It might seem odd in this digital age, but when These Arms Are Snakes released a split single with All the Saints on Touch and Go Records last spring, it was only available on good old-fashioned vinyl, which really isn't much use to fans that don't have a turntable. So, finally, Suicide Squeeze Records, which, like These Arms Are Snakes is also Seattle-based, unleashes the digital version of the single, which included the Snakes 'Washburn' and the Saints' 'Host.' "It's good to get it on the Internet. You've got to have it out there for the MP3 connoisseurs," Snakes singer Steve Snere tells Spinner. "Plus, we wanted to relaunch the single for our upcoming tour."

'Washburn' was recorded during the same session that yielded the tracks for the prog-y hardcore band's third album, 'Tail Swallower and Dove,' which was released by Suicide Squeeze in October 2008. "We had written far more songs than we needed, which is not unusual. Bands always have leftovers. Some get saved for the next record, some don't make the cut. But we liked this one so much we wanted to do something with it," Snere says. "It couldn't go on the album because it didn't fit in the flow and there were actually another couple of songs with a similar vibe." That vibe is a blend of punk and prog rock, abrasive and tuneful, anthemic and angular.

Listen to 'Washburn'


The quartet hits the road Sept. 13 for what might be the final American tour before preparations begin for the next record. Oh, and for vinyl fans that didn't snag a copy of the limited-run single already, copies are still available.