Fight the Future
Rats From a Sinking Ship release “Fight the Future”, their 3rd album, on 17th March with a launch gig in Glasgow at the Hug and Pint. Ably supported by The Fuck Ups and The Chibmarks along with some punk poetry from Mark McG.
If you are already a fan of the band, you will be familiar with the sound and stance. You won’t be disappointed with either on this storming new album. If you’ve not heard them before, where have you been? It is about time you rectified that.
Vitriolic inspiration
The way of the world at the moment has given Alex Lusty plenty of material on which to base his vitriol on this new album. A quick scan of the song titles reveal some of these targets without having to listen. Katie Fucking Hopkins, A Disgusting Filthy Rag, United Hate. The targets of his acerbic lyrics on the album are often well deserving of his bile.
The distinct sound of the Rats is here in spades with the long-term collaboration of Jamie’s (Price) edgy rock/punk crossover guitars and (Alex) Lusty’s distinct vocals/rap & lyrics. The vitality and ire in the music is as prevalent as ever, perhaps with even more of an angry edge than before.
album review
Album opener “Act of Peace” packs a punch from the off. Pounding drums and Jamie’s driving guitars heralding its arrival. The title seems to be a dig at the western world, their “peacekeeping” forces and often seemingly immoral reasons to get involved. Indicating instead that “We go to WAR”. In the repetitive chorus we are under no illusion – Lusty is clearly raging.
One of the albums highlights “Monsters aren’t Good for the Environment” opens with Charlie Chaplin’s famously emotive speech from the end of the classic 1940 film “The Great Dictator”. The speech opens the song then fades and blends with a brooding drum beat and guitar squall then adds throbbing bass. With the song kicking in, Lusty goes on to rail against the inequalities of the world today over Jamie’s riffing guitar. The song ends again with the outro of Chaplin’s speech. “In the name of democracy let us all unite”. The speech was a masterpiece at the time and now is an indicator of how little seems to have changed in the intervening years as it is as relevant today as it was.
Cursory Rhymes
The first song revealed from the album earlier in the year, “Cursory Rhymes” is up next. The song does exactly what it says on the tin. It has many clever rhymes and lyrics but probably not so much cursory as well thought out. There are always a number of plays on words in the song titles on a Rats album and this one is no exception with the inclusion of lines from a number of kids’ nursery rhymes with a twist.
Hints of the Pistols on the guitar intro to “Take the Throne” and one of Jamie’s most straightforward punk/rock tunes on the album. The subject matter in Lusty’s lyrics is as you would expect from the title & with elements of the National Anthem paraphrased, it is another link to the late 70’s band. Certainly not a song for Royalists and includes an observation from love him or hate him comedian Frankie Boyle.
51st State?
In a strange coincidence, there is a link to the next song and the comeback of an artist/band for whom I’ve recently bought a ticket for one of their comeback gigs. The The’s Matt Johnson once sang “This is the 51st State of the USA” and on “United Hate” Lusty sings “Welcome to the 51st state” and brings the special relationship up to date with a series of barbed quips.
Funky drummer sample and guitars kick off “To the Sword”, with some sweet riffs kicking in at the chorus. Then it’s no prizes for guessing the target of “Katie Fucking Hopkins”. The dreamy strummed intro paints a picture of an angel…before revealing it was all a bad dream and the songs kicks up a few gears with thrashing guitars and drums. ”Why d’you have to be a dick, Katie Hopkins makes me sick”. I’m sure any sensible child will know what he means.
Lets talk about Mental Health
Mental Health is tackled in “The Loneliest Walk”, a subject that Alex has sung about before. “Stuck in the dark ages, there’s still no escape, the loneliest walk, leads to the same place”. Brooding guitar from Mr Price backed by hip hop drum beats soundtrack the heartfelt lyrics and helps the cause of removing the stigma and guilt about experiencing poor mental health and talking about it.
Alex also has a love of all things Morrissey. “Hated for Living” is another play on words (Morrissey’s “Hated for Loving” from the brilliant Vauxhall & I album). Almost a Nirvana feel to the music in this one, quiet, loud, quiet. “The ruling classes….just for living they hate you…”
Theres gonna be a riot down in Trumpton tonight…
If you know Alex or have seen Rats From a Sinking Ship live before, you will also be aware of his penchant for the eccentricity of seminal legends Half Man Half Biscuit. The band have been known to play “The Trumpton Riots” at gigs. They have now got round to committing their version to record and it follows in their tradition of covers on their albums – “Panic” on Rise as One and “Run to the Hills” on The Peasants’ Revolt
Penultimate track is a list song. Think “It’s the End of the World as We Know It” or “We Didn’t Start the Fire” but with more fury and rage. It is pretty much an outpouring that denounces the state of the world today, a (s)hit list if you like. The song laments “what we’ve become” urging us to “never look back, and fight the future”
Don’t buy the S*n
The final song on the album targets the gutter press and in particular the S*n. Hardly surprising based on its track record over the past years. Why anyone still reads this piece of garbage I’ll never understand. Anyway “A Disgusting Filthy Rag” pretty much says it all. The song itself is full on thrashy punk in your face criticism of all things the S*n stands for. It is bolstered by samples/quotes from various luminaries decrying the “sewer rat newspaper” (© Gorgeous George Galloway). “Don’t read the Sun and don’t buy the Sun”.
Release the pressure
Sometimes if I’ve had a frustrating day I like to listen to chilled out music on the drive home to allow me to re-focus. Other times I need a bit of in your face fury, vitality & rancour to release the burden of the day.
Listening to this album was quite cathartic. As I blasted it in my car I felt a great release of the frustrations of the day. I got to the end of my journey relaxed with all my negative energy purged thanks to the power of the music and lyrics.With a wry smile too as Lusty adds an element of dark humour to the unleashing of his pent-up venom.
See you down the front on the 17th of March.
Rats from a Sinking Ship website