Those who’ve been keeping a close eye on Brighton’s The Rattlebacks throughout 2024 will have witnessed a band seemingly going from strength to strength. Each of the singles released from their forthcoming album has found the band sounding much more confident than before. Blending elements of melodic hard rock and a pinch of grunginess, the band’s best songs have conveyed a broad sound, and with ‘Dementia Lounge’ especially, The Rattlebacks’ ability to combine absolutely killer late 80s/early 90s riffs with a vocal that celebrates a classic rock approach reached its peak.

Their current single, ‘Waste’ features a lot of elements that will already be familiar from the previously released cuts, but there’s still enjoyment to be had from hearing the band cranking their way through a hard-edged riff or three here. Coxy and Max’s guitars set a groove in place that recalls a lot of melodic metal from the early nineties, but thanks to a great sound, a great production job, and a lot of confidence, any feelings that The Rattlebacks might be recycling themselves are offset by a massive drum part that conveys a very live sounding punch. Chorus wise, this track is more of a slow burner – making it a curious choice for a digital single – but musically, there are still some very sharp elements, particularly during the second half of the track where the melodic hard rock is briefly traded in for something heavier, and Max drops in with a fretboard melter of a solo.

‘Waste’ isn’t quite so immediate as some Rattlebacks tunes, but for those who’ve already found a love for the band’s classic hard rock style, it’s still a track that has a lot to give, and certainly plays more strongly as part of the album itself.

The album, ‘Sidewinder’  hit the shelves last week on 15th November. You can read a full review here, and watch the video clip for ‘Waste’ below.