Smokers Unveil Debut Album “The Rat That Gnawed The Rope”

Oakland, CA punk ‘n rollers Smokers have released their blistering debut full length, The Rat That Gnawed The Rope, via Mouth Magazine Records. The band’s sound is inspired by classics such as The Stranglers, Minutemen, and Replacements and brought to life by the collective talents of Andy Asp (Nuisance / The Pattern), Cyrus Comiskey (Black Fork / Drunk Horse), Jim Nastic (Talk Is Poison / Year Future) and Omen Starr (St. James Infirmary). Meeting up with lead engineer Phil Becker at San Francisco’s historic El Studio, the group swiftly recorded the tracks that define The Rat That Gnawed The Rope. The studio, though located in a rather dubious neighborhood, turned out to be a perfect fit for their creative needs. Despite the unusual setting, the band felt right at home in the nondescript industrial building, rumored to be the recording site of The Melvins‘ legendary 1989 album, Ozma.

“It’s in a pretty dodgy neighborhood in San Francisco. I was stoked to see a deli right across the way, but it turned out to be a custom dog food butcher, so no sandwiches. We found a BevMo a couple blocks away, so that worked out pretty well.” (Andy Asp)