Automatic Midnight

Hot Snakes: Rick Fork (vocals); John Reis (guitar, organ); Jason Kourkounis (drums).
Former Drive Like Jehu members Rick Froberg and John Reis (also a member of Rocket From the Crypt) and drummer Jason Kourkounis of Delta 72 shred rock & roll to pieces on the Hot Snakes debut. Automatic Midnight, an album full of noisy guitar and dominating rhythms, hardcore thrash, and Swervedriver atmosphere, starts off with the charged-up, frenetic live wire that is "If Credit's What Matters I'll Take Credit." Throughout the rest of the rapid-fire record, Hot Snakes go from the dark, showdown sound of "10th Planet" to the slightly Sonic Youth-circa-Daydream Nation grind of "Light Up the Stars" and on through the chant-along anthem "Our Work Fills the Pews." The album finishes off with "Let It Come," a hard/soft dynamic, shout-and-holler ride that would fit well alongside At the Drive-In. Always intense, always destructive, the Hot Snakes, like Black Flag, play their rock & roll all-out with their sights set on anything or anyone in their path. ~ Charles Spano