Who We Are?

The Riptide Rats are a high-octane instrumental surf rock band from Kungsbacka, Sweden, blending action surf with western, rock ’n’ roll and raw garage rock. Driven by twangy guitars, distortion and cinematic melodies, the band creates its own soundtrack for towering waves, dusty deserts and late-night car chases.

Featuring members with backgrounds in bands including Lunatones and The Chuck Norris Experiment, The Riptide Rats combine the classic sound of 1960s surf music with the power and energy of modern Scandinavian rock ’n’ roll.

Their debut release, The Eastwood EP, was released on October 31, 2023, by Spanish label Ghost Highway Recordings. The limited 7-inch vinyl edition was pressed in 300 copies – 150 on orange vinyl and 150 on classic black vinyl.

The song “The Riptide Rats Theme” also appeared on the compilation Short & Swede, bringing together 14 Swedish bands on a limited vinyl release from Ghost Highway Recordings.

In 2024, the band presented its Shed Sessions, a series of recordings that culminated in the release of “Reef Rumblin’” on an exclusive 5-inch vinyl included with Under The Sun Fanzine. The following year, The Riptide Rats appeared on another limited 5-inch split single with legendary Swedish surf band Langhorns, released in collaboration with Colorado Instrumental Fanzine.

On November 22, 2025, the band released its debut album, Waves Of Steel, through Ghost Highway Recordings and Green Cookie Records. The album captures The Riptide Rats’ explosive blend of surf, western and rock ’n’ roll – instrumental music with one foot on a California beach in 1963 and the other firmly planted on a distortion pedal.

In late 2026, Waves Of Steel will also receive a limited-edition US vinyl release through American label Another Wave Records.

THE RIPTIDE RATS ARE:

Gustav Wilhelmsson – Guitar
Fredrik Wallgren – Drums
Jocke Olsson – Bass
Erik Skoglund – Guitar