RISK - RATMAN - incl LYRICS SLEEVE - 12" EP Vinyl

"Ratman" (1989) Album Description:

"Ratman" is the kind of 12" EP that feels like a sweaty 1989 snapshot: four tracks, a lyrics sleeve, and that very German determination to hit hard, think a little, and leave a dent in your speakers anyway.

1. Introduction on the band and the album

I file this one under RISK doing what they do best: riding the late-80s aggression wave with thrash metal bite, while still sounding like a band that wants songs, not just speed for speed’s sake.

It’s credited as RISK - Ratman - incl LYRICS SLEEVE - 12" EP Vinyl, and yeah, that “lyrics sleeve” detail matters—because this record isn’t only about riffs, it’s also about what they’re trying to say when the room stops shaking.

2. Historical and cultural context

The page plants this record in 1989, Made in West-Germany, right in the era when the German metal scene was loud, competitive, and absolutely not short on bands willing to swing for the fences.

RISK came out of that same late-80s German momentum, playing a scene where they could share stages with names like Kreator, Destruction, and Coroner—so the bar for intensity wasn’t “high,” it was basically bolted to the ceiling.

3. How the band came to record this album

By the time "Ratman" shows up, RISK had already moved fast: formed in 1987, dropped their debut "The Daily Horror News" in 1988, and then pushed into 1989 with bigger moves like "Hell's Animals".

This EP was recorded in October 1989 at Mohrmann, Record Plant, with Heinz Mikus producing—an overlap I love, because it suggests a band steering its own ship instead of letting some label committee hold the map upside down.

4. The sound, songs, and musical direction

The official genre stamp on the page is Thrash Metal, but the intro text also calls the EP “gripping and atmospheric,” even tossing in alternative/post-punk/grunge vibes—so either this record has more shades than your average speed-fest, or the copy got a little… adventurous.

The track list is lean and mean: "Ratman", "Germans", "Violent Science", and "Skid Row Kid". Four titles, four little flashes of attitude—like headlines ripped from the same dark newspaper stand.

And visually? You’ve got Sebastian Krüger on artwork—his sharp, exaggerated style fits metal perfectly, because metal has never been about subtle facial expressions and polite lighting.

5. Comparison to other albums in the same genre/year

Since the page already sketches RISK’s late-80s arc, I hear "Ratman" as a compact companion piece to their surrounding releases—same world, different footprint.

• "The Daily Horror News" (1988) feels like the early mission statement: raw energy, quick impact.
• "Hell's Animals" (1989) is framed as a bigger, defining statement in their story.
• "Ratman" (1989) lands as the punchy side chapter: four tracks, direct message, no filler.

7. Band dynamics and creative tensions

The personnel list reads like a band with multiple hands on the wheel: Mikus handling lead vocals and lead guitar (and credited as sound engineer), with two more guitarists in the mix, plus bass (with Moog pedal) and drums—plenty of room for both chemistry and friction.

It’s also quietly telling that the bassist, Peter Dell, is credited with layout and cover art too—because some bands don’t just make records, they build the whole little universe around them.

8. Critical reception and legacy

The page doesn’t throw chart numbers around, and honestly, good—those stats rarely explain why people keep a record. What it does say is RISK didn’t hit the same level of international recognition as some contemporaries, but they left a real mark on that thriving German scene.

For me, that makes "Ratman" even more collector-satisfying: it’s not a trophy for bragging rights, it’s a document—proof the scene was deeper than just the biggest names.

9. Reflective closing paragraph

When I drop the needle on a 12" like this, I’m not chasing perfection—I’m chasing presence. "Ratman" has that: four tracks, West-German 1989 energy, and a sleeve that actually wants you to read along instead of just headbang your brain smooth.

Decades later, it still feels like a page torn from a louder time—ink-stained, riff-heavy, and just smart enough to make me replay it once more before I file it back like a responsible adult (lol).