Snape
Post Punk / Shoegaze
RIYL: Joy Division, My Bloody Valentine, (the) Melvins
Alright. So. Don’t get me wrong. I really like King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, but I am so darned elated to find an album coming out of Australia that isn’t from that band. I mean, seriously guys? Five records in one year? Give people time to breathe. Fortunately, Sydney’s own Snape break through the KGLW fog to present their record Always. A miserably blissful, heavy (in parts) shoegaze record that is bound to catch the ears of those looking for something akin to those in the shoegaze pantheon.
One of the other rad things about this record is that it was was written, recorded, mixed and mastered on the land of the Cadigal and Wangal people of the Eora nation, and the Awabakal people respectively – indigenous peoples of Australia. That said, the environment in which the sounds are captured are so interesting, that it would be rad for the band to reach out and tell us how they did it.
That said, as the album progresses, there are burning effigies of awesome with tracks like “All I Want To Do Is Kill You” which carries some deep roots tied to some of the band’s influences. We hear The Smiths, Joy Division, and others throughout the record, but it’s ever present here. In fact, the band absolutely wears their influences on their sleeves, and it works in the best way.
I dare say, if you are looking for bands that will continue to hold of the pantheon of shoegaze, you don’t have to look any further. They are right here in front of you. I am absolutely in love with the sonic palette of this record. Camilo, Emma, Max and Erin: cheers to all of you. That said, this might just be the album that tops January. Completely amazing.
