The New Single From Rats on Rafts Shows Rotterdam's Post-Punk Scene Is as Wild as Ever

Photo: Shalita Dietrich

Rats on Rafts. They come from Rotterdam, they're faster than an Intercity train cruising in a straight line, and they're a band.

Coming straight from our office in the Netherlands, is the band's latest single "(Machine) 1 - 6 - 8", taken from their upcoming record Tape Hiss. It's sicker, faster, and sharper than their first album The Moon is Big, which was released back in 2011. They've sharpened their post-punk razors for the occasion, filling the record with thunderous guitar parts and steaming drums. Occasionally there's room to catch your breath for a very brief moment when the pleasantly distorted vocals can be heard, but for the most part Tape Hiss is an album that races downhill without any brakes.

Tape Hiss is released on April 2 through Subroutine/Kurious Recordings. Until then, use this album as a sort of coping mechanism until you can see them live in action.

Release tour

03/04 - V11, Rotterdam (presented by Motel Mozaïque) *

04/04 - Merleyn, Nijmegen *

09/04 - Simplon, Groningen *

10/04 - Ekko, Utrecht *

17/04 - Bitterzoet, Amsterdam 18/04 - Stroomhuis, Eindhoven *

24/04 - Asteriks, Leeuwarden *

* Supportact: The Homesick