Hot Snakes

Thunder Down Under

[5/5] Judging by the amount of times Hot Snakes are namedropped in a typical issue of AP, an oral history of the band is (hopefully) inevitable. However, while all three of the sadly defunct band’s proper full-lengths are classics, Hot Snakes really thrived live; which is why Thunder Down Under isn’t only a welcome addition to the band’s catalog, but also may be the most incendiary entry, as well. Recorded live in an Australian radio studio in 2005, the 13 discordant post-everything masterpieces on Thunder Down Under careen into one another like demolition derby participants-and while “Kreative Kontrol,” “Suicide Invoice” and “Braintrust” are all highlights, every song on Thunder Down Under is just as vital. Now can we just get John Reis & Co. to reunite instead of, say, Earth Crisis? (SWAMI; swamirecords.com) Jonah Bayer