These Arms Are Snakes
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 2002 |
| Defunct | 2009 |
| Headquarters | United States |
| Products | Studio albums, EPs, singles |
These Arms Are Snakes was a post-hardcore group from the United States, established in 2002, comprising former members of Botch and Kill Sadie. Prior to their breakup in 2009, the band produced three studio albums: Oxeneers or the Lion Sleeps When Its Antelope Go Home (2004), Easter (2006), and Tail Swallower and Dove (2008). After disbanding, former members went on to perform with acts such as Russian Circles, Narrows, Minus the Bear, Crypts, Dust Moth, and Hooves.
Their touring history includes sharing stages with groups like Minus the Bear, Big Business, Mastodon, Cursive, The Blood Brothers, Engine Down, Hot Water Music, Isis, Pelican, Chiodos, and Against Me!.
Formation (2002–2003)
The band came together in 2002 as a five-member ensemble featuring Steve Snere from Kill Sadie, Brian Cook formerly of Botch, Ryan Frederiksen from Nineironspitfire, Joe Preston, and Jesse Robertson. They selected the name "These Arms Are Snakes" for its distinctiveness. In March 2003, they secured a deal with Jade Tree Records and subsequently released their debut EP This Is Meant to Hurt You on August 19, 2003. This EP was unique in including a dedicated keyboardist, Jesse Robertson, who exited in 2004 due to disagreements regarding touring approaches. The EP received a three-star rating from AllMusic, which highlighted its "intelligent [and] crafty" lyricism.
Following Robertson's departure, the band continued as a quartet. Before entering the studio for their next album, Joe Preston left and was succeeded by Erin Tate, who had previously collaborated with Steve Snere in Kill Sadie and Minus the Bear. After Preston’s farewell performance, he and some band members were involved in a serious van collision with a semi-truck.
Oxeneers (2004–2005)
During this period, Brian Cook occasionally handled keyboard duties during live performances, which allowed for greater mobility on stage and intensified the concert experience, as observed by Ryan Frederiksen. The exit of Robertson permitted These Arms Are Snakes to pursue a more "minimalist, open" sonic approach. These developments influenced their first full-length album Oxeneers or the Lion Sleeps When Its Antelope Go Home—often referred to as The Lion Sleeps or simply Oxeneers—released through Jade Tree in September 2004.
To promote Oxeneers, These Arms Are Snakes participated in the "Totally Badical Tour," headlined by Underoath with supporting acts including The Chariot, Hopesfall, and Fear Before the March of Flames. The band encountered a mixed response; although merchandise sales were noted, they regarded the reception as somewhat superficial. Frictions developed between These Arms Are Snakes and other tour participants, particularly Underoath, whose openly Christian members frequently conflicted with the ideals held by These Arms Are Snakes.
After their debut album, These Arms Are Snakes issued Like a Virgin, a split EP shared with Seattle’s Harkonen, released via Hydra Head Records and Mind Over Matter Records. This EP featured two new songs from each band alongside one joint track. It marked drummer Erin Tate’s last recording before Ben Verellen took over drumming duties in 2005 while touring with Minus the Bear. Among the notable tracks is "Touched for the Very First Time," a collaborative effort with Harkonen.
Easter (2006–2007)
In 2005, Ben Verellen departed from the band without providing a reason and was succeeded by drummer and producer Chris Common. Subsequently, Verellen became a member of Helms Alee and established Verellen Amplifiers. The band's second studio album, Easter, released in 2006 through Jade Tree, was loosely influenced by their previous tensions with Underoath. Although not designed as a direct commentary on organized religion, spiritual motifs are present—particularly in the track "Perpetual Bris"—where vocalist Steve Snere delves into expansive themes concerning existence and life's meaning.
Towards the end of 2006, the band embarked on a tour promoting Easter alongside acts such as Thrice, Planes Mistaken for Stars, Mouth of the Architect, and Young Widows. Early the following year, they headlined a European tour before returning to the United States to open for Against Me! and Mastodon.
Tail Swallower and Dove (2008–2009)
For their third full-length release, These Arms Are Snakes signed with Suicide Squeeze Records, which offered enhanced promotional support compared to their former label Jade Tree. Released in October 2008 and produced by Chris Common, Tail Swallower and Dove was completed within one month—the shortest recording timeframe for the band. This album represented a departure from their hardcore origins, embracing a more experimental approach while incorporating conventional song structures.
