Born in the blistering heat and surf of Western Australia, Ratking have emerged as one of the most exciting and dedicated hardcore bands around. In just a handful of years, the five-piece have released an impressive discography and become one of their country’s most outstanding live acts. Having just smashed SxSW in Austin, Texas, Ratking have dropped their video for Cruel Intent, their sludgiest and hardest hitting single yet.
Vocalist Josh Reeves elaborates, “Cruel Intent is about the state of mind that can seize society to do brutal things, bring on moral panic and eventually lead to societal collapse. A curse that follows you wherever you go, placated by our vices, the very vices we use to turn a blind eye towards the curse.”
Since day one, Ratking have worked tirelessly. Their debut release, 2013’s Wastelander was an introduction free of ambiguity. Pummelling at any tempo, the EP carved out a unique foxhole from which the band have been attacking ever since. Growing in skill and confidence, the band released their debut album Commonwealth the following year – heavier and more menacing than their debut, setting Ratking on a focused trajectory towards international recognition.
Led by singles Vote4Me and Gotta Light?, 2018’s SERF EP is a fucking monster – a tornado of blitzkrieg drums, powerful riffs and the acidic, reverb-laden howls of Josh Reeves. Drawing upon elements of punk, hardcore and thrash, SERF is impeccably performed by the band, and delivered with gargantuan sonic weight. Cruel Intent picks-up where Ratking left off, paving the way for their busiest year yet.
As Ratking’s profile grows so to does the list of heavyweight acts that choose the band as their go-to choice of support – Every Time I Die, Comeback Kid, DZ Deathrays, King Parrot, Northlane, Suicidal Tendencies, Hellions, Miles Away, Norma Jean, LetLive., Counterparts, Stray From The Path, Deez Nuts, Raised Fist and many more.
While hardcore is undoubtedly a universal language, Ratking’s dialect is distinctly Australian. Amidst the relentlessness of their music is a laid-back charm that comes from a life lived by the beach. Unbeknownst to the world, Ratking have been readying themselves to tour every corner of the planet (just returning from Japan), and Cruel Intent is the harrowing siren that heralds the impending invasion.
Catch the band this Saturday at Slayfest, Capital & Amplifier Bar, Perth with Philip H. Anselmo & The Illegals, King Parrot and more.
