Toilet Rats

IV

July 26, 2024

Rats Rise Up! Steadfast Records is thrilled to announce a deluxe edition release of Toilet Rats IV by the enigmatic Toilet Rats. This cult favorite, originally released on cassette in 2023, is now making its debut on vinyl.

Meet the mysterious Toilet Rats. If you’re not already familiar with the underground sensation, Toilet Rats is the brainchild of the elusive Tommy Ratz, a.k.a. Thomas Rehbein. You can find Tommy operating from a hidden studio beneath the streets of Minneapolis, surrounded by synthesizers, guitars, and empty coffee cups. He creates a sound that’s a gritty fusion of synth-pop, post-punk, and punk-adjacent subgenres (you get it).

With no TV or internet down in the sewers, Tommy’s worldview is informed by discarded VHS tapes, cassettes, and old brochures, painting a reality that’s a few blissful decades behind the times. Imagine flipping through late night TV channels circa 1983, and you’ll get a sense of Toilet Rats’ world.

Dive into the Sewers
Toilet Rats IV is a gritty, energetic, and tenacious rock album that refuses to take itself too seriously. Tommy Ratz blends influences from acts as diverse as Jawbreaker, New Order, Nine Inch Nails, The Cure, 7 Seconds, and more, creating a sonic experience that’s both nostalgic and refreshingly original. With lyrics inspired by vintage horror and sci-fi movies, each track is a wild ride just below street level.

Tracks like “Carol Kane” bring the suspense of When A Stranger Calls to life, while “Walk The Earth” takes you on a zombie-infested journey through malls and helicopters. “Larva” takes inspiration from the dance thrash side projects of Al Jourgenson, and “Oskar and Eli” beautifully recalls a coming-of-age vampire tale.

Deluxe Edition Extras
The deluxe edition of Toilet Rats IV includes two exclusive bonus tracks: “Mall Goth” and the brand new single “Brains.” Adding a cherry on top of an already epic album.
Limited edition first pressing on Slime Green 100% recycled Eco-Mix vinyl

Maximum RockNRoll raves about Toilet Rats IV:
“Poppy, noisy, synth-driven punk about ghosts, cryptids, conspiracy theories, and horror movies… a romp through various levels of layered-up electronic fun. The instrumental delivery occasionally reaches epic levels—yes, please. Give me more.”

Tracks

1. Haunted Haus
2. Carol Kane
3. Clap Back
4. Drug Bird
5. Black Box Recorder
6. Mall Goth
7. Nessie
8. Larva
9. Sensory Overload
10. Oskar & Eli (Ft. Pumpkin Guts)
11. Walk the Earth
12. Brains