There’s no shortage of songs about difficult times, but the best ones find a way to power through the gloom without pretending it doesn’t exist. That grind-it-out spirit sits at the heart of “Darkness,” the latest single from Minneapolis-based post-punk/new-wave project Toilet Rats. Basement punk with a spongey heart, the track falls somewhere between the anthemic punch of Jawbreaker and the melodic melancholy of the Cure. It’s the latest salvo in the ramp-up to Black Cats, the Rats’ third LP, which features contributions from Adam Goren (Atom And His Package), Andrew Cahak (Unstable Shapes), saxophonist Daryk Narum and an unruly cast of Twin Cities collaborators.
“The song is a defiant expression of joy in the face of dark circumstances,” says Toilet Rats mastermind Thomas Rehbein, who recently emerged from a tough stretch in his personal life. “The concept of joy as an act of resistance is a recurring theme in my circles. It’s one way we continue to find the strength, love, hope and resilience that keeps us going. It’s not forced positivity or fake feelings—it’s pushing forward despite opposing forces. It’s a word of encouragement for my peers.”
We’re proud to premiere Toilet Rats’ “Darkness.” Black Cats is due June 26 via Steadfast/Sweet Cheetah.
—Hobart Rowland
