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<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThere\u2019s been more than the odd occasion recently where I\u2019ve found myself \u201cgetting something in my eye\u201d as I\u2019ve been whisked away on some kind of H.G. Wells inspired time travel moment back to my teenage years, all thanks to the power of rock \u2018n\u2019 roll. Midnight most certainly had me laying down my soul to the god’s rock \u2018n\u2019 roll when I saw them live a few weeks back, and only last week the new album by Then Comes Silence had me up on a mate\u2019s shoulders chicken dancing like an idiot (well, in my head at least). Step forward then the latest mob to have this effect on me, and have me two-stepping all over the living room, namely US hardcore punk (super)group Beach Rats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Initially the brainchild of Pete Steinkopf and Bryan Kienlen from the Bouncing Souls, following a memorial concert for Vision frontman Dave Franklin where the duo teamed up with Ari Katz from Lifetime, and had one of those magic lightbulb moments in process. The whole thing finally came together when Brian Baker of Minor Threat, Dag Nasty, Bad Religion, and Junkyard fame relocated to Asbury Park, New Jersey, looking, as he always seems to be, for yet another band to play with, and then by adding in Danny Windas, AKA \u2018Dubs\u2019 on drums, the Beach Rats were finally born.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Having subsequently signed with Epitaph Records, (I wonder how that happened eh?) Beach Rats are perhaps the band Baker\u2019s other Epitaph side project Fake Names should have been, as I must admit that (given the musicians involved) I was fully expecting to love that record, yet it all kind of left me cold. Thankfully then, \u2018Rat Beat\u2019 is hotter than the UK\u2019s annual couple of days of sunshine that we like to call summer. With just two of the album\u2019s dozen tracks passing the two-minute mark, this is fast and furious punk rock, very much honed in the style of the early eighties\u2019 crossover scene BUT (and this is a huge but) the songs also possess a much more contemporary edge (largely thanks to the vocals of Katz) which means there\u2019s also the odd insanely catchy number in here too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So, whist \u2018Dress For Sick Sesh\u2019 and album closer \u2018Fuck You Dad\u2019 might have me thinking of reaching for my copies of Cryptic Slaughter\u2019s \u2018Convicted\u2019 or Crumbsuckers\u2019 \u2018Life Of Dreams\u2019 for a long overdue spin, it\u2019s the groovy as hell \u2018Summers End\u2019, the anthemic \u2018Words\u2019 and the more introspective \u2018Clorox Boys\u2019 where the melodies really cut through, and Beach Rats sound absolutely essential.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Look, if you\u2019re a fan of any of Beach Rats\u2019 associated bands then it goes without saying that you need a copy of \u2018Rat Beat\u2019 in your collection, but in saying this, if you are also a fan of the likes of Aerial Salad, Incisions, or Pizzatramp, you do also really do need to start saving your beer tokens and snap up a copy of this record when its released (on LP. CD and download) on July 29th.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The \u2018Rat Beat\u2019 is groovy as fuck. Now, go flip your baseball cap peak up and get ready to (slam) dance like a teenager all over again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n