I can see how These Arms Are Snakes may not be the average reader’s cup of tea, but the Seattle post-hardcore outfit is definitely a force to be reckoned with. Lindsay pretty much hit the nail on the head when she said these guys were a “sort of hardcore band.” That’s not to take away from the brutality of their music, but the guys definitely have their toe over several lines since their music carries some punk and progressive feels to it. You won’t find any incessant screaming or indecipherably-distorted guitars in any of their work. Instead, you’ll find carefully constructed madness in guitarist Ryan Frederiksen’s eerie yet powerful guitar riffs and Steve Snere’s instantly-recognizable shouts.
I remember going to an Underoath concert back in high school and catching the final song of These Arms Are Snakes’ set, who happened to be openers for the now metalcore giants. One song was enough to blow me away; the brutal breakdown at the end of “Drinking from the Necks of the Ones You Love” (do song titles get any better than this?) left me speechless and absolutely pissed that I didn’t get to the show earlier. Since then I’ve been keeping track of these guys, and they have hardly ever been disappointing. Since releasing the This Is Meant to Hurt You EP, which contained the aforementioned track, These Arms Are Snakes have put out three great full-lengths and have continued to deck out great live performances, including that fantastic tour with Minus the Bear that Lindsay mentioned in her post. Their latest album, Tail Swallower and Dove, is their most diverse release yet and only lends more credence to their unique sound.
“Red Line Season” is a great choice for the album’s first single. It’s short, straightforward, and really encapsulates the unique indie-punk-hardcore soul that the band has carried through it’s existence. Yes, the video is far from award-worthy, but I love the B-movie horror film vibe it gives the track. Fake blood, bones, fire — who could ask for anything more? This song was made for zombie movie.
