Scene Point Blank is excited to share the full stream of the debut album of protopunk-styled band Smokers, The Rat That Gnawed The Rope. The album releases courtesy of Mouth Magazine Records on June 17.
While the 15-song collection is the band's first full-length, they've cut their teeth touring the US West Coast, recording at El Studio in San Francisco. Members have also played with The Pattern, Nuisance, Drunk Horse, and Black Fork.
Meeting up with lead engineer Phil Becker (Pins of Light, Big Business) at San Francisco's historic El Studio, the group swiftly recorded the tracks that define 'The Rat'. The studio, though located in a rather dubious neighborhood, turned out to be a perfect fit for their creative needs. "It's in a pretty dodgy neighborhood in San Francisco," recalls vocalist and guitarist Andy Asp. "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." 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'.
