South Coast three-piece snake eyes may only have been around for a short time, but they’ve been hard at work writing and promoting their debut EP, ‘skeletons’. They managed to fit in just one show in Brighton back in January before lockdown halted the live music scene, and they’ve also played a Facebook live online show with Crashface in August that you can watch back here.
snake eyes have released three singles so far from their five-track EP. The first, ‘don’t worry’, premiered on the Radio 1 Rock Show back in July, while the eponymous third single ‘skeletons’ appeared on the playlist of US station Amazing Radio, as well as on local streaming platforms.
Both lead single ‘don’t worry’ and follow-up track ‘wishbone’ clock in at under two minutes each, but despite their short length, they’re packed full of raw energy and dynamic grunge riffs aplenty. ‘don’t worry’ opens with an upbeat rhythm and basic but effective harmonies, accompanied by a DIY video that matches the simplistic feel of these early tracks. Additionally, the band filmed an endearing live version of the song entitled ‘don’t worry – live from the grand canyon’, which was actually shot on a sunny summers day in their home town of Hastings.
There’s an authenticity that comes from this EP’s home recording set-up, giving the record an air of genuine, wholesome togetherness. While the writing might not be the most complex or intricate, the fresh enthusiasm and catchy melodies deliver just under 15 minutes of “grit-pop” infused fun.
‘wishbone’ continues the visual aesthetic with a video packed full of fuzzy graphics and psychedelic overlays courtesy of the band’s drummer Thomas Coe-Brooker. The song has a punk edge to it, with lively drum beats and reverb-drenched gritty vocals.
Third single ‘skeletons’ is a more leisurely paced three-and-a-half-minutes, with a toe tapping grunge bassline and singalong refrain: “beneath it all we’re all just skeletons”. A nod to physical human similarities regardless of differing opinions, it’s partnered with an appropriately tongue-in-cheek video that sees the band, dressed in skeleton costumes, descend on a seafront arcade.
Remaining tracks ‘listen’ and ‘bugged out’ take a darker turn, the former offering short, sharp dual vocals over a churning bass and steady beat, and the latter with stripped back drums and effects-heavy guitars to end the EP on a mellow and brooding note.
There’s an innocence to these songs, written, as vocalist and guitarist Jim Heffy describes “without overthinking or over-writing”. It’s a simple but enjoyable first release from a group of friends who are having fun making grunge and punk tinged garage pop in a time when we all need some light-hearted escapism.
ELLIE ODURNY