Release Date: January 30th 2026. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD
Kicks - Tracklisting
1.Snakedriver 05:28
2.Cod'ine 05:28
3.The Future 04:51
4.Kicks 08:06
Members
Chi Lameo - Everything
Review
Kicks is the debut EP from Drone/Doom/Stoner Rock collective snakedrivers which is the new creative project from Spider Kitten’s very own Chi Lemeo. This time round Chi is focusing on playing upon a stylish blend of Drone, Blues, Psych and Stoner Rock and adding a sludgy shoegaze twist to this release.
The features contains four tracks with the first three of them being actual covers with snakedrivers performing Snakedriver by The Jesus & Mary Chain, Cod'ine Cod'ine by Buffy Sainte-Marie and The Future by Leonard Cohen. The songs have been slowed right down and put through a DOOM-POP makeover with Chi adding trippy Shoegaze and Psychedelic effects which adds a level of Space Rock heaviness to the party. The vocals are quite different from what I’ve heard from Chi’s work with Spider Kitten but still offering a sense of seedy realism into the mix with shades of Grunge appearing.
The standout covers are most definitely Snakedrive and The Future. I wasn’t too familiar with Cod’ine but that’s still a wicked interpretation with snakedrivers playing a distorted and droned out Blues Rock sound with echoes of Grunge and Sludgy surroundings which gives a different flavour compared to the original. The same goes for Snakedriver and The Future but you can still hear slight resemblances to the original version.
I was more impressed by the final title track Kicks as it showcases what snakedrivers are really all about. The sound is played at a cautiously slow-to-mid pace with thunderous guitars guiding the listener into a darker Post-Punk and slightly industrial sound. The echoes of Blues Rock allows this track to have similar themes that Spider Kitten have played in the past but the sudden rush of Sludge/Stoner Rock passages aligns the music closer to acts such as Alice In Chains, QOTSA, FLOOR, HUM and TORCHE.
Kicks is a great EP for snakedrivers to release as their debut release. As it showcases a great style of Droned Out Stoner Rock that can easily allow snakedrivers to build up a loyal and dedicated following within the underground scene. I’m hoping Chi has more plans for snakedrivers and release more original music such as Kicks as that’s the standout track contained here.
Words by Steve Howe
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