Bristol’s own Wakey Wakey Rise & Shine return on March 14th with ‘Sky Rats,’ the second single from their upcoming EP Rear Meat, set for release on April 4th.
Dark, eerie and evocative, the track is a striking and intense example of the bands work. Brooding and yet sharp and urgent, the track takes the band to a more intense post-punk space when compared to the psychedelic atmospherics of previous single ‘There’s Less Trouble When You Stay At Home’.
Opening with a dark swell of synth and the chirps of a guitars strings pushed against the pick ups the track sets an unsettling, intense tone from the off before introducing its jerky, discordant guitar riff and awkward rhythm section. Introducing a gripping monologue delivered by vocalist and synth player Harrison ‘Harri’ Elliott, the track creates a sense of anticipation before erupting into a thunderous, explosive climax.
“Since (guitarist) Smudge was 12 , he’s given the Herring Gull its alter ego name ‘Sky Rat’” the band explains. “This song is about how their numbers have multiplied and how they will take over the world if we don’t act now.” The track has already cemented itself as a live favourite, with its climactic conclusion set to close every Wakey Wakey Rise & Shine performance moving forward.
Sky Rats offers the second glimpse into Rear Meat, following February’s release of ‘There’s Less Trouble When You Stay at Home.’ Across all four tracks, the band embraces darker themes—blending anxiety and mistrust with their signature mischievous energy. The EP was recorded primarily by bassist Duncan and guitarist Cameron in the basement of Bristol’s iconic venue, The Louisiana. Bucking sonic norms, the band honours their post-punk and new wave predecessors while forging a unique fusion of math rock, indie new wave, and gritty punk.
“One of the main creative processes to this EP is that we recorded the drums without a click/metronome. Nowadays that is not standard practice, but I really wanted to capture a flowing energy because when you play to a click sometimes that flow gets lost,” explains drummer Seamus
Listen to ‘Sky Rats’ below:
