The future of punk is retro.

Minneapolis, Minnesota’s Toilet Rats return with Synth Redux Vol. 1, a stripped-down, synth-punk resurrection of fan-favorites, on April 25, 2025, via Steadfast Records and Sweet Cheetah Records. 

Channeling the raw energy of basement shows and the coldwave pulse of early synth-punk, Tommy Ratz (aka Thomas Rehbein) rewires Rats classics with pulsing drum machines, snarling analog synths, and the kind of nihilistic groove that’d make 1983’s dancefloors combust.

“Imagine your favorite Rats songs filtered through a late-night punk dance party,” says Ratz.

This isn’t a remix—it’s a rebirth. A reimagined onslaught of chaos, where overdriven drum machines meet ghostly synths, and every track feels like a stolen transmission from another era. This is the banger fans of dystopian dance parties and unapologetic noise have been waiting for.

Watch the video for “Drug Bird (Synth Redux)” here.

Rats says, “It’s a preposterous song not about drugs, but rather, imagining law enforcement training birds as NARCs. Like an episode of Black Mirror with a little humor. The original version has a Spits/Ramones feel but the new Synth Redux version is much more of a dark dance number, perhaps leaning into Depeche Mode or The Serfs for arrangement influences. It’s a good reflection of my solo/duo live sets when the whole band isn’t on the bill. Enjoy!

Catch Toilet Rats live:

Saturday, March 22, 2025, at Treedome Records, Rochester, Minnesota

Thursday, April 10, 2025, at Zhora Darling, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Friday, April 18, 2025, at Thesis, Rochester, Minnesota

Saturday, May 31, 2025, at Underground Music Cafe, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Photo courtesy of Joe Vaughan.