During this era, the band issued several split records: a collaboration with Pelican through Hydra Head, a limited 12-inch split featuring guitarist Cook's side project Russian Circles during touring, and a limited split titled Meet Your Mayor / Future Gets Tense with Tropics. Their final release prior to disbanding was a split single with All the Saints, initially pressed as a limited 7-inch vinyl via Touch and Go Records and later made available digitally. The song "Washburn," included on this release, originated from the Tail Swallower and Dove sessions.
Break up (2009–2010)
On December 25, 2009, These Arms Are Snakes declared their dissolution following a period of inactivity during which members concentrated on side endeavors. Guitarist Ryan Frederiksen had formed Narrows in 2008, which debuted with New Distances in May 2009. Bassist Brian Cook focused on Russian Circles, releasing their third album Geneva in October 2009. Prior to disbanding, the group intended to explore new musical directions for a fourth album, with writing scheduled for December 2009.
In that year, they recorded material for a split release with Minus the Bear as well as a Nirvana tribute album covering In Utero. Due to delays and legal complications, Robotic Empire eventually issued In Utero, in Tribute, in Entirety on Record Store Day 2014, featuring These Arms Are Snakes' rendition of Nirvana's "Heart-Shaped Box." The proposed split EP with Minus the Bear did not come to fruition; instead, the band repurposed the intended track—a Lost Sounds cover titled "Energy Drink and the Long Walk Home"—for a split release with The Coathangers in December 2014. According to Cook, aside from an early four-song demo recorded before This Is Meant to Hurt You, this Lost Sounds cover represents the band's last unreleased recording.
Following their breakup, These Arms Are Snakes have reunited on two occasions: once for an unannounced performance in Seattle on December 29, 2016, and again for a public reunion show in Seattle on August 28, 2021.
In April 2022, they issued Duct Tape & Shivering Crows through Suicide Squeeze. This compilation assembles non-album tracks, songs from split EPs, contributions to various compilations, as well as their previously unreleased four-song demo recorded prior to This Is Meant to Hurt You.
Members
- Final roster
- Steve Snere – lead vocals, MicroKORG (2002–2009)
- Ryan Frederiksen – guitar, MicroKORG, didgeridoo (2002–2009)
- Brian Cook – bass guitar, pump organ, MicroKORG (2002–2009)
- Chris Common – drums (2005–2009)
- Past members
- Bill Quinby – guitar (2002)
- Joe Preston – drums (2002–2004)
- Jesse Robertson – keyboards (2002–2004)
- Erin Tate – drums (2004–2005)
- Ben Verellen – drums (2005)
- Timeline
Studio albums
- Oxeneers or the Lion Sleeps When Its Antelope Go Home (Jade Tree, 2004)
- Easter (Jade Tree, 2006)
- Tail Swallower and Dove (Suicide Squeeze, 2008)
EPs
- This Is Meant to Hurt You (Jade Tree, 2003)
Split releases
- Like a Virgin (Split with Harkonen) (Hydra Head/Mind Over Matter, 2004)
- PLCN/TAAS (Split with Pelican) (Hydra Head, 2008)
- Russian Circles / These Arms Are Snakes (Split with Russian Circles) (Sargent House, 2008)
- Meet Your Mayor / Future Gets Tense (Split with Tropics) (We-Be, 2008)
- All the Saints / These Arms Are Snakes (Split with All the Saints) (Touch and Go, 2009)
- The Coathangers / These Arms Are Snakes (Split with The Coathangers) (Suicide Squeeze, 2014)
Singles
- Good Friday 7" (Suicide Squeeze, 2006)
Compilation albums
- Duct Tape & Shivering Crows (Suicide Squeeze, 2022)
Music videos
| Year | Track | Album |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | "Horse Girl" | Easter |
| 2009 | "Red Line Season" | Tail Swallower and Dove |
Additional contributions
| Year | Song contributed | Compilation album | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | "Old Paradise" | Slaying Since 1996 | Suicide Squeeze |
| 2014 | "Heart-Shaped Box" | In Utero, in Tribute, in Entirety | Robotic Empire |
External links
- Official blog: [1]