Four decades in, and Flotsam and Jetsam still sound like they’ve got something to prove — and that’s a beautiful thing for thrash fans. The Arizona icons have just unleashed “Rats In The Temple,” the title track and first single from their forthcoming 16th studio album, arriving August 28 via Napalm Records. It’s their Napalm debut, and if this first taste is any indication, the band is coming out swinging.

“Rats In The Temple” is a ghoulish, muscular slice of modern thrash — sweeping guitarmonies from the twin-axe attack of Michael Gilbert and Steve Conley, thunderous drumming from Ken Mary, and the unmistakable haunting wail of frontman Eric A.K. Knutson soaring over the top. It’s technical, it’s punishing, and it’s proof that the band responsible for classics like Doomsday for the Deceiver, No Place for Disgrace, and Cuatro are still refining their craft rather than resting on their considerable laurels.

“We’re super excited to release the first single from the album, which is very fittingly the title track, ‘Rats In The Temple,'” says Knutson. “This song has a lot to say, and we hope the fans love the song as much as we do. This is possibly one of the most technically challenging songs Flotsam has ever recorded, and we look forward to delivering this song live as well!”

Watch the official video for “Rats In The Temple” here:

The album promises a full 13-track feast, with standouts like the stadium-ready openers “Harvesting the Hate” and “Damnation,” the virtuosic “Absolution,” and the anti-war anthem “A Taste For War,” which puts the rhythm section of drummer Ken Mary and bassist Bill Bodily front and center. Medieval guitarmonies on “Her Blood Your Pain,” full-throttle riffs on “Anthem for the Broken,” and heavy truths on “Not Going Down That Way” round out what Knutson calls “truly our best effort to date.”

His pitch to fans? “Dim the lights, grab a drink, put the headphones on, and crank this up. You will not be sorry you did!!!”

Hard to argue with that.

Flotsam and Jetsam are also hitting the road hard in 2026, with a European run through May and June, an Australian tour in early October, and festival appearances at Næstved Metal Fest, Metal Hammer Paradise, and Eindhoven Metal Meeting to close out the year.

Rats In The Temple lands August 28 via Napalm Records and will be available on multiple vinyl variants, CD digisleeve, and digital. Pre-order your preferred format now, and if you haven’t already, get “Rats In The Temple” spinning on repeat — the rats are already through the walls.