Scum Rats were a German Psychobilly band formed by Charly Fallensteller (vocals & doublebass), Coco McDaddy (guitar), Serge Baxley (guitar) and Steve Parker (drums).
Scum Rats – S/t
Rumble records – Gang 003 [1990]
I See Your Face – Too Much Pain – Blood In Your Face
Led by Charlie Fallensteller’s fast slap bass and vocals, this quator from Germany delivered a powerful three tracks ep of self-penned tunes on the extreme side of the Psychobilly genre with hard core influences. If you prefer they were closer to band like Demented Are Go or the Krewmen (when led by Tony McMillan) than the Long Tall Texans.
In addition to the supersonic bass, the ingredients are Fallensteller’s rasping voice, hard hitting and thud drums (with barely no cymbals) and fine arrangements that rely on the different sounds and textures of the two guitars. All in all an excellent ep.
Scum Rats – Go Out Into a Scum Dream
Rumble records – RUMBLE001 [1990]
Scum Rats – Go Out – Scum Of The Night – I Love Rock & Roll – Money – Runaway – Die To Be Free – My Baby Is Alone – Come On Little Sister – Scum Love – Cryin To Be Satisfied
The Scum Rats debut album doesn’t differ much from the ep in term of sounds (and show no sign of amelioration in term of cover design either).
The same ingredients can be found to serve solid and powerful originals and two covers (Joan Jett’s I Love Rock’n’roll also released on single and Del Shannon’s Runaway sung by the guitar player, probably not the band’s best moment).
Once again the way the two guitars interact is worth noticing, one with a distorded sound and the other with a clean sound. All of this makes of Go Out… one of the best Psychobilly album of the the early 90’s.If my memory serves me right the first pressing was on green vinyl.
It was later reissued on cd with their second mini album.
Scum Rats – Demon Of The Dark
Rulble Records – Rumble022 [1993]
Intro – Come With Me To My World – Demon Eyes – Devil In Disguise – Red Hot Motorbike – Demon Of The Dark – Without You – My Way Of Rock ‘N’ Roll – Bad Moon Rise – Scumrats Babe – Guilty ‘Till I’m 21 – Believe It’s Your End – On The Beach – Too Hot
No major changes for their third studio album. Musically, it falls somewhere between the Power era of the Krewmen (for such hits as Red Hot Motorbike), Demented Are Go for their raspy and menacing vocals, and Nekromantix, whose influence can be heard in the two-part arrangements on Come With Me To My World. So, if you’re looking for light hearted and Rockabilly-tinged Psychobilly, this album (and the others released by Scum Rats) may not be for you. The title track, meanwhile, if it weren’t for that distinctive vocal, would almost be reminiscent of the best of Billy Idol (Psychobilly Idol?). As for covers, there’s a version of Devil In Disguise (Elvis) that manages to be both wicked and respectful.
The whole thing is very well produced, showcasing well-mastered instruments and the ever-inventive two-guitar arrangements.
Admittedly, the guitars push the sound of the band a bit too far towards metal and hard rock, and sometimes border on bad taste. We can also note a slight lack of renewal in the melodies (for example, Demon Eyes sounds a lot like Go Out from their debut album).
Despite this, the Scum Rats’ fast-paced psychobilly, supported by Steve Parker’s fat drumming and propelled by Charly Fallensteller’s overpowering double bass, remains as devilishly effective as ever.
Fred “Virgil” Turgis
