Snag are a Screamo band from the US and this is their third album.
Snag play a form of Screamo that takes additional influences from other related styles, (and some less related), into itself very capably. Across 26 minutes All the Cages Holding Us Will One Day Turn to Dust has a lot to offer fans of emotive hardcore.
All the Cages Holding Us Will One Day Turn to Dust has a passionate, urgent energy to it that’s hard to resist. Snag’s music bleeds emotion into an uncaring world, daring the listener to ignore its call to move, to engage, to feel. Snag don’t just want to rage against the dying of the light, they want to embody it fully so that it’s a meaningful force. This makes for a record that’s impactful and unexpectedly diverse.
On the heavier end of the spectrum, but without losing its melodic edge, All the Cages Holding Us Will One Day Turn to Dust packs a punch. The vocals are found deep in the distortion, acting as another emotive layer in Snag’s affecting brand of hardcore. Despite the music’s aggressive tendencies, there is subtlety and nuance in Snag’s sound too, including lighter sections of introspection or carefully inserted moments of breathing space. Various good ideas are deployed at different points, allowing Snag to broaden their songwriting when they think the song will benefit from it. Tracks like Juneberry and Paris, WI are obvious examples of this, showcasing a softer, Americana-laced side to Snag.
Whatever any given track is doing, everything in the record is geared towards delivering songs that are mood-first in their approach. The tracks are only short, so this means that the album is packed with content. Designed with dynamics in mind, All the Cages Holding Us Will One Day Turn to Dust has more than enough strengths to keep hold the listener’s attention throughout its 11 tracks.
Snag have produced a strong and enjoyable record in All the Cages Holding Us Will One Day Turn to Dust. Don’t let this little gem pass you buy.
Very highly recommended.
Wonderbox Metal 