Hot Snakes - Jericho Sirens - LP (2018)

Labels: Sub Pop
Review by: Oli Saunders

This would certainly have a thread on Collective if the forum was still active; Jericho Sirens is Hot Snakes’ first full-length in fourteen years – big news for such a highly regarded band – yet there are only hints to suggest this, since the sound harks right back to their unique style from the early 2000s, as if they never left off. In places it feels a little more stripped bare, and I am intrigued by the choice of cover artwork. But the result is an overall pleasing one and I can see old fans being happy with the result, whilst many new fans should arise. Hot Snakes seem to reach out to fans across the punk genre but it makes sense why; they are very accessible yet sound like no one else. There’s not a single track where I am not mesmerised by one of the guitar riffs, `Pyschoactive’ being my highlight. The only question remains, do you need four Hot Snakes albums? For me, I need a few more listens to decide. They have already written another two albums by the way, and seem to be saying that this serves as catch up before they transition into a newer sound. I look forward to hearing it.

18th March 2018