Casket Rats – ‘Rat City Rockers’

Heavy Rock

Tee Pee Records

Release Date – November 7th 2025

Review By Smudge Smith

There are times when all you need is some down-n-dirty badass rock ‘n’ roll. No frills, dirty, beer-and-whisky-sweaty noise. Ladies and Gents, I give you Casket Rats, who were born from the hellfire of Boston, Mass., and have the blood of Thin Lizzy, Motörhead and The MC5 in their booze-abused veins. Featuring Boston hardcore stalwart Keith Bennett (Wrecking Crew/Death Ray Vision), it’s as drummer Phil ‘Fast says,says ‘Music by outcasts for outcasts. It’s not pretty or perfect and it’s not meant to be!’

Gird your loins as an AC/DC-like riff introduces ‘Blood In The Water’, which becomes a Lizzy-like rocker before the latest single, ‘Whisky Queen’, has a taste of Motörhead thanks to the drum intro and the raucous riffage. Bennett’s down n dirty bassline starts ‘Stealin’’, and they’re off on another AC/DC/Motörhead hybrid with some fine axework from Goose. ‘All She Wrote’ has a touch of the Southern brotherhood, then ‘Au Revoir’ gets kind of jagged and harks back to the 70s before ‘Looking For Some’ builds off some trills and guitar noodles before it gets serious on a basic riff. Nothing fancy, but it hits you right between the eyes and gets your head nodding. Bennett is at it again with another tasty AC/DC bassline, which is soon joined by Goose and O’Hare. This is proper punch-up rock n roll – come and have a go! ‘Watch It Burn’ eases back on the throttle on a mid-paced Lizzy burner before the stomping ‘Bad Times’ brings things to a close.

Yep, that’ll do, a whole heap of Gibson/Marshall noise dressed in black leather. Another review said that it was a return to Sunset Strip in the 80s. Bollox – these guys wouldn’t be seen anywhere near Sunset Strip. They’re too nasty and dirty for that area. Give them a dingy basement club in East Boston, and they are happy being surrounded by cheap booze and even cheaper women. Like it rough, raw and loud? Then come get some.

Track List –

Blood In The Water

Whiskey Queen

Stealing’

All She Wrote

Au Revoir

Looking For Some

What’s The Problem

Watch It Burn

Bad Times

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Jace Media Music is an online music review platform dedicated to giving all forms of music a chance to shine in the spotlight. With an unwavering passion for the art of sound, our mission is to provide a platform where music in all its diversity can get the attention and recognition it deserves.

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