Brighton based rock band The Rattlebacks have really put their stamp on 2024 with a couple of excellent singles. Here’s another: ‘Dementia Lounge’ doesn’t just capture the band’s gift for riffs, but improves on previous efforts by delivering much more of a direct punch.

The opening bass riff brings a deep rumble that’s reminiscent of a couple of older Guns N’ Roses and Love/Hate tracks, but once the guitars crank up the volume, The Rattlebacks really come into their own. The opening riff taps into more of the old school crunch they’ve previously shared, but as things gain momentum, this track grows into something much bigger.

The verse mixes a classic metal sound with a post-grunge darkness, which shows guitarists Max Horn and Coxy in great shape as they show an easy knack for blending styles. There’s a Tremonti and Alter Bridge vibe flowing through some of the heavier moments, whilst a howling lead pierces through, keeping a strong link with The Rattlebacks’ love of a more “classic” sound. The vocals, when tapping into a slightly gravelly style, add just as much power; frontman Josh Clarke shows an impressive range throughout, but its when powering through a slightly moody chorus that his sense of grittiness and volume really comes into its own. By the mid point, there’s every indication that ‘Dementia Lounge’ is a track with an impressive amount of heft, but after increasing the tempo for a huge, crashy climax, the band’s rhythm section (Jack Hollamby on bass, Seth Markes on drums) become an absolute powerhouse – a seemingly unstoppable juggernaut of sound. This allows the guitars to launch into a much faster riff that brings things full circle with the kind of speed driven chops that introduced the track. There’s so much packed into these three minutes, but everything flows very naturally. Nothing feels rushed, and nothing ever appears forced, despite the end result clearly having a great force of its own.

Check out the video below.