What started as a solo project for Jacob Rolfe in 2012, Weeping Rat has developed from a death-rock outfit to a darker experimental four-piece band that takes elements of post punk, industrial and unadulterated weird shit. Their upcoming debut LP Tar released on new Australia label Damned Gates fuses guitar and electronics with Jacob’s despondent lyrical outlook.It’s the kind of music, that in the aftermath of a trench-coated American kid ending a grim tour of the school in the gymnasium, child psychiatrists warn as ‘triggers’.As they work on a live show and album launches Jacob stops by to talk all things Weeping Rat.Noisey: At what stage did you decide to expand to a band?
Jacob Rolfe: Weeping Rat turned into a full band really to make it more fun. Realistically I didn't have too much musicality when I was writing on my own. It started as just a way to get ideas off my chest but now it's a good way for all of us to do that. Expanding into a full band also made the sounds more diverse. I was spending a lot of time alone so it was also a good excuse to see other faces regularly and filter out shitty ideas.Were you listening to a lot of death rock back then? Were there local bands you were checking out?
Definitely. I still listen to a lot of death rock stuff. Classics like Christian Death, Fangs on Fur, Texas Vamps etc. I have seen/been enjoying Australian bands that ride close to death rock like Masses, Occults, Rule of Thirds and Nervous Trend.There are a few styles on the record. “Satan's Bazaar” has a bit of Middle Eastern sound in it.
It was important that the record wasn't just a one-dimensional creation that focused on one drum machine, or one guitar tone. “Satan's Bazaar” was a song that we wrote (Paul did the intense bass & guitar work) that we couldn't resist putting on it. It was a great way to bring the listener a little further away from a cookie cutter emotion. The scaling is different and the complexity grabbed us. The lyrics talk about being a "musical tourist" delving into something new and out of the comfort zone.One of the strongest tracks is “Coil”.
I wrote that about a year before we started the album. It was during a time when I was in a personal rut. The drum machine was equally inspired by Godflesh and the Sisters of Mercy's Doktor Avalanche machine. Kind of a low-key anthem to us, plus the louder singing was fun to me. I think when playing live this will be one of our mainstays. The feeling of this song is something we will be indulging in more with future records.What is the story behind Damned Gates records?
It’s a new label that Thomas (synth, electronics) has started. A label focused on dark and deranged music in Australia.
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Jacob Rolfe: Weeping Rat turned into a full band really to make it more fun. Realistically I didn't have too much musicality when I was writing on my own. It started as just a way to get ideas off my chest but now it's a good way for all of us to do that. Expanding into a full band also made the sounds more diverse. I was spending a lot of time alone so it was also a good excuse to see other faces regularly and filter out shitty ideas.Were you listening to a lot of death rock back then? Were there local bands you were checking out?
Definitely. I still listen to a lot of death rock stuff. Classics like Christian Death, Fangs on Fur, Texas Vamps etc. I have seen/been enjoying Australian bands that ride close to death rock like Masses, Occults, Rule of Thirds and Nervous Trend.There are a few styles on the record. “Satan's Bazaar” has a bit of Middle Eastern sound in it.
It was important that the record wasn't just a one-dimensional creation that focused on one drum machine, or one guitar tone. “Satan's Bazaar” was a song that we wrote (Paul did the intense bass & guitar work) that we couldn't resist putting on it. It was a great way to bring the listener a little further away from a cookie cutter emotion. The scaling is different and the complexity grabbed us. The lyrics talk about being a "musical tourist" delving into something new and out of the comfort zone.One of the strongest tracks is “Coil”.
I wrote that about a year before we started the album. It was during a time when I was in a personal rut. The drum machine was equally inspired by Godflesh and the Sisters of Mercy's Doktor Avalanche machine. Kind of a low-key anthem to us, plus the louder singing was fun to me. I think when playing live this will be one of our mainstays. The feeling of this song is something we will be indulging in more with future records.What is the story behind Damned Gates records?
It’s a new label that Thomas (synth, electronics) has started. A label focused on dark and deranged music in Australia.
“Tar” will be released on 180g black vinyl 12" in November 2014.