CHILD’S PLAY – Rat Races & Reunions: The Lost Tapes (2025) HQ *0dayrox Exclusive*

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Requested by many, here’s in exclusive at 0dayrox ”CHILD’S PLAY – Rat Races & Reunions: The Lost Tapes”, the unreleased recordings from the great hard rock band, released on CD by themselves.
Unearthed from the vaults of High Heel Studios, ”Rat Races & Reunions: The Lost Tapes” is a long-overdue gift for fans of CHILD’S PLAY and classic hard rock aficionados alike. These recordings, once thought lost to time, now serve as a thrilling snapshot of a band firing on all cylinders during a peak creative period – recordings from 1989 to 1991.
The band’s sure was amazing on their major label 1990 album ‘Rat Race’, but this is the real deal and a journey in a true Rock N’ Roll fashion from the guts. Indeed, many of the songs presented here are even better – in songwriting and feel – than their 1990 CD.
These are professionally recorded & produced songs – sound quality is great, showcasing a raw, kick ass side of CHILD’S PLAY – a very good band if you ask me. The ‘Reunions’ in the title refers to some tracks included here are more recent, as CHILD’S PLAY reunited several times and still is active – they will play live next week.

From the opening blast of “Fast Lane,” the album wastes no time proving its relevance. The song is a blistering anthem that captures the unfiltered energy and swagger of early ’90s hard rock, with Brian Jack’s gritty yet melodic vocals front and center. Guitarist Nick Kay delivers riff after riff with precision and passion, while Idzi’s bass work provides the rhythmic backbone that keeps everything anchored. Adding a welcome touch of nostalgia, original bassist Phil Wiser joins in on guitar, bridging the band’s earliest lineup with its core classic sound. And of course, John Allen’s crazy drumming that makes this album a perfect statement of this amazing era!

Tracks like “Digging That Hole” and “Steal For The Thrill” exemplify Childs Play’s ability to marry hooks with attitude. These aren’t just demos—they’re fully-formed, high-octane rockers that could’ve easily found a home on major label releases of the time.
The production is raw, yes, but in the best way—there’s an urgency here that’s often missing from polished studio albums. So yes, don’t expect the sound of a big budget as these a raw recordings, but I promise, it sounds better than expected!

“Nothing To Lose” stands out as the album’s emotional and musical high point. With a soaring solo from Nick Kay and a chorus that hits with both grit and heart, it’s the kind of track that reminds you why you fell in love with this genre in the first place. Fans of Sweet F.A., Kik Tracee, and Hericane Alice will feel right at home, but Child’s Play brings enough of their own DNA to make these tracks unmistakably theirs.

The magic of this album lies not just in the music, but in the time capsule it opens. These recordings feel like a rediscovered chapter in U.S. hard rock history—one that not only honors Child’s Play’s legacy but adds to it.
While the band never fully broke through to mainstream superstardom, this release reaffirms their place in the hard rock pantheon.
This is great, great stuff!
HIGHLY Recommended

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01 – Fast Lane
02 – Digging That Hole
03 – L.H. Blues
04 – Steal For The Hill
05 – Nothing To Lose
06 – Rock-N-Roll Life
07 – Wind
08 – Dirty Boy
09 – Rockaway
10 – Day After Night
11 – Bang Bang
12 – Knock Me Out
13 – Nice Girl
14 – Good Ol’ Rock-N-Roll
15 – My Bottle
16 – I Can’t Believe
17 – Woman

Lead Vocals, Guitar – Brian Jack
Guitar, Backing Vocals – Nicky Kay
Bass, Backing Vocals – Idzi
Drums, Percussion, Backing Vocals – John Allen
Lead Vocals, Guitar – Tommy McRae
Guitar – Phil Wiser

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