Skip to main content

IN REVIEW: Hot Snakes - "Jericho Sirens"


Having already been part of influential under-the-radar '90s band Drive Like Jehu, Rick Froberg and John Reis (the latter also part of Rocket From the Crypt) had used Hot Snakes as a side project of sorts during their original run; given their natural chemistry and talent, though, it's not altogether surprising that Hot Snakes' three albums (released from 2000-2004) became influential in their own right. Raw, loud and energetic, those albums helped lay the groundwork for many of the post-hardcore bands that have formed since their disbandment in 2005.

On their fourth album and first since reuniting in 2011, Hot Snakes haven't missed a beat. Jericho Sirens pops with the same manic energy that has fueled the rest of their discography with slashing guitars and raspy shout-vocals by Froberg and Reis that prove the chemistry is still intact. The rhythm section of bassist Gar Woods and drummers Mario Rubalcaba and Jason Kourkounis, meanwhile, hold down the low end with ferocious, sometimes intricate rhythms. In fact, one can argue that Hot Snakes sound tighter and more powerful on Jericho Sirens than they ever have before, if you're looking to open up the old "reunion vs. original" argument; just saying, you might win that argument.

This has always been a band that brought a measure of joy to their intense racket, and parts of Jericho Sirens deal in equal parts dopamine and adrenaline; Six Wave Hold-Down is almost radio friendly in its assured structure, and if rock radio was so bold as to allow it to grace the airwaves Hot Snakes could have a minor hit on their hands. Ditto the title track, a slower and bluesier appropriation of the band's delightful noise. Elsewhere, they opt to lay waste, such as on the breakneck-paced Why Don't It Sink In? Between these two poles lies the meat of the album, and this main course is highly energetic, muscular and tuneful.

While other bands have returned from long hiatuses with duller or more streamlined approaches to their sound, Hot Snakes have managed to retain all of the intensity of their original material while simultaneously presenting themselves as a more focused and comfortable band. Truly like their album cover, they're both the crashing wave and the middle-aged man who's stayed in shape and gotten on the board, perhaps long after others may have assumed he hung it up. Jericho Sirens isn't just a great reunion record, nor a great post-hardcore record, but a great record period.

March 16, 2018 • Sub Pop
Highlights Candid Cameras • Six Wave Hold-Down • Death Camp Fantasy

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Year in Rock 2025

  Alright, I've got some explaining to do.   By now anyone who's visited this blog is well aware of how infrequently I've used this space in recent years; aside from the occasional fertile year of content, I really haven't posted all that often over the last five years or so. There are many reasons for this, which have already been outlined in previous apology posts; but, essentially, it boils down to my own laziness and the cold reality that blogs are, like Refused (again), fucking dead. So, I wouldn't hold my breath for a triumphant return to reviews, or even semi-regular posts, but:   a) I feel like Year in Rock posts have always belonged here and, even though I've experimented with different methods of presentation recently and been satisfied, the "blink and you missed it" unveiling via Facebook stories this year was perhaps ultimately a disservice to the records I lauded. After all, cramming the list into short videos isn't too far off from ju...
Post a Comment
Read more

Year in Rock 2014: And the Winners Are...

It's been a long year, and another great one for rock n' roll. While the pop charts were overrun with barely legals obsessed with their asses, rock soldiered on undeterred even as pundits (hell, in some cases even rockers themselves) mourned the genre. Sure, rock didn't dominate the money game in 2014, but that shouldn't evoke sad nostalgia and eulogies. Even for as little perceived impact rock music made, a hell of a lot happened if people had only paid attention. From grizzled vets adding jewels to their crown (Springsteen, Petty) to new beginnings (Against Me!, Antemasque) to happy returns (Faith No More, The Tea Party) and all points in between, rock continued to thrive, evolve and thrill in 2014. Enough talk. It's winning time. Your Year in Rock winners for 2014 are...
Post a Comment
Read more

Year in Rock 2023: Album of the Year #10-1

Now we're getting somewhere; the top ten, where there are no duds or mids, only bangers. Also, no more teasing it out; let's wrap this up!  What I've learned this year from my ten faves this year is that it is indeed still possible for a dude approaching his fifties to more or less stay up to date on the new school. Of course, there are some listed here that got a boost from playing tribute to the old school, but there is an undercurrent happening in rock that points to the future. But, I'm getting ahead of myself; here come the champs. 10 MILITARIE GUN Life Under the Gun June 23, 2023 • Loma Vista Highlights Very High Will Logic Never Fucked Up Once Rising from the ranks of the still-potent L.A. hardcore scene, the debut record from Militarie Gun (following a trio of EPs) bears a dash of polish that's expected with backing from a larger label; the tension and energy remain, though, resulting in one of the catchiest hardcore albums I can think of in recent years. 9 ...
Post a Comment
Read more