Seattle based psych metal forerunners SNAIL
are making a great comeback with their heavy, hazy and stirrring fourth record "Feral", to be released this September
on Small Stone Records.
Stream SNAIL's intoxicating new song Building A Haunted House
SNAIL
formed in 1992 in Los Angeles, consisting of singer Mark Johnson (The
Crucified, PASTE, Blessing the Hogs), bassist Matt Lynch and drummer
Marty Dodson. The eponymous first album (Big Deal Records) garnered much
praise in the press, and gained a loyal following from peers, leading
to the DIY, 4-track cassette-recorded All Channels are Open EP, after which SNAIL sadly succumbed to the “sex, drugs, and rock and roll” lifestyle and eroded to the point of breaking up.
After 15 years’ absence,
SNAIL reunited in 2008 with longtime friend and guitarist Eric Clausen as a fourth member, and unleashed
Blood (Meteor City),
which was among the highest-rated heavy rock records of 2009, combining
fuzzy guitars and a pummeling rhythm section with layered, soaring
melodies rarely heard in the genre. In a time of industry turmoil, the
record went from blood-red to “in the black,” even attracting the
attention of underground music legend Henry Rollins, who gave it
multiple plays on his "Fanatics" radio show on influential Los Angeles
station KCRW.
SNAIL's 2012 follow-up,
Terminus, showcased
all fresh material, infused with the enthusiasm of newly-minted
collaboration. Influences that were not evident in past works came to
the fore, steeped in old-school metal and psychedelia. The subject
matter was noticeably more mature, delving into the themes of mortality
and its implications in our modern world. From crushing doom to
head-bobbing Camaro rock and hypnotic psych,
Terminus was
SNAIL's most varied work to date; but most importantly, it rocked.
With the challenge of a “first new album” behind them,
SNAIL set to work on
Feral, their fourth full-length and first for Small Stone. Taking the varied approach of
Terminus to new
degrees of psychedelia and sonic heft, songs like “Smoke the Deathless”
and “Thou Art That” epitomize the weighted melodic appeal of the band,
while closer “Come Home” steps forward in its brazen emotionalism.
Topped off with mind-bending artwork by Seldon Hunt,
Feral is their best
work to date, demonstrates the progressive capacity of the once-again
trio of Johnson, Lynch and Dodson, and shows that
Blood and
Terminus may have just been the start of the wildness to come.
"Feral" out September 25th on Small Stone Records
Preorder on limited edition 180gr vinyl, CD and digital
at this location
TRACK LISTING:
1. Building A Haunted House
2. Smoke The Deathless
3. A Mustard Seed
4. Thou Art That
5. Born In Captivity
6. Derail
7. Psilocybe
8. Come Home
SNAIL IS
Mark Johnson - Guitars, lead vocals, keys
Matt Lynch - Bass, keys, vocals
Marty Dodson - Drums, percussion, vocals
SNAIL LINKS
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