Deaf Rat – Ban The Light

Label: AFM
Releasedate: 28-10-2019
By:  Thorsten Hendriks

Their website info starts with: “Swedish Hardrockband DEAF RAT opens the curtain on a sinister but oh so-tempting stage set from a dark musical with massive guitar riffs and strong melodies. DEAF RAT is the band that fills up the cracks in the ageing concrete between Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, Guns N’ Roses and Pantera. DEAF RAT serves up a mean dish where the meat is grilled over open fire to somewhere between raw and bloody. As always the secret is in the seasoning: rich, searing hot and addictive.” I cannot disagree with this, a surprising album with strong riffs and hard rocking melodies.

The first track “Fallen Angels” immediately sucks you in to their style and is reminiscent of a Metallica riff. Strong, fast and hard hitting with crisp vocals. The vocals and the instruments are complimenting each other in a well composed song. The next song “Hail the end of the Days” again sounds very familiar with their own traits woven into the composition. A slower track but that does not mean it is not very pleasing on the ear. Some very good licks and riffs with an ear busting guitar solo 2/3s into the track. “Tying you Down” shifts up a gear or two, very fast and rhythmic for the first part of the track, slowing down into a instrumental middle part, finishing off as strong as it started.

The 4th track ‘Save me from myself’ has an Guns n’ Roses like intro, very smooth! Frankie’s voice is clear, crisp and you can hear all the words he is singing – definitely a bonus for me. Like the previous tracks, well composed and mixed. “Ban the Light” is the 5th track and also the album’s title. Prepare yourself for a 6 minute plus anthem. The song slowly builds up into a hard rocking track which would be greatly appreciated by large stadium crowds…and probably will get the mosh pit going.

Song six ‘Bad Blood’ is an acoustic sounding ballad, which will bring you back to earth after your headbanging mosh pit experience. Slow, light and very atmospheric – believe me or not; it gave me goosebumps and that does not happen very often! The next track ‘Make you suffer’ will wake you up from your slumber with hard hitting guitar riffs and a guitar solo, definitely feels like a good one to rock out to. “Say you love me” follows this cadence and turns it up a gear. I love their tenacity to continue on their journey of hard hitting songs built upon crisp vocals and excellent guitar play.

“Wanted Forever” lures you in again to their mental state of mind and treats you to this ballad like track laced with electric and bass guitar riffs. The last track on the album ‘Welcome to Hell’ starts off like it is the title track of a movie, very slow and eerie. The only track on the album which actually features keyboards. When the guitars eventually kick in and wake you up you are floating on their journey to wherever they are going. Not sure if it is worth getting off the DEAF RAT journey as their music has this ‘je ne sais quoi’, feels familiar but yet refreshingly new.

If they were to visit anywhere near me I would not hesitate to go and see them, whether they would be main or support act. I would recommend these guys to you. Give them a listen an judge yourself!

Line up:

• Frankie Rich – Lead Vocals
• Pat Kramer – Guitars & vocals
• Max Lander – Guitars & vocals

1. Fallen Angels
2. Hail the End of Days
3. Tying You Down
4. Save Me from Myself
5. Ban the Light
6. Bad Blood
7. Make You Suffer
8. Say You Love Me
9. Wanted Forever
10. Welcome to Hell

Links:

Official