Year Of The Snake

*See also: **Zodiac EPs***

## Singles

1. Spit It Out
Released: July 23, 2021
2. House Of Mirrors
Released: September 3, 2021
3. BWBB
Released: October 8, 2021
4. Perfect Blue
Released: November 26, 2021
5. Gaslight
Released: January 7, 2022

***Year Of The Snake*** is Softcult's second EP. It was released on February 4, 2022.

## Background

***Year Of The Snake*** was written and recorded during most of 2020 and 2021, at the band's home studio in Kitchener, Ontario. The COVID-19 restrictions were relaxed around the time the EP was released. This allowed the band to tour globally in support of it. Around this time, the band also did a livestreamed performance with Amazon Music. *Year Of The Snake is* Softcult's most successful release so far.

Although the EP's name is ***Year Of The Snake***, it was released during the year of the tiger.

## Composition and lyrics

***Year Of The Snake*** was described as grunge, shoegaze, riot grrrl and dream-pop.

*Year Of The Snake* has a darker, heavier sound than *Year Of The Rat*. Talking about this, Mercedes said: "For me, *Year Of The Rat* was me reconnecting with my roots, the things that made me fall in love with music in the first place. That adolescent feeling. We were so influenced by artists from the ’90s, which we still are. But with *Year Of The Snake,* I feel like we found our voice even more." Phoenix added: "I feel like before, we were paying homage to artists who came before us, and now we have found even more of what our sound is. We can create our things rather than just things influenced by other things. It feels a bit more like we are doing our thing now"

The EP was written about the twins feelings about current events, such as cutthroat capitalism and the problems it brings. "BWBB", was written as a direct response to the murder of Sarah Everard in March 2021.

"Most of these songs are meant to challenge people’s perceptions, but also come from very personal places based on our own experiences," Phoenix Arn-Horn said in an interview with *Total Ntertainment*. "If there are people out there that can relate to our lyrics, they’ll know that they aren’t alone. They are part of a movement that is demanding action.”

## Title and Artwork

"The snake is symbolic of deception and untrustworthiness," Phoenix said about the EP's artwork. "We’ve seen this time and time again from politicians that make grand promises and claim to care about marginalized people, climate change, poverty, etc but act differently when it comes to their policies."

## Reception

***Year of the Snake*** received generally favourable reviews from critics. *Upset* described the EP as " a promising hazy, alt noise to get lost in, while knowingly giving voice to issues that matter". Writing for *Gigwise,* Vicky Greer praised the refined sound and the rebellious spirit of the record. Kate Crudgington of *Get In Her Ears* said that "Softcult’s *Year Of The Rat* is a melodic reckoning, urging listeners to peel away the remnants of self-doubt, trust their instincts and to allow themselves the time and space to heal."

 Gigwise

## Tracklist

 2
 3
 4
 5
 6

## Personnel

* Mercedes Arn-Horn - Vocals, guitar, bass
* Phoenix Arn-Horn - Vocals, drums, production, engineering
* Chris Perry - Mixing
* All songs written by Mercedes Arn-Horn and Phoenix Arn-Horn
* All songs produced by Phoenix Arn-Horn

## References

1. ↑ BWBB lyrics posted by Mercedes in march 2021
2. ↑ USA tour w/ Teenage Wrist
3. ↑ SC in North America w/ Trash Boat, Higher Power & special guests
4. ↑ SC in Bangkok
5. ↑ SC w/ Amazon Music
6. ↑ TREMORS// Softcult have finally found their voice and now they’re louder than ever | The forty-five
7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 EP Review: Softcult - Year Of The Snake | Gigwise
8. ↑ Softcult Reject a Sexist Industry and Sharpen Their Songcraft | EXCLAIM!
9. ↑ Softcult's cover of Nirvana's Been A Son is a classy throwback to '90s grunge | Louder
10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 SOFTCULT RELEASE EP ‘YEAR OF THE SNAKE’ | Total Ntertainment
11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Track by Track: ﻿Softcult – Year Of The Snake EP | Upset
12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Softcult – Year of the Snake EP | Upset
13. ↑ EP: SOFTCULT – ‘YEAR OF THE SNAKE’ | Get In Her Ears