Snake Handler Enjoy The View Review

Snake Handler
Enjoy the View
Victimized Records

Jesus Almighty. This is heavy, fast, gnarly, ugly. In other words, this is perfect. Snake Handler released a demo cassette last year. It was damn good. Enjoy the View excels at their formula.

The anger oozes through the speakers. For being so raw and frantic, the production is well mixed. I always search for where the bass gets pushed to in a track; as it is usually my focus. From doom metal to hip hop to punk to oi etc, the bass is the foundation for me. This bass is utilized as a pile driver, pushing the songs forward. Rich's guitars are frenetic but are focused with intent of delivering fierce riffs. The drums are tight as penguin pussy. Ian's vocals are exactly what I want; raw and pushed but not filtered or cleaned in anyway; and not growled like a caricature to sound like a demonic cookie monster.

The other aspect of hardcore that I love, are time changes. Snake Handler knows how to drive fast then pull it back a hair for the two step or crushing breakdown. The intro to "Ghosts" is slow and evil and quickly rushes into an unparalleled fury.

Snake Handler never go d-beat or crust, but the frenzied disdain for humanity seems to channel that energy. But you can still dance to this if you want to destroy a VFW hall or dive bar. There is always a spark of - not catchy or grooved - some small swing to grasp. When "Saturday Night..." kicks into its bridge, those low toms pound rhythms of destruction. The song's swinging riff is so fucking incendiary. You will not sit still. I broke into unabashed mirror moshing in my basement.

I cannot find a flaw here. I seriously would not change a thing. I do not think a cleaner production would improve the delivery. It's not bad production, it is the style that fits this hardcore. It is never muddy - you are always able to discern each instrument and vocal. This is dark music. But this ain't no lingering sludge or mopey emo. Snake Handler has no time for that. While pummeling your senses, these tracks leave you no time to ponder or wander in the existential darkness. You can only hate and want to rage forward.

FFO: fucking hardcore. Think the energy and ethos of Black Flag and Poison Idea, but turning it darker and angrier. Bands like Violent Arrest, Punch, Boston Strangler, Tear It Up, Reproach, Wasted Time, Raw Nerves, Sick Fix, DFA, Set to Explode, 86 Mentality, Born Against, and, of course, Sheer Terror demos and Negative Approach.

BUY THIS RECORD:
Take a listen
Bandcamp - Listen and purchase
Buy the hard copy