuff,” he continues. “The term ‘school of thought’ is about a group of people that think a certain way and have a certain ethos, so I really wanted that to be a part of everything—for people to listen to the music to dig deep into the lyrics and to understand that even though it’s negative-sounding, it’s all positive underneath.”

You can check out the full School Of Thought album below, and let us know your thoughts in the comments.

School of Thought tracklisting:

1. “Ghost”
2. “Kill Beautiful Things”
3. “Love Song”
4. “Eyes Sewn Shut”
5. “A Mannequin Idol”
6. “Parasite”
7. “Persona”
8. “In My Blood”
9. “10 Minutes Underwater”
10. “Half Alive”
11. “Lost”

DED tour dates:

10/16 – Reno, NV @ Grand Theatre
10/19 – Kansas City, MO @ Midland Theatre
10/20 – St. Louis, MO @ The Factory at The District
10/22 – Hammond, IN @ The Venue at Horseshoe Hammond
10/23 – Milwaukee, WI @ Eagles Ballroom
10/24 – Minneapolis, MN @ Myth Live
10/26 – Green Bay, WI @ Resch Expo C
10/27 – Grand Rapids, MI @ 20 Monroe Live
10/29 – Louisville, KY @ Palace Theatre
10/30 – Columbus, OH @ Express Live!
10/31 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Stage AE
11/02 – Cleveland, OH @ Agora
11/03 – Detroit, MI @ The Fillmore
11/05 – Stroudsburg, PA @ Sherman Theater
11/06 – Montclair, NJ @ Wellmont Theatre
11/07 – Worcester, MA @ The Palladium
11/09 – Philadelphia, PA @ Franklin Music Hall
11/10 – Silver Spring, MD @ The Fillmore
11/12 – Myrtle Beach, SC @ House Of Blues
11/13 – Cherokee, NC @ Harrah’s Cherokee Events Center
11/14 – Nashville, TN @ Marathon Music Works
11/16 – Richmond, VA @ The National
11/17 – Greensboro, NC @ Piedmont Hall
11/19 – Tampa, FL @ Hard Rock Events Center
11/20 – Lake Buena Vista, CA @ House Of Blues
11/21 – Atlanta, GA @ The Tabernacle