Russian Circles - Geneva

Here is another album that makes me feel a little bit better about These Arms Are Snakes breaking up. This is the epic instrumental metal band of the bass player from TAAS. At times the music is sweet and soothing and at it's peak you can hear his bass growl like a dog. That's pretty much all you need to know.

Narrows - New Distances

I was (and still am[and will always be]) upset that These Arms Are Snakes broke up. These Arms Are Snakes were one of the few bands that got me through high school so they hold a special place in my heart. That pain relaxed slightly after I saw Narrows a couple weeks ago. I had heard this album and enjoyed it, but it really came to life after seeing them live. Listening to the album I was impressed except it starts strong and ends weak, having a long, instrumental track finish the album. When I saw them live they opened with the last track on the album and it worked perfectly. The guitarist let his looper pedal do the work while he went to the bar to get another beer. It was the quintessential build up to a live show. By the time he returned to the stage with a fresh Tecate everyone in the small venue was ready to rage. The band is a veritable super power with members coming from such bands as the aforementioned These Arms Are Snakes as well as Botch, Tropics, and Some Girls. By the end of the show, with everyone in awe, I expected the singer to grab the mic and say, "We know what we're doing."

These Arms Are Snakes – Tail Swallower and Dove

It’s surprising when a band can continually make better albums then their last. Not even Bruce Springsteen could do that. It’s heavy and rocking, but still creative without falling back on the same tricks every other post-hardcore band relies on. It could be said this is more of the same, but it pushes their sound even further.