EP REVIEW: Better Days – SNAYX
Over the last few years, no band has expertly perfected their craft as well as SNAYX. Forming back in 2019 and manoeuvring through a pandemic that could have seen the end of the band before it even started, SNAYX prevailed and with it they came armed with small discography of scintillating singles and two incredible EPs. If you’ve been lucky enough to catch them on their own headline tour or supporting their punk counterparts KID KAPICHI, you’ll know they are well and truly the real deal, and the band that this country needs right now.
Even though we’re only in February, their latest EP Better Days is easily one of the best releases this year. Whilst the majority of the EP isn’t a departure from the sound you’d hear on previous tracks such as Boys In Blue or Work, it builds upon that sound to deliver something well and truly special. The opening title track sets the tone for the rest of the EP. Taking aim at the current state of affairs that plague the UK, it seems almost impossible that the band could tackle everything in such a short space of time. But then, this is SNAYX we’re talking about so of course they manage it, and with such ease. It’s a furious opener that sees the band on the form of their lives. The chunky and thick bass lines from the ever electric Oliver Horner are the force that starts Better Days at 100mph, taking very little moments to slow down. Frontman Charlie Herridge’s solemn and honest lyrics compliment the instrumental aspect perfectly.
Up next is Sink Or Swim, which is by far the heaviest track Better Days has to offer. Starting off with what sounds like a dance track, the fuzzy bassline has a wonderful bounce to it and you can’t help but start moving as soon as it comes on, whether you’re on your own or in a crowd, it will get you bouncing no matter what. The themes throughout the track are frustratingly relatable too. Stating that we always convince ourselves that this country deserves better yet “nothing ever seems to change”, you can almost feel the bemusement in Herridge’s voice as the band and ourselves hold onto that glimmer of hope that promises change, but ultimately feels like it will slip away, taking us back to square one.
The track with the biggest departure in sound is King. Started off with a trippy synthesiser that is almost disorientating, it creates a sound that reminds you of being at a fun fair, particularly on a carousel going round and round as the theme of nothing ever changing rears its head once again. This track is definitely one of the softer songs that SNAYX have in their arsenal and will provide some well needed respite at their live shows. Rounding out the record, Concrete brings us back up to speed and takes us through a final whirlwind of distorted punk riffs, creating a sense of desperation that barrels towards uncertainty in these truly weird times that we’re living in.
Better Days is a truly scintillating offering of British punk rock, the only downside is that there’s only four tracks and it leaves you wanting so much more. It’s a raw and visceral listen that makes you take a step back and look at the state of the UK and implores you to help make the change that can bring, well, better days. However, the final moments of the record do not feel like an ending at all. Better Days feels like a prologue that acts as the calm before the storm and the thought of what comes next from the band is a truly mouth-watering prospect. If SNAYX continue to slither into the public zeitgeist, it’s going to be an incredibly exciting future for the Brighton trio and we cannot wait.
Rating: 9/10
Better Days is out now via self-release.
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