Despite the muffling effect of a trans-Pacific phone connection, not even crackling bursts of static can disguise L7 frontwoman Donita Sparks’ excitement about the release of the band’s first full length since 1999.
Scatter the Rats is the legendary group’s return to the LP format after a couple of years re-honing their sound via a smattering of well-received live shows and single releases, a process of feeling out just how much the chemistry was still there.
Luckily for their fans it was, with the album a sure sign they are back for good. “We kind of figured that if we want to keep doing this we should maybe put out some new material, because otherwise we’re playing these same songs.
“The reunion is over; are we going to keep being a band or are we not? We started with a couple of new singles to get warmed up and it was an enjoyable project, we were happy with the results, so we decided to do the full length LP.”
The full length is a return to L7’s classic form, a distortion-laden and, for the most part, mid-tempo stomp through the band’s mental avenues and alleyways. The egalitarian songwriting process which the band have always adhered to produces a wealth of subject matter, something which sees Scatter the Rats cover subjects ranging from depression to co-dependency.
Sparks is quick to point out the organic nature of the songwriting process for Scatter the Rats. “It’s not like we had a contrived plan to write an album or songs about certain things,” she says, “it’s just really what sparked our creativity, what comes out of our crazy heads. Sometimes that’s of a serious nature, sometimes that’s of a more vulnerable nature and sometimes that’s of a more fun nature – so we’ve got all the usual stuff covered.”
The subject matter may be as personal as anything on Bricks are Heavy or Hungry for Stink, but within the music itself – released by Joan Jett’s Blackheart Records – there is a level of studio polish not found in their early ‘90s catalogue.
Thankfully this does not diminish the snotty anger L7 have always had a way of making their own and, while the band may have grown up, they definitely haven’t grown old. The same can be said of their fans.
“The older ones are sometimes in the back, sometimes up front mixing with the kids who want to stage dive … in fact, we’ve got older fans who want to stage dive too. It’s pretty fun watching the whole thing from the stage – the punks, the metalheads, the mums and dads.”
The subcultural pillars of their fanbase is something Sparks is grateful for, with their popularity amongst both punks and metal fans something she sees as integral to the band’s continued popularity.
“They grab onto you and don’t let go, they have the passion. It’s really tribalistic, they just support the scene, always show up, it’s cool.” The internet may have been a vital tool for L7’s return, with both the new album and the 2017 documentary Pretend We’re Dead buoyed by crowdfunding platforms, but Sparks attributes their continued popularity to this loyalty born long before Zuckerberg’s empire came into being.
“I’m glad we built our fanbase before social media, I think young artists who have to cut through the internet clutter have a challenging time. They probably still have to hit the road as hard as we did to still get through, you know what I mean? Some bands can build on social media, but not many. We just call in the troops through those channels.”
Now the album is out a heavy touring schedule is on the agenda, currently limited to the States but with potential for making it further afield. “Maybe we’ll make it to Australia in 2020, because we’re currently getting a lot of love from there,” Sparks concludes.
L7’s new album, Scatter the Rats, is out now via Blackheart Records. Give it a spin via streaming services.
