{{Infobox album | name = Snakedrill | type = ep | artist = Wire | cover = Snakedrill front cover.jpg | alt = | released = November 1986<ref name="Lester"/> | recorded = Summer 1986<ref name="Lester"/> | venue = | studio = The Strong Room, London<ref name="Lester"/> | genre = {{flatlist| *Post-punk *experimental rock *industrial rock }} | length = 15:53 | label = Mute | producer = *Daniel Miller *Gareth Jones | prev_title = Document and Eyewitness | prev_year = 1981 | next_title = Ahead | next_year = 1987 }}

{{Album ratings | rev1 = AllMusic | rev1score = {{rating|3|5}}<ref name="allmusic">{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/snakedrill-r22104 |title=Snakedrill |author=Wilson Neate |work=Allmusic |accessdate=20 February 2012}}</ref> | rev2 = Robert Christgau | rev2score = B+<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=Wire |title=Wire |author=Robert Christgau |author-link=Robert Christgau |work=robertchristgau.com |accessