Brighton’s Snake Eyes formed in 2020 with a mission statement to forge a band with like minded people who found comfort and joy in their music and the trio have not only lived up to that mission statement but have converted fan after fan with their live shows and music too.
The conversion of fans will no doubt continue with their new EP Health (Alcopop! Records). The 5 songs are action packed with deep grooves of bass, bright metallic drums, and lo-fi riffs that lean in between punk and indie. Lyrically, Health is chock full of humour, humility, and humanity with sing-along choruses and hooky earworms.
Bassist Nicole Gill lays down a fierce groove with the song “No One is Truly Cool” as it addresses the lack of respect one has for themselves especially in the modern era where one can curate the narrative of their life all within a social media post. The song is a reminder that no one is cool 100% of the time.
“Crybaby” has a delectable bass line and drummer Thomas Coe-Brooker provides a beat that is infectious AF. The song is not only an ode to self acceptance but the catharsis that music can offer those dealing with mental health.
The song, “Medicine” has an upbeat head bop vibes like The Beatles classic “I Wanna Hold Your Hand”. The feel good banger is the standout favourite on the EP.
The lead single from EP, “40 Winks”, a song about insomnia where vocalist and guitarist Jim Heffy has this to say,
I’ve always been a sufferer of insomnia, ruminating on the past, present, and future. The song is a reflection of that. About feeling beaten down by yourself and by the goings on of the world, and a general feeling of helplessness. Appreciating the little things can go a long way. A bombastic banger for those operating on 4 hours sleep.
Closing out Health is the song “Nothing Better”. It opens with a grungy 90’s guitar riff and displays a ‘heavier’ side of Snake Eyes. With less bop and more rock than its four predecessors the shows a different side of the band that is grittier and dirtier and just as delightful.
Through Health’s infectious melodies and thought-providing lyrics, Snake Eyes continues to define what ‘grit pop’ is and continues to show their own musical evolution.
