Tail Swallower and Dove
These Arms Are Snakes · 2008
43 min · 10 tracks · post-hardcore
An intense blend of dissonant melodies, jagged rhythms, and haunting vocals that captures the chaos of emotional struggle.
Top tracks — play these first
-
→
Red Line Season — This track exemplifies the band's signature blend of frenetic energy and intricate instrumentation, encapsulating the album's overall tension and urgency.
-
→
Lucifer — The song's haunting atmosphere and climactic build-up highlight the band's ability to weave narrative into their chaotic soundscapes.
-
→
Cavity Carousel — With its sprawling length and dynamic shifts, this track represents the experimental edge of the album, showcasing a departure from traditional song structures.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album showcases complex arrangements and emotional vocal delivery, marking a solid entry in post-hardcore.
What we noticed
- Vocals alternate between melodic singing and aggressive shouting, often within the same track, enhancing the emotional intensity.
- Several tracks incorporate layered instrumentation, with guitars using dissonant chords that clash yet complement the rhythm section's driving beats.
- Composition 25% of the score
-
7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
-
8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
-
6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
-
7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
-
5/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- jagged rhythms that provoke thought
- intense emotional struggle exploration
- short bursts of chaotic energy
- haunting vocals for deep reflection
Maybe skip if you
- prefer smooth, easy listening
- want consistent melodic structure
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released in 2008, Tail Swallower and Dove marked These Arms Are Snakes' third studio album, following their critically acclaimed record Easter. At this point in their career, they were establishing themselves as a formidable force in the post-hardcore scene, pushing boundaries with their experimental sounds while maintaining a loyal fanbase.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Botch· The Blood Brothers· At the Drive-In
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Woolen Heirs 4:16
- 2 Prince Squid 3:18
- 3 Red Line Season 2:34
- 4 Lucifer 2:36
- 5 Ethric Double 7:33
- 6 Seven Curtains 5:16
- 7 Long and Lonely Step 2:35
- 8 Lead Beater 4:21
- 9 Cavity Carousel 4:36
- 10 Briggs 6:52
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
Sync your library
Everything you track here works immediately — no account needed. Create one when you want to sync across devices.