R.A.T.S. – Actions Have Reactions 12″ EP (Blackstarfoundation)

“Actions Have Reactions” is a new extended play release by R.A.T.S, a Swedish hardcore quintet consisting of the members previously associated with bands such as Suffocate for Fuck Sake, Cedron, Shirokuma, Döden dö, and VDM. Published by the prolific Swedish record label Blackstarfoundation, mainly specializing in melodic hardcore, skate punk, and punk rock, this material arrives with six excellent hardcore tracks that will immediately resonate with those interested in heavy, powerful, politically charged, in-your-face underground music. R.A.T.S. nurtures a cleverly arranged blend of modern hardcore, metalcore, and beatdown. It unquestionably appeals to their ideas, as each band member navigates through this sonic equation flawlessly and harmoniously.

As soon as you press play, you’ll notice that these folks thoroughly worked out their ideas and arrangements. Each of these tracks arrives packed with many segments and outstanding instrumentations, allowing even the pickiest hardcore fans to indulge their listening apparatuses. Besides nurturing heavy hardcore music, you’ll notice how their songs arrive with a subtle touch of melody, vividly presented through clever riffs. Speaking of guitars, these guys paid extra time working on those instrumentations. Both guitar players resonate with raw, abrasive, aggressive, immensely distorted riffs, showcasing their ideas to the max. You’ll notice some subtle leads, themes, melodies, harmonies, and other accentuations from time to time, but expect more of a straightforward approach to hardcore sound. The generous servings of distortion give that extra dirtiness and aggression, rarely seen on hardcore albums nowadays. You know how modern bands polish their sound to the max, leaving no room for that recognizable hardcore sound? Well, R.A.T.S. do the opposite, as they do it like it is supposed to be done. The superb vocal performance commands attention, guides the listeners, and conveys the message through aggressive, well-articulated shouts. In the meantime, back vocals offer more heavily distorted screams, and you’ll also notice some singalongs along the way.

It’s also good to mention that their songs have that evil and dark touch added. This quality undoubtedly appeals to them, as they sound even more interesting because of it. Of course, this material wouldn’t sound this powerful without the equally intricate, audible, warm-sounding basslines. You’ll notice how these low-ends offer more heaviness, clarity, and depth, while simultaneously binding the mentioned instrumentations with the drums. The outstanding drumming performance keeps everything together by dictating groove and tempo with intricate, dynamic, well-accentuated beats, breaks, fills, and other percussive acrobatics. Each member plays a significant role in this sonic equation, and together, they represent a cohesive whole. R.A.T.S. is an exceptional band that undoubtedly deserves your utmost attention. They incorporated many brilliant ideas into these tracks, resulting in an EP release that will immediately resonate with every die-hard hardcore fan. “Actions Have Reactions” arrives in several variants, like turquoise-purple swirl, turquoise-black swirl, and magenta-black swirl. All variants are one-sided, with a second side tagged by the band. Head to Blackstarfoundation for more information about ordering this gem.