Indie rock may be overflowing with sound‑alike hopefuls right now, but Plymouth’s Rat Trap are clearly not interested in joining the herd. Their latest single, All the Same, is a reminder that guitar music still has teeth when a band is willing to sharpen the edges rather than sand them down.
From the first bar, the track lunges forward with a biting, serrated guitar line, the kind that instantly cuts through the noise. It’s matched by a driving bass and solid, unfussy drums that give the song its momentum without ever crowding the mix. There are nods to classic indie heavyweights—Arctic Monkeys among them, but Rat Trap twist the formula with a harder, rock‑leaning edge that feels more feral than familiar.
And then there’s the guitar solo, a proper one, not a token flourish, not a half‑hearted eight bars, but a moment that actually earns its place. In an era where solos are often treated like relics, Rat Trap make it feel vital once again.
All the Same moves with pace and purpose, it’s the kind of track that feels engineered for sweaty dive bars and late‑night drunken sing-a-longs. Upon repeated listens, you can almost sense it becoming a live favourite, the sort of song that kicks a set into gear and leaves the crowd a little breathless.
Having seen Rat Trap on stage before, that confidence makes perfect sense. They’re a band with chemistry rather than ego, each member playing their part without the posturing that so often masks a lack of substance. Sure, there’s a bit of swagger, but they’ve earned it and when they step up, they deliver.
Coming from the West Country, standing out is no small feat. Too many bands fall into the trap of pushing out safe, colour‑by‑numbers indie that dissolves into the background. Rat Trap have chosen a different route. Their sound feels like it’s unlocking doors rather than knocking and waiting to be let in, carving their name rather than being pigeon-holed with the others.
They’re a solid band with a clear identity, and All the Same is the kind of release that hints at bigger stages and wider recognition. With the right backing, Rat Trap could go a long way, and more importantly, they deserve to.