Swallow The Rat /NZ

Swallow the Rat are a post-punk band from Tamaki Makaurau/Auckland, in Aotearoa/New Zealand, by way of Austin, TX. The trio is composed of an alternating dual vocal and angular rhythm section courtesy of drummer/vocalist Hayden Fritchley and bassist/vocalist Stephen Horsley. Guitarist Brian Purington is the band’s secret weapon, coating the music in an effect laden style that is entirely his own. 

Since forming in late 2017 Swallow the Rat have gained momentum with a whirlwind of activity. Three tours of the USA (performing at SXSW 2019 & 2024 and New Colossus Festival NYC in 2020), a tour of Australia in 2023 and countless shows up and down Aotearoa have earned the band a favourable underground following and coveted support slots with the likes of Arab Strap, June of 44, No Age, Sebadoh, Quicksand and Gang of Four. 

In 2020 they signed to Austin/London based label Shifting Sounds records for the release of their debut album “Leaving Room”.
A split LP with NYC group Clone followed in 2021.

Late 2022 the band released a limited run lathe cut 7” “Other Rooms”, featuring guest vocals from Yuko Miyoshi (Memory Foam)
and mixed by Oliver Ackermann (A Place to Bury Strangers). This served as a precursor if you will, for the September 2023
release of their second album “South Locust”. Reuniting with acclaimed engineer Nick Abbott (Foals, Die! Die! Die!), the album
was recorded at NorthWestern in Auckland, and mixed remotely in Los Angeles by Sonny Diperri (Protomartyr, Diiv).
South Locust was mastered and cut in Chicago by Carl Saff (Sonic Youth).

South Locust debuted at #7 in the New Zealand charts, and numerous singles off the album have topped New Zealand college and alternative radio