The music industry is a hard world. Less than 1% of artists continue to enjoy significant success 20 years or more after their first hit. Changing tastes and trends within music (even within genres), stress between band members or a desire to move in different musical directions and the need to reinvent and “stay fresh” all contribute to the strain of even just staying together.

Celebrating 40 years after the release of their first album, Doomsday for the Deceiver, Flotsam and Jetsam have had their share of ebbs and flows. Band members have left (and returned), musical tastes have moved away from thrash (and returned) and yet they’ve gritted it out and taken their chances when they can. At the heady heights of the thrash metal era in the 1980’s they were at the forefront of the genre – playing with, and compared favourably to, some of the greats.

Since 2021’s Blood in the Water, it’s fair to say that the band has enjoyed a serious revival. With the release of their 16^th studio album this year, they’ve distilled all of their 40-year experience into a devastating operatic statement of musical confidence. This album is a non-stop assault which draws on the classic themes of the genre but manages to sound fresh and modern at the same time.

Three things really stand out on Rats in the Temple: Michael Gilbert and Steve Conley’s melodic, driving guitar riffs, Eric A.K. Knutson’s soaring vocals and the relentless speed of the rhythm section Ken Mary’s drumming and Bill Bodily’s bass. And they’ve stitched together a very enjoyable, “not-quite-a-concept” album showcasing some of the best of their songwriting and musicianship.

 

The album opens with the hard hitting Harvesting the Hate, a reap-what-you-sow, deserve-all-you-get tale of the consequences of anger and aggression. It’s a theme that continues into Damnation; Knutson delivering the horror-infused lyrics with 110% belief in the truth of his message. This is modern operatic thrash metal at its best and sets the tone for the rest of the album.

Absolution’s soaring choruses contrast with a drumline that never lets up. Ken Mary’s speed and precision are legendary and the band as a whole is on fire with this track. It’s a brilliant, no compromise demonstration of their capabilities and songwriting skills and one of the album’s highlights.

With its string-led opening, title track Rats in the Temple ramps up the lyrical darkness still further. The rats in this case represent fears lurking inside: “They run in the darkness inside my brain/ Feeding the thoughts, move in for the kill…” Along with The Ghost behind my Door and single The Edge of Nowhere, Rats is a high point on the album, but overall there are very few fillers here. It’s a very easy record to stick on and play in full 2 or 3 times in a row.

Fresh from their move to Napalm Records, Flotsam seem to be brimming with confidence, and it shows clearly in this album (not least in the spectacular artwork by regular contributor Andy Pilkington). There’s no word on a UK tour yet, but the band are playing dates in Australia, the US and mainland Europe later in 2026 so we remain hopeful of seeing them in 2027.

 Listen to Rats In The Temple

Rats In The Temple Tracklist:

1. Harvesting the Hate

2. Damnation

3. Absolution

4. Blame the Knife

5. Rats in the Temple

6. The Ghost behind my Door

7. First on the Spike

8. The Edge of Nowhere

9. Last Rites

10. A Taste for War

11. Her Blood your Pain

12. Anthem for the Broken

13. Not Going down that Way