EP Review: Snuff – The Wrath Of Thoth

Having already released ‘The Wrath Of Thoth’ on vinyl in six different colours (including ‘beer’ and ‘wine’ and ‘blue lagoon’), scene stalwarts Snuff have pressed a limited run of half white/half silver vinyl that ships out this week. A timely opportunity, then, to appraise the latest output of the band’s 30+ year career.

Opener, and brilliantly titled, ‘Drink Freely From The Chalice Of Lunacy’ kicks things off in an buoyant and jangly manner; apt lyrical absurdity included.  There’s a heartfelt feeling around the track – possibly because of Duncan Redmonds’ impassioned “Still, I love you,” that rises above the amiable clatter. ‘Nothing To See Here’ follows on a snappy rhythm. Despite the gruesome imagery of the lyrics – flesh, blood and guts –  there’s room for rowdy horns and a radiant riff-out. The pacey chug of ‘Conductor 71’ is next up. Informed by the 1946 film ‘A Matter Of Life and Death’ (‘Stairway To Heaven’ in the US) and its escalator linking Earth to the afterlife, it has an intense, serious feel and an almost metallic breakdown outro. As David Niven’s character from the movie is an RAF pilot, it’s also a nod to the EP’s artwork and penultimate track, ‘The Bells Of Hell’, an irresistible, brass-bursting ska sing-along reworking of a WW1 airmen’s song. Sandwiched in between is ‘Poetic Nonsense’, which skates in like a wonky gameshow theme with its organ stings, before settling and then building layers of hooks – “Up with the seagulls shouting, down where the mud larks sing,” being particularly inviting. The EP bounces out on ‘King Of The Wild’. “Do you really think we give a shit about you?” Redmonds spurts, blowing disapproving raspberries intermittently.  Warmed by brass, it creates a perfect end-of-night atmosphere where everyone has their arms around each other and their knees up. Joyous.

Like honest, grassroots punk delivered with idiosyncratic charm? ‘The Wrath Of Thoth’ is available on the band’s own 10 Past 12 Records, through Snuff’s official store.  There are also Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages to follow.