News
29 July 2026 – Dead Mall Release The ‘RATS’
By Editorial Team - July 29, 2026
Summary
Newcastle alternative-punk outfit Dead Mall strip down their sound on 'RATS', recorded and mixed by guitarist Darcy Long with mastering by Alan Douches.
Key Facts
- Newcastle alt-punk band Dead Mall release new single 'RATS'.
- Self-recorded and mixed by guitarist Darcy Long, mastered by Alan Douches.
- Lyrically inspired by the satirical Church of the SubGenius movement.
- Entities: Dead Mall, RATS, Darcy Long, Alan Douches, Newcastle, Church of the SubGenius
- Tags: dead-mall, rats, newcastle, alternative-punk, metalcore, darcy-long, alan-douches, new-single
Newcastle alternative-punk group Dead Mall strip their sound down on 'RATS', their first release since debut album 'SUPERLIMINAL'. Guitarist Darcy Long recorded, produced and mixed the track before Alan Douches handled mastering, giving the song a leaner and heavier attack than some of the band's earlier, more experimental material. Metalcore influences collide with flashes of melody, but the intensity comes primarily from the performance rather than studio pyrotechnics.
The lyrics draw inspiration from the Church of the SubGenius, the long-running satirical movement that mixed fake religion, advertising parody and absurd social commentary. That is suitable material for a band whose previous inspirations have included Australian reality television and obscure comedy sketches. 'RATS' sounds immediate, confrontational and slightly suspicious of everybody in the building. Dead Mall celebrate with a Newcastle hometown show on 7 August. Check our punk news archive for more releases.