L7 Scatter the Rats

L7 announce first album in 20 years, 'Scatter the Rats,' share "Burn Baby"

Reunited grunge greats L7 said they’d be releasing their first album in 20 years in 2019 via Don Giovanni, and now they’ve finally announced the new album, which is actually coming out on May 3 via Joan Jett’s Blackheart Records. “I’ve been friends with L7 for years and am very excited and proud to have the opportunity to release their new album on Blackheart!,” says Joan Jett. L7’s Donita Sparks adds, “When we decided to make a new record, Joan was there for us as the good friend she has always been. So great to stomp into Blackheart Records with her at the helm. We’re very excited to work with Joan and the entire Blackheart family. Just imagine the family dinners!”

The album’s called Scatter the Rats, and lead single “Burn Baby” is out now. (It doesn’t include recent singles “I Came Back to Bitch” or “Dispatch From Mar-A-Lago.”) The new song sounds like classic L7, and it also comes with a very ’90s grunge-looking video (directed by Courtney and Hillary Andujar). Watch below. “Burn Baby” will also be released as a 7″ single on Record Store Day, backed by album track “Fighting the Crave.”

The album was co-produced by Nick Launay (Nick Cave, Public Image Ltd, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, etc) and former Jack Off Jill drummer Norm Block, the latter of whom sort of accidentally named the album. “There were a couple of rats in the basement of the studio, where all the amplifiers were, and at one point Norm said to us, ‘Let’s get rockin’, we can scatter the rats,’” says Donita Sparks.

As mentioned, L7 are going on Rancid‘s The Bash touring festival with Suicidal Tendencies and more. That includes a NJ stop on June 2 at the Old Bridge Township Raceway Park with Pennywise and Madball also on the bill (tickets). All dates are listed below.

Tracklist
1. Burn Baby
2. Fighting the Crave
3. Proto Prototype
4. Stadium West
5. Murky Water Cafe
6. Ouija Board Lies
7. Garbage Truck
8. Holding Pattern
9. Uppin’ The Ice
10. Cool About Easy
11. Scatter The Rats

L7 — 2019 Tour Dates
5/11: Phoenix, AZ @ Margaret T. Hance Park
(w/ Rancid, Suicidal Tendencies, The Mighty Mighty Bosstones & H2O)
5/12: Tucson, AZ @ Rillito Park Racetrack
(w/ Rancid, Suicidal Tendencies, Pennywise, H2O)
6/02: Englishtown, NJ @ Old Bridge Township Raceway
(w/ Rancid, Suicidal Tendencies, Penynwise, Madball)
6/08: Boise, ID @ Memorial Stadium
(w/ Rancid, Suicidal Tendencies, Pennywise, special guests)
6/09: Tacoma, WA @ America’s Car Museum
(w/ Rancid, Suicidal Tendencies, Pennywise, Noi!se)
6/15: Santa Clara, CA @ Santa Clara County Fairgrounds
(w/ Rancid, Suicidal Tendencies, Pennywise, Sharp Shock)
6/16: Sacramento, CA @ Papa Murphy’s Park
(w/ Rancid, Suicidal Tendencies, Pennywise, Sharp Shock)