Thrash legends Flotsam And Jetsam have given us our first look at their new album Rats In The Temple, out 28 August via Napalm Records, and they have done it with the title track. It is a ghoulish slab of thrash packing sweeping guitar harmonies, thunderous drums and frontman Eric A.K. Knutson‘s unmistakable haunting wail. Four decades, countless world tours and 15 studio albums in, the band remain as sharp and revered as ever.
Knutson sounds genuinely fired up about the single. “We’re super excited to release the first single from the album, which is very fittingly the title track, ‘Rats In The Temple’! This song has a lot to say, and we hope the fans love the song as much as we do. This is possibly one of the most technically challenging songs Flotsam has ever recorded, and we look forward to delivering this song live as well!”
The Arizona outfit built their name on a trailblazing blend of blistering thrash and soaring power metal, established on breakthrough records like Doomsday for the Deceiver (1986), No Place for Disgrace (1988) and Cuatro (1992). Their current run has been just as fierce, with the German chart-climbing The End of Chaos (2019), Blood in the Water (2021) and I Am the Weapon (2024). With appearances at Wacken, Graspop, Bloodstock, Alcatraz and Rockhard behind them, they have honed their sound to a fine point of earth-shattering blast beats, scorching guitars and epic string arrangements.
Rats In The Temple marks their Napalm Records debut, and Knutson is not shy about where it sits in the catalogue. “This record is a BEAST, truly our best effort to date!! Do yourself a favor. Dim the lights, grab a drink, put the headphones on, and crank this up. You will not be sorry you did!!!”
On the strength of that title track, we are inclined to take him at his word.
