Rattlesnake Milk
Chicken Fried Snake


4.5
superb

Review

by Alkemest CONTRIBUTOR (27 Reviews)
March 10th, 2026 | 22 replies


Release Date: 2022 | Tracklist

Review Summary: Chicken Fried Snake or the Evening Psychosis in the West

Rattlesnake Milk’s “Chicken Fried Snake” is more than an album, it’s a ghost train slouching across the lonesome, broken plains bearing nine psychedelic wraiths. Its specters find purchase in loathsome Amarillo dive bars, amongst crooked New York skyscrapers and upon the stretching plains of Colorado alike, but the record never pauses for long as it weaves together its dark gospel. Meticulously constructed of equal parts country, gothic surf and cowpunk the Austin, Texas quartet’s spacy approach to music may present as laid back, but every chord, kick and reverb-drenched solo on this album’s 41-minute runtime is confidently loaded with intention. The lyrics are appropriately gritty, spinning yarns of American violence, misery and heartache. Rattlesnake Milk’s chops had been forged through two previous albums that saw the band proffering punkier cuts, but the seeds of their expertly crafted sound showcased on “Chicken Fried Snake” were certainly present. Even still, the refined narcotic hypnosis found on this 2022 record is in a league of its own, with perhaps beach goth indie rockers The Growlers being a somewhat reasonable although imperfect comparison. But the concentrated menacing, melancholy and sublimely groovy offerings found here are unrivaled by anything else I’ve heard. Singular in vision and expert in execution, there's a reason why it's impossible to find a physical copy of "Chicken Fried Snake" online, despite there being three vinyl pressings. With this album, Rattlesnake Milk are sliding open their ghost train’s ochre-caked door and offering a hallucinogenic trip through a psychedelic American Hell. It’s an invitation I find myself accepting time and time again.



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user ratings (7)
4.2
excellent


Comments:Add a Comment 
AlkemestRedux
Contributing Reviewer
March 10th 2026


1974 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5 | Sound Off

Even though I'm three years late, this album demands a listen!

CrisStyles
March 10th 2026


899 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

I did wonder if you were going to review this. Really great album, will probably be bumping up to a 4.5 at some point

AlkemestRedux
Contributing Reviewer
March 10th 2026


1974 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5 | Sound Off

Agreed I love it! And I was going back and forth about writing this up but decided to just do it because it definitely needs a thread.

Hawks
Staff Reviewer
March 12th 2026


122959 Comments

Album Rating: 4.3

Awesome review bro. Gotta check this one.

AlkemestRedux
Contributing Reviewer
March 12th 2026


1974 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5 | Sound Off

Thanks man! Was almost trying to convey the vibe vs explaining how awesome all the parts are. Lemme know what you think!

Hawks
Staff Reviewer
March 12th 2026


122959 Comments

Album Rating: 4.3

Jamming now and loving it!

AlkemestRedux
Contributing Reviewer
March 12th 2026


1974 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5 | Sound Off

m/////!

Hawks
Staff Reviewer
March 12th 2026


122959 Comments

Album Rating: 4.3

Yeah, this rules insanely hard.

cylinder
March 12th 2026


4717 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

checked this as soon as i saw your soundoff and loved it right away. awesome album. very nice review too, love all the vivid imagery

AlkemestRedux
Contributing Reviewer
March 12th 2026


1974 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5 | Sound Off

Glad you guys are digging it! I'll upload info on their other two albums too when I get a chance. Would be cool to see these guys live, or at least having a fourth repress of this record would be rad.

Hawks
Staff Reviewer
March 12th 2026


122959 Comments

Album Rating: 4.3

About to jam again shortly.

AlkemestRedux
Contributing Reviewer
March 12th 2026


1974 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5 | Sound Off

Heck yeah! It goes down so smooth.

Hawks
Staff Reviewer
March 12th 2026


122959 Comments

Album Rating: 4.3

It absolutely does my brother.

cylinder
March 12th 2026


4717 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

this is one of those very rare cases where me and both my parents would probably all enjoy this album lol

Hawks
Staff Reviewer
March 12th 2026


122959 Comments

Album Rating: 4.3

Same here lol.

AlkemestRedux
Contributing Reviewer
March 17th 2026


1974 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5 | Sound Off

Alright so the label got back to me and said they will be doing a vinyl repress, but didn't say when. So I guess I'm just checking my email regularly now lol

Hawks
Staff Reviewer
March 17th 2026


122959 Comments

Album Rating: 4.3

NICE.

CrisStyles
March 18th 2026


899 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

That's awesome

AlkemestRedux
Contributing Reviewer
April 14th 2026


1974 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5 | Sound Off

I missed the other email from March, but apparently they're in the studio too, so new album on the horizon!

Hawks
Staff Reviewer
April 14th 2026


122959 Comments

Album Rating: 4.3

NICE.



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