Most people know the feeling of carrying more than their share. Work piles up, family needs something, and the person everyone counts on has little left for themselves. A good album can turn that weight into something worth singing along to. On it all burns down someday, 72 Rats does exactly that, pairing post-punk and new wave edges with indie rock hooks that stay bright even when the subject matter turns heavy.
72 Rats is the project of Graham Bremner, who has been writing songs for over a decade and has started releasing them over the last couple of years. He pulls from Talking Heads, R.E.M., Joy Division, The Replacements, and Sonic Youth, and the mix lands somewhere a little different from any single one of those legends. Bremner handles vocals, guitars, and bass. Meanwhile, Epaminondas Trimis plays drums and percussion, and Seth Ahnert adds keyboards. The album was recorded at Reas4 Studios and The Rats Nest in Woodinville, Washington, with Bremner and Trimis producing and Michael Springer mixing and mastering at Peel Studios.
The album’s theme is accepting impermanence and choosing to live fully inside that reality. It isn’t a nihilistic statement but a liberating one. Everything ends and everything changes, so the question becomes what to do with the time you have. Along the way, the songs touch on being the person everyone depends on, the isolation of invisible burdens, and the gap between who you want to be and the energy you have left. Importantly, they also point out that these struggles are universal and temporary, and that asking for help is not weakness.
The album opens with “Mellow Dramatic,” and a fun, catchy guitar melody draws you in right away. Happy energy runs through the sound, which makes a nice contrast with the weightier themes. The vocals are delivered in a unique, straight-ahead way that sounds plain-spoken and honest. As a result, the opener sets a tone right from the first listen.
“I’m Too Tired” brings another fun guitar melody, this one drowned in reverb. The verse stays melodic, but a raw bridge turns the song on its head. Then the track returns to that melodic verse, and the contrast makes the return feel earned. Fittingly, that shift between smooth and raw suits a song with this title.
In contrast, the progressive and atmospheric “Hidden” builds its vibe slowly. Thick, chugging guitar pushes through, and the deep production gives every sound its own space, so no instrument or voice takes over. It brings back memories of the late 90s post-grunge sound. Additionally, the mix shows how much care went into letting each layer breathe.
Closing things out, “Ready To Roll” starts with an experimental open full of exotic sounds showing some real diversity. Soon after, multiple instruments come together to fill the full sonic space. Seth Ahnert is credited with keyboards on this track and provides some sweet piano fills to add a nice change-up along the way. Consequently, the record ends on a big, open note instead of a quiet fade. Interesting to see what 72 Rats will deliver to us next.
Released on CD, cassette, Bandcamp, and Subvert on October 2, 2026, and then on streaming platforms everywhere on October 9, it all burns down someday proves that big ideas about endings can still sound lively. Overall, 72 Rats blends catchy guitar work, deep production, and honest vocals into a record that feels both weary and hopeful. Fans of Talking Heads, R.E.M., or The Replacements will find plenty to enjoy. For more rock worth hearing, check out our previous IBG reviews of Gwen and I Only Came Cause You Said There Would Be A Dog.
Release Information
Artist: 72 Rats
Release: it all burns down someday (Album)
Label: Independent
Genre: Post-Punk / New Wave / Indie Rock
Find More From 72 Rats Here
Website
Bandcamp
YouTube
Facebook
Spotify
