On spotting the band’s name, I immediately thought of Godflesh: the opening track on their punishing and genre-defining LP is without doubt a touchstone for infinite artists who’ve emerged since. The challenge this Chicago-based collective have set themselves is to create something that meets the benchmark of the music they reference.
Given the band’s origins - several members of Like Rats also hold rank in Chicago-based powerviolence/grindcore faction, Weekend Nachos – they’ve certainly got pedigree, and acts including Incantation, Celtic Frost and Obituary, Nails, Black Breath and Dead In The Dirt are cited in the biography.
There’s no doubt that ‘Like Rats II’ (which logically follows their eponymous debut) delivers a bludgeoning, crushing metal assault. That’s a fact. The drums dominate amidst a maelstrom of gnarly guitars and guttural vocals.
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‘Gates’ brings a more industrial / thrash sound to the album, a relentless three-chord grind that would have been at home on Earache around 25 years ago – and that’s by no means a criticism.
That said, there are times when the album does feel very much like a standard thrash workout, with the blastbeats and tempo changes following rather predictable formats.
Like Rats Online
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