The only northern euro record that comes close (very close!) to the unbeaten glory of TERVEET KÄDET’s “Ääretön Joulu” 7″ EP. RATTUS released three 7″s and one so-so 12″EP prior to this slab. What can I say? This is so dry and brutal and sounds like the blueprint for so many bands that still copy this sound, somtimes with more, sometimes with less success. One of the essentials in Hardcore and one record that amazes me again and again and again. When digitizing this, I realized by looking at the waveforms, that the records immense impact does not come from a perfect mastering job (there could be done a lot here!). Next to the great recording and the professional engineering, it’s simply the musicianship of these four gentlemen. They play tight as my dad’s ass. The power of this exploding toilet (I think that’s the translation of the EP title) is overwhelming and the entire record is a tour de force, leaving you breathless.
The front cover was drawn by Pushead (as was the cover of the follow-up, a kinda weak 12er) and I think this was entirely re-released on that LP on NY based Rat Cage Records (the one with the skull sleeve – I never had that. Drop me a line if you happen to have a spare copy). From what a ultra quick internet research tells me, the entire Poko recordings from 1981-1984 have been re-released on a CD in 1994 already.
Download the entire WC RÄJÄTHÄÄ 12″EP by RATTUS here, ripped with utmost care from the original vinyl. The sound totally destroys!
22 Comments
Rattus was probably the first foreign language hardcore band I REALLY got into, Tervet Kadet not so much. The track “Reaganin joululahja” still blows me away with its crushing weight. The Ratcage LP is a re-recording best of tracks from 81-83. http://personal.inet.fi/musiikki/aj/rcage.htm
I have the CD reissue on Zurich Chainsaw Massacre Records.
http://www.zcmrecords.com/zcm/bands.html
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Bloody hell – a re-recording! I didn’t know this. I have to have at once!!!!!! Thanks, Kount!!!
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finnjävlar! fast-n-furious and great!
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Ratcage LP is my all-time favorite Finnish record. I USED to own the original…but traded it away for jXc (honestly, it wasn’t a good trade at the time).
Erich, the ZCM reissue sounds a slight notch better (a little “wetter” sounding), and the print job and accompanying lyric sheet are also an improvement.
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Probably swaring in church but I was never really into Rattus, although I have to admit the pushead package always made it alluring. From all the Finnish bands Lama is my favorite by a landslide
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As much as I love most Finnish hc, I never really got into Rattus, perhaps this rip will help me find out what I’ve missed. Cheers and Easter
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I can’t hear the better sound on the reissue Sean. These rips are blistering and the original version sounds so much better than the ratcage press.
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great heavy rotation album!
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now not so good heavy rotation.
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C’mon Pär – the new Depeche Mode makes Candlemass sound like the Mary Poppins Soundtrack
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DM were pretty good around the late 80s-early 90s but apart from that? Not my cup of warm water.
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depeche mode? douche bag mode more like it
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Haha, Tony, you’re a real Punk, aren’t you.
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Bought the collection CD when it came out off a guy named Don at NYC’s Subterranean Records who was quite the record collector and had every old Finnish hardcore record you could think of. I remember the day I bought it some Japanese punker types came in the store and one of them was wearing a baseball hat with a Larm patch on it which for some reason really incensed Don and when I asked him what he thought about some record he said “You know what I think? I think we should put on that Rattus CD and show these Japs what it’s all about. Motherfucker shows up in my store wearing a Larm hat…” and cranked it up full volume. Turned out some collector in Japan had sent the kids to see him in the first place. Funny stuff. Always loved how the vocals on some songs are almost nonchalant in comparison to the rampaging thrash underneath and also is perhaps the only use I’ve ever heard of rolling R’s in hardcore.
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I can’t believe how good this sounds! The sound is full and sharp. I onlywish the original CD would have so much power. Thanks.
Your music taste keeps amazing me. I’d never have believe you’re into the Mode
Haven’t yet heard the new one but I took your word and pre-ordered my copy today.
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Excellent band. Still playing and still great. New album is good, too.
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Have to go out and buy the new D. Mode CD…I hope it fucking shreds!!!!!!! Thanks for the Rattus material…it is good.
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‘Real punk’ ouch. Anyway, just to add something constructive: I have listened to this almost daily since you posted it, truly one of the highpoints of hardcore. My gut, it is so, so good. So thank you again.
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FUCKING SHIT!!!
THANKS!!!! ALOT!!!!!
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I found this record in a secondhand record store in hannover/
germany in 2004 and paid 5 euro. the owner of the shop isn´t interested in punk music.
I also bought Effigies- we´re da machine, Social Unrest- Rat in a maze, The Freeze- Land of the lost, Misfits- Walk among us (Italian press), Kraut- an adjustment…, and a few german Punk records, all Originals for 5 euro.
That was the last time I found real cool records and paid such a low price.
Cool homepage !!!
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You should write a book with all the contents you put in this blog!
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the atcage LP is without a doubt the best Rattus record ever. yeah, its a lot of re-recordings with their roadie Anniki on vocals, but…WOW!!! one of the most devestating HardCorePunk records ever made. and the “Ihmiset On Sairata” 7″ this lineup did not too long after (and one of those songs appears on “Welcome To 1984″ comp LP) is pretty amazing, as well. this “WC Rajahataa” 12″ sits in a VERY proud 3rd-place in the world of Rattus. one of the BEST EVER!!!
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[...] full of Hate”): It was even harsher, of, say, RATTUS-like wall-of-sound-quality (I mean the second Rattus 12er), but all in all, this EP does it more for me. Raw, brutal, aggressive as fuck. The trillion of [...]
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