Oakland, California’s premier punk rockers have just released their debut LP, The Rat That Gnawed the Rope. The new album, available worldwide in digital and vinyl formats through Oakland-based Mouth Magazine Records, dropped on June 14th, 2024. After years of relentless touring along the West Coast, Oakland’s SMOKERS have finally unveiled their blistering 15-song album. Their sound, influenced by punk icons such as The Stranglers, Minutemen, and early Replacements, is brought to life by the collective talents of Andy Asp (Nuisance, The Pattern), Cyrus Comiskey (Black Fork, Drunk Horse), Jim Nastic (Talk is Poison, Year Future), and Omen Starr (St. James Infirmary).
Collaborating with lead engineer Phil Becker (Pins of Light, Big Business) at San Francisco’s historic El Studio, the band swiftly recorded the tracks that define The Rat. Despite its location in a rather dubious neighborhood, the studio was perfect for their creative needs. “It’s in a pretty dodgy area of San Francisco,” recalls vocalist and guitarist Andy Asp. “I was excited to see a deli nearby, but it turned out to be a custom dog food butcher, so no sandwiches. We found a BevMo a couple blocks away, so that worked out pretty well.” Despite the unusual setting, the band felt right at home in the nondescript industrial building, rumored to be the recording site of The Melvins’ legendary 1989 album Ozma.
A COVID-19 scare had previously forced the cancellation of an earlier session, but SMOKERS found El Studio to be the perfect alternative. Becker played a crucial role in bringing The Rat That Gnawed the Rope to completion. “He kept things moving, and I think we finished all the basic tracks in a single day,” says bassist Cyrus Comiskey. A vintage Hammond organ, supposedly once owned by The Allman Brothers, added a unique touch to the opening track, “The Irish Tenor.” Stream the album below:
https://smokers.bandcamp.com/album/the-rat-that-gnawed-the-rope-2