Skrat Songs: Smoke a Cigar, The Queen, Bison and the Best of Chennai's Rock Trio

Skrat are Chennai's loudest rock trio: short, fast songs, garage-rock riffs and a sense of humour. This guide picks the twenty best Skrat songs in release order, from Bring Out The Guns (2013) to the Circus Act EP (2025), with the date Apple Music India gives each song.

How we checked. Every date below is the song's own date on Apple Music India (iTunes catalogue, country IN), checked on 28 October 2026. Skrat release whole records at once, so each song carries its record's date. Only released music is covered. For the records themselves, see Skrat albums. This page is about songs. Apple also lists other artists called Skrat (hip-hop acts); every song here is from the Chennai band's own album pages.

Quick answer: the 10 best Skrat songs

• "Smoke a Cigar" (5 February 2013)
• "Tin Can Man" (5 February 2013)
• "In the Rain" (feat. Shakthisree Gopalan) (5 February 2013)
• "Machete" (24 October 2014)
• "The Queen" (24 October 2014)
• "Bang Bang Bang" (24 October 2014)
• "Raptor" (29 September 2017)
• "Bison" (29 September 2017)
• "Flashbang" (18 January 2025)
• "Circus Act" (18 January 2025)

Bring Out The Guns (2013)

The debut album and all ten songs are dated 5 February 2013 on Apple Music India. (Apple also lists a duplicate edition called Bring Out the Big Guns with the same date.)

1. "Smoke a Cigar" (5 February 2013). The opener and the song most people know them by.

2. "Tin Can Man" (5 February 2013). Track two, keeping the pace up.

3. "Samurai Badass" (5 February 2013). Track five, as fun as the title promises.

4. "Big Bad Bombs" (5 February 2013). Track six.

5. "In the Rain" (feat. Shakthisree Gopalan) (5 February 2013). The closing song and the album's only guest feature.

The Queen (2014)

The album and all ten songs are dated 24 October 2014. Apple also shows other editions dated 24 and 25 October 2014.

6. "Machete" (24 October 2014). The opener.

7. "The Queen" (24 October 2014). The title track.

8. "Choke & Broke" (24 October 2014). Track three.

9. "Bang Bang Bang" (24 October 2014). Track six.

10. "Gun Slinger II" (24 October 2014). The closing song.

Bison (2017)

The album and all ten songs are dated 29 September 2017.

11. "Chaos" (29 September 2017). The opener.

12. "Raptor" (29 September 2017). Track two.

13. "Fireworks" (29 September 2017). Track three.

14. "Yipikaye" (29 September 2017). Track five.

15. "Bison" (29 September 2017). The title track closes the album.

Circus Act EP (2025)

The EP and all five songs are dated 18 January 2025.

16. "Flashbang" (18 January 2025). The opener.

17. "Slingscot" (18 January 2025). Track two.

18. "Circus Act" (18 January 2025). The title song.

19. "Radicade" (18 January 2025). Track four.

20. "X Human" (18 January 2025). The closing song.

How the songs line up by record

• Bring Out The Guns: 10 songs, all 5 February 2013.
• The Queen: 10 songs, all 24 October 2014.
• Bison: 10 songs, all 29 September 2017.
• Circus Act EP: 5 songs, all 18 January 2025.

That is 35 songs across four records. The gap between Bison and Circus Act is more than seven years.

Where to start, by mood

• Fast and loud: "Tin Can Man", "Machete", "Raptor" and "Flashbang". These are mostly openers or second tracks, where the band puts its fastest songs.
• Big title songs: "The Queen", "Bison" and "Circus Act". Each one names its record, so it is the natural way into that album or EP.
• Something softer: "In the Rain", with Shakthisree Gopalan, is the one song here with a guest singer and the closing song on the debut.
• Album closers: "Gun Slinger II", "Bison" and "X Human". Skrat often end a record on a strong song, so play to the end.

What is left out

• Film work and guest appearances. These include "Mutant Macha" (credited to Farhan Akhtar, Vishal Dadlani & Skrat, single dated 17 April 2015), a feature on TwoTonetheArtist's "Better Way" (2 November 2020) and a 2023 film soundtrack single. Each is credited mainly to other artists.
• Songs by other artists called Skrat on Apple.

How to use this guide

For a first listen, play the quick-answer ten in order, then the album you liked best in full. If you like Bring Out The Guns, go next to The Queen; they are the closest in sound. For the records, see Skrat albums. For their year lists, see the best Indian indie albums of 2013 and the best Indian indie albums of 2014. For their city, see the Chennai indie music scene, and for more bands like them, Indian punk bands and Indian alternative rock bands.

FAQ

What is Skrat's most famous song? On this list, "Smoke a Cigar" (5 February 2013), the opener of their debut album.

What is the latest Skrat release? On Apple Music India, the Circus Act EP, dated 18 January 2025, with five songs.

Who sings on Skrat's "In the Rain"? Shakthisree Gopalan is the featured singer, according to the credit on Apple Music India.