6 March 2026
Band: THE RATS
Who: Hungry punks from
Ghent, Belgium ready to explode.
Album: BOXING DAYS
Out on March 20th.
Press info: While the first releases focused on mechanical grooves, their debut
album, Boxing Days, has become a distinct guitar album. The nonconformist approach
to songwriting, however, remained: in eight tracks clocking in at just over half an hour, it ranges from raw, back-to-the-roots punk to the closest they’ve ever come to a ballad.
There are echoes of Wire and Gang Of Four, alongside contemporary references like IDLES, Shame, and Viagra Boys, but The Rats never resort to imitation. What prevails is a radically unique identity: that of a band that never chooses the easy way out and doesn’t follow trends.”
Album artwork
Emile Dekeyser (frontman): “Despite the title, Boxing Days isn’t about
fighting or winning. No, the record is about survival, about learning to stay
upright, even when you can barely keep up with the punches.”
Frontman Emile – Photo by Turn Up The Volume
TUTV’s ears already had the opportunity to dive into the album.
It’s gonna be a riff-roasting rat race. You’d better check your
brave stereo for the upcoming KO punches.
These 3 tasters will get you in the moshpit mood.
– MUCK & MULLETS –
Mean machine missile
motorized by manic drums.
.
– ROLLING WITH THE PUNCHES –
Schizo guitars, frenetic percussion
and an angry young man in the middle.
.
– BOXING DAY –
A sonically softer Rats jam.
Well, until the fuming finale.
.
All 3 on Spotify.
.
Instagram – Linktree
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