Liverpool’s hard-hitting slaves to truth and beats that bounce in rhythm to both the good times and the bad, RATS release their new single Hard To Find to set the clock ticking on their long-awaited debut album release. Fearless, occasionally fierce and frequently tender, the rousing rabble announce that Rule The World will emerge on Fri 2 May 2025 via All Sorted Records.
At the same time as committing their life-experiences, wit and world-views to vinyl, RATS head out on a run of nine, newly announced UK tour dates, kicking off in Stockton on Sat 5 April 2025.
Cheerfully claiming a sense of early prominence as their breakthrough single Patsy Decline, in 2021, drew curious audiences to their lively live shows, the band's upfront and upbeat mix of unflinching lyrical honesty and crossover rock, R’n’B and ska soundtracks modern, inner city Britain. With frontman and lyricist, Joe Maddocks picking up quick comparisons to Jamie T and The Streets’ Mike Skinner and the band grabbing an early, life-affirming slot to support Liam Gallagher at his Royal Albert Hall show in 2022, the winding path to a full album has been patiently navigated.
Opening with another deep, peppy line from bassist, Lowell Carragher and Maddocks’ infectious, vocal energy coming in after barely a beat, Hard To Find is the sound of a band gelling almost effortlessly, yet emerging from the studio with another Gorillaz-esque, rough-hewn, street-poetic gem.
Guitarist, Chris Carragher says: “‘Hard To Find’ I wrote after getting a new plug in that had a little ‘wah’ sound. I came up with the melody that comes in towards the end of verse and I brought it into the lads. Joe came in with the ‘Hard To Find’ bit. And then we just went into Kempston Street Studios with Chris Taylor, built it all up. You know, we have Mikey coming in and putting a guitar on the track, Lowell putting a bass on it. And it just became a different beast.”
Taking over two years to properly commit the fun and fury of their fizzing live shows to tape, RATS returned late last year with notorious live favourite, Section 60, to coincide with another run of sold out UK-wide live dates. Getting another fresh single out for more communal joy, laughter and redirected rage on the road, the full run of RATS April 2025 Tour Dates are as follows:
- Sat 5 April – Stockton, Ne Music Bar
- Sun 6 April – Mexborough, Gorilla Beer Hall
- Thu 10 April – Nottingham, Rough Trade
- Sat 12 April – Edinburgh, The Wee Bar
- Wed 16 April – Carlisle, The Source Collective
- Thu 17 April – Birmingham, Hare & Hounds 2
- Fri 18 April – Sunderland, The Independent
- Wed 23 April – Portsmouth, Edge of The Wedge
- Thu 24 April – Dover, Booking Hall
With tickets on general sale, fans are urged to sign up at https://rats.os.fan/ for all booking links as well as album pre-order information.
Where Section 60 took aim at lawmakers and the impact of draconian policing rules on the band’s own communities, RATS’ debut album skips around themes familiar to millions, from failing to make ends meet to politician’s playing games with people’s lives.
“It’s a mix of our individual characters coming together,” says drummer, Alan Phillips. “You’ve got the Lowell’s dub and ska, you've got Joe’s sharp, almost hip-hop lyrics, then there’s Mikey and Chris with their infectious, indie-ish guitar riffs. It's a mixture of all kinds of different tunes within us.”
RATS line-up is completed, alongside the Carragher brothers, Maddocks and Philips, by Mikey Duncalf on guitar.
Released on vinyl, CD and digital formats, RATS have confirmed the track listing for Rule The World as follows:
1 Rule The World
2 You And Me
3 Turn It Around
4 Hard To find
5 Liar
6 Section 60
7 Feeling Right
8 Sirens
9 Don't Give Up
10 Ten Missed Calls
11 Lost and Found
12 Over The Bridge
13 Graham's Song