FLOTSAM AND JETSAM 'Rats In The Temple'

FLOTSAM AND JETSAM
Rats In The Temple
Napalm Records

Legendary American thrash metal band FLOTSAM AND JETSAM have returned with ‘Rats In The Temple,’ their fifth studio album in 10 years, and their 17th album overall. This veteran metal band is celebrating their 40th anniversary in 2026! The band lineup is: Eric AK (vocals), Michael Gilbert and Steve Conley (guitars), Bill Bodily (bass) and Ken Mary (drums).

F&J are known for their blistering tempos and precision solos, and ‘Rats In The Temple’ sticks to the band’s formula of eschewing the extraneous for maximum speed and efficiency. Truthfully, the band is firing all cylinders here, giving you both barrels full in the face for nearly an hour. Opener “Harvesting The Hate”, (video HERE) was the first single released from the album. This song is vintage F&J with lyrical catharsis from Eric and a straight ahead punishing tempo (yet with plenty of time changes) from the band. “Damnation” and especially “Absolution” are great tracks, but vampirical/legal thriller “Blame The Knife” is a standout track. Title track “Rats In The Temple” is a thrash/speed metal masterpiece. Ken Mary shows off his skills here! “The Ghost Behind My Door” tells a Jekyll and Hyde tale of a splintered mind and broken psyche, while “First On The Spike” is told from the point of view of a man questioning his faith. “The Edge of Nowhere” features Eric’s lyrics dealing with frustration, while Steve and Michael’s churning riffs add a blistering tempo, slowing down only occasionally just to build back up again. Bill Bodily’s bass work adds heft to these tracks as well. Ken adds more impressive fills!

“Last Rites” and “A Taste For War” are two of the more robust tracks found here, due to the infectious choruses. Guitar riffs and drums combine to echo the metaphorical train rolling down the track and the outright destruction of war. “Her Blood Your Pain” addresses an abusive relationship, while “Anthem For The Broken” is an instant classic and a truly uplifting song, so it’s probably my favorite song overall. And then there’s “Not Going Down That Way” -- a track that really makes you think about the way your life will end. Pretty deep!

Bottom line: ‘Rats In The Temple’ offers 13 new songs, clocking in at just under an hour. F&J’s muse, no matter the source, is strong and has not let the band down. I’ve been a fan of this band for a long time and ‘Rats In The Temple’ does not disappoint! It’s all here: well-written songs, impressive performances, exceptional production, and once again, a really cool album cover (that features Flotzilla bursting into the temple, sending the rats scurrying) illustrated by longtime collaborator Andy Pilkington. ‘Rats In The Temple’ will be a contender for album of the year. Release date: August 28, 2026. Flots ‘til death!

5.0 Out Of 5.0