FLOTSAM AND JETSAM Announces New Album, 'Rats In The Temple'

American thrash metal pioneers FLOTSAM AND JETSAM will release their new album, "Rats In The Temple", on August 28, 2026 via Napalm Records.

The legends from Arizona have been a fixture of the metal scene for the better part of the last four decades. With modern renaissance records like "The End Of Chaos" (2019) and "I Am The Weapon" (2024),capturing the glory of their inceptional material, the Kerrang!-championed classic "Doomsday For The Deceiver" (1986) and "No Place For Disgrace" (1988),it's no wonder they're still raising hell for their throngs of dedicated fans along festival circuits internationally.

"Rats In The Temple" lunges out full force with 13 rabid onslaughts of ornate guitarmonies, pummeling double bass kicks, hypnotic bass grooves, and exalted frontman Eric "A.K." Knutson's unmistakably haunting wail. As the temple is besieged by vermin, FLOTSAM AND JETSAM line the walls with grim tales of death, abuse, betrayal, and war, inviting listeners into a dark world not too distant from our own.

Knutson said about the album: "This record is a BEAST, truly our best effort to date!! Do yourself a favor. Dim the lights, grab a drink, put the headphones on, and crank this up. You will not be sorry you did!!!"

FLOTSAM AND JETSAM's current lineup is arguably its strongest ever. Knutson continues bringing the magic, steadily improving his craft with every album and tour. He's backed by the incredibly talented, exceptionally brilliant guitar duo of co-founder Michael Gilbert and Steve Conley, the powerful, precise and lightning fast magic of drummer Ken Mary (ALICE COOPER, ACCEPT) and the "fresh blood", extraordinary technical skills and prowess of bassist Bill Bodily.

FLOTSAM AND JETSAM's new album will mark 40 years since the band's groundbreaking debut, the aforementioned "Doomsday For The Deceiver" — one of the only albums to ever receive a 6K rating from Kerrang! magazine. Though bassist Jason Newsted departed to join METALLICA, the band pushed forward, following up with 1988's unstoppable "No Place For Disgrace". Since then, they have continued to evolve, showcasing some of their best work to date with recent releases "Flotsam And Jetsam", "The End Of Chaos", "Blood In The Water" and "I Am The Weapon".

"Rats In The Temple" opens strong with the stadium-ready hooks and dizzyingly precise performances of "Harvesting The Hate" and "Damnation", before delving into thrash virtuosity on "Absolution". The iconic guitar duo of Michael Gilbert and Steve Conley paint vividly ghoulish images on tracks like "Blame The Knife" and "Rats In the Temple", then continue to flex their metal muscle on "The Ghost Behind My Door" and "First On The Spike", invoking pure first-wave excellence with a pummeling modern menace. "The Edge Of Nowhere" builds inescapable suspense before firing listeners out of a gun, full throttle into "Last Rites", another standout track for the band. The legendary rhythm duo of drummer Ken Mary and bassist Bill Bodily take center stage on the anti-war anthem "A Taste For War", their methodical syncopation invoking images of tanks and boots on the ground. "Her Blood Your Pain" brings ornate, medieval guitarmonies before "Anthem For The Broken" goes full balls to the wall, and "Going Down That Way" hits listeners with heavy riffs and even heavier truths. "Rats In The Temple" remains enthralling throughout, giving listeners entry to numerous of the band's metal chambers, sampling a refined and eclectic serving of influences.

"Rats In The Temple" track listing:

01. Harvesting The Hate
02. Damnation
03. Absolution
04. Blame The Knife
05. Rats In The Temple
06. The Ghost Behind My Door
07. First On The Spike
08. The Edge Of Nowhere
09. Last Rites
10. A Taste For War
11. Her Blood Your Pain
12. Anthem For The Broken
13. Not Going Down That Way

FLOTSAM AND JETSAM 2026 is:

Eric "A.K." Knutson - Vocals
Michael Gilbert - Guitar
Steve Conley - Guitar
William Bodily - Bass
Ken Mary - Drums

Photo credit: Shane Eckart