PlanetMosh Keeping it Metal
The Dirty Rats have just released their second full length album End in Tears. Formed in 1982 and originally a five piece rock band, active in the pub rock scene in Melbourne, Australia from the mid to late 1980’s. Fast forward over 30 years and the Rats are back, as dirty as ever, with a filthy new slimmed down line up, playing old school hard rock and remaining true to the sound they had back in the 1980s. By slimmed down I mean they have lost a whole person, as the current line up is a 4 piece lean, make that mean, killing machine. Original member, Jamie Beovich is on bass with Wayne (Richie Rat) Rich on vocals, Anthony (Chooka) Chapple on guitar and Andy Thomson on drums.
Although well over 30 years old the band released their debut album Rock n Roll only last year. You can get down and dirty with the rats i.e. read a more detailed bio here.
Have these Dirty Rats left a sinking ship? Are they going to sink or can they swim along with the current? I’m not going to cover every one of the thirteen (unlucky for some) tracks, but here are some observations. The album starts off with some dirty thunder from down under! Opening track The Juice reminding me of British band Thunder‘s Dirty Love. Love from a Distance has a Motörhead vibe. Before we come to title track End in Tears, which didn’t have me crying, as it brought Zodiac Mindwarp and the Love Reaction’s Backseat Education to mind.
Hurts Like a Mother is like something like Table Scraps‘ Motorcycle getting the evil stare from Mötley Crüe (Looks That Kill). Boss of Me had me thinking Debbie Harry meets Mark Manning! As One Way or Another (Blondie) we come back to the Tattooed Beat Messiah (Zodiac Mindwarp). The album gallops along nicely in the same vein through clichés, fantasies, bad news and rats rocking until we come to the last track Rock Star a sultry song to bring the album nicely to a close and with the lyrics ‘I ain’t got any money and I ain’t got any hair’ they’re not exactly selling themselves to this W.O.M.A.N. as I thought of another glamorous blonde, this time Peggy Lee and her song I’m A Woman.
Does it all End in Tears? Whilst a skint, bald bloke may not appeal! The album itself has got it’s merits. Thirteen rock and roll songs you just want to grab a schooner and rock out to. With bandanas and mean stares the Dirty Rats have that piratical look about them! Their ship is far from sinking, as they raise that Jolly Roger and sail onwards towards their chest of gold!
Track list:
01. The Juice
02. Axis of Love
03. Love from a Distance
04. End in Tears
05. Jaded
06. The Ballad of Hobbit Foot
07. Hurts like a Mother
08. Boss of Me
09. My Life is a Cliché
10. Fantasy
11. Bad News Woman
12. Rat Rock
13. Rock Star
Band Members:
Wayne (Richie Rat) Rich – Vocals
Jamie Beovich – Bass
Anthony (Chooka) Chapple – Guitar
Andy Thomson – Drums
Links:
- £7.99
