It may not seem appropriate to describe a song by a post-hardcore punk band with a word like “beautiful”. But when asked my opinion of Snake Oil by Coffee with Lions, my first and most-pure reaction was to recognize the inherent beauty and harmonious nature of the song.
“Snake Oil” is an outlier amongst CWL’s discography in the sense that most of their catalogue is chock-full of cock-pull; angsty thrashing about and lashing out. The CWL most like “Snake Oil” is the middle of “Bleed Like Me” from their 2022 EP Balancing Act. The album version of that song features a more melodic, groovy arrangement – setting the table for a ferocious return to the final movement of the song. I’ve seen “Bleed Like Me” live so many times that I identify more with its live iteration. The raw performance strips away that softer feel, keeping the freight-train-like momentum that has become the hallmark of every CWL live set.
From the very first plucks and strums of guitarist Aaron Pendergast’s melancholic notes, I knew the taste of “Snake Oil” would differ in flavor profile from the usual fare offered by one of my favorite bands. Pendy’s choice of tone is perfect as it uses darker shades to paint a mental picture of the decaying American Dream. Singer, John Grove, croons and laments of a fragile society built on the illusion of Social Credit, suggesting the only hope for survival is swallowing our pride with a handful of pills.
From the jump, it’s easy to identify that “Snake Oil” is the most accurate representation of CWL committed to record that I’ve heard. Of all the incredible bands in the PA scene, I’d wager that I’ve seen Coffee With Lions the most. Their infectious energy harkens back to thrashy hardcore bands like H2O and Propagandi. While the band members themselves join most of their fans in joking about their age, our bodies all the more brittle after carrying the weight of the world on our backs year over year, the vim and vigor of decades-past boils to the surface as soon as drummer, Kevin Ness, and bassist, Doug Moore, lock in with their signature rhythmic fury.
After one particularly raucous set at a killer venue in their hometown of York, Pennsylvania, I spoke with John about the song. He mentioned “Snake Oil” being an “older tune” from the band’s beginning, circa 2018. Yet, when I hear him masterfully articulate the song’s lyrics, I can’t help but think of how pointed and poignant his words ring true in the present.
“Algorithms dictate our interests. Our likes are for sale and they’re going fast. Our secrets we’ll sell them for a bargain. A brand new platform, so sit back and relax.”
Social Media is the modern equivalent of Snake Oil. But instead of beak-masked plague doctors blending and bottling random herbs hocked as miracle cures, Tech CEOs and legally-bulletproof corporations concoct interfaces by stringing algorithms with lines of computer code to create digital labyrinths of false contentment and an illusion of euphoria.
As the blistering groove builds into a sweeping melody, “Snake Oil” pumps and percolates before exploding into its choruses:
History, we’re doomed to repeat it. Society will fall again. Greed will ultimately conquer you and me. We’re the pawns in the end.”
The message is a tough potion to swallow. But I hope our doom is prolonged just enough to hear where Coffee With Lions’ next recording project takes us. The production on this track is the best they’ve ever put out. I guess you’ll just have to listen to their entire catalog back-to-back-to-back to hear what I mean.
Vinny is a sometimes music blogger who has one decent promotional headshot that he uses for everything and way too little time to do all of the things he wants to do.