Track By Tracks: The Riptide Rats - Waves Of Steel (2025)

1. Waves of Steel:

The title track sets the tone for the whole record: powerful, driving surf with a slightly heavier edge. This one started as a riff with a metallic shimmer that we all immediately liked. Everyone added their layer — sharp guitar lines, rolling bass, and a big, forward-pushing rhythm — until it felt like a wave that just keeps rising.

2. Desert Dust:

Born out of imagery rather than jamming. I brought in the melody already half-formed, dusty and sun-bleached, and the rest of us shaped the mood around it. It’s sparse, wide, and cinematic — like a slow pan across a desert landscape.

3. Breaker:

One of our earlier live favourites in a rerecorded version. It has that “instant hook” feel — the bassline, the guitar pattern, the energy. Catchy and built to get audiences moving.

4. Dunes:

A personal melody that Jocke had carried for quite a while before it finally found its place with the Rats. When he showed it to us, we didn’t change much — just framed it in a way that let the melody breathe and shine. It’s one of the most atmospheric pieces on the album.

5. Coastline Chaos:

Gus' idea here was “storm surf.” Not in a heavy-metal sense — more like unpredictable currents, sudden swells, and jagged rocks. Lots of interplay between guitar twang and bass movement. We built this one in layers, trying to capture the feeling of being tossed around by the elements.

6. Backwater Showdown:

A swampy, slightly mischievous track. This one came in almost like a soundtrack cue — a bit gritty, a bit playful, like two outlaws staring each other down across foggy water.

7. Reef Rumblin:

A nod to our early “Shed Sessions.” Remastered edition. It has that raw, slightly scrappy edge- riffs bouncing off each other, a kind of underwater turbulence. We didn’t over-polish this one; the charm is in its looseness and energy.

8. Straitjacket (Los Straitjackets cover):

A tribute to one of the giants of instrumental surf. We approached this with full respect: keeping the spirit of the original but letting a bit of our own personality shine through. Tight, fun, and a joy to record.

9. Astrofeet:

The “space surf” track. Gus brought this in — a slightly cosmic riff — and we expanded it into a floating, weightless ride. It’s playful and a bit dreamy, a break from the more grounded coastal themes earlier on the record.

10. Action Jaxxxon:

Pure adventure. This one feels like a chase scene from a pulp action movie. Quick, catchy lines and a propulsive rhythm. We kept throwing ideas at it until it had that “go go go!” momentum the name calls for.

11. Grease My Board:

A fun, cheeky surf-culture tune. Not deep philosophy — just a feel-good track celebrating getting ready to hit the waves. Think sunshine, wax, boards, and a grin. It’s meant to make people smile.

12. Rat Stomp!:

The closer — upbeat, unpretentious, and full of energy. It feels like a final victory lap after the album’s journey through deserts, reefs, storms, and space. Everyone gets a moment to shine, and it ends the record with a celebratory burst.