Toilet Rats’ Synth Redux Vol. 1 reviewed by Ghettoblaster Magazine

Ghettoblaster Magazine’s Eddie Ugarte had kind words to say about Toilet Rats’ Synth Redux Vol. 1. Read the review here.

Sometimes differences are negligible, and while they may seem similar, there are differences. I’m reminded of sitcoms where some things seemed like a pale comparison of others, but the similarities still lingered around. This leads to Synth Redux Vol. 1 (Steadfast Records) by Minneapolis’ Toilet Rats, which is the moniker punk enthusiast Thomas Rehbein performs and records under.

Mind you, what’s compiled here on Synth Redux Vol. 1 is reworked tracks mostly made up of the band’s 2023 album IV, only this time through synth-punk goggles that accentuate the songs’ potential to maneuver themselves into a much more electronic variation. The songs are remixed to elevate the band’s obnoxious penchant for electro-punk antics within the pop explosiveness of each track. While that may sound like a back-handed compliment, no, it’s not. It’s obscenely over-the-top, but that only adds to the charm of the songs. “Blackbox Recorder” in its original state is a guitar-driven pop dream but in its booming synth identity, it hits harder and is seemingly more emotional. We can argue on the point, but you’d be wrong. It’s awash in electronics, and the differential vibe is obviously felt. Everything just feels so much bigger than the original, like with “Walk the Earth.” Rehbein’s apocalyptic tone aside, the punchy rhythm and fast-paced synth action come across like an ’80s zombie flick with 2020 speed. We’re all on the run here, and we can identify with it. Zombie fans anyway… yes, some of us can easily relate.

But you can find nostalgia in Toilet Rats’ “Brains” rework, and Rehbein’s vocals seem to fit better around the redux than the original, as those solemn keyboard notes accentuate it. It’s all in the extravagant delivery that allows it to be beautifully outrageous. There are moments that seem chaotic, never blown out of proportion, but when you find yourself surrounded by drum patterns that are explosive without being overbearing, like on the pop-induced “Mall Goth,” you’ll find this is the right place to be.

It’s weird how Synth Redux Vol. 1 draws you in, offering elements of the past with footsteps firmly planted in the present. This could be the appeal of Toilet Rats, who seem to be comfortable in taking up the challenge of presenting itself as something new and refreshing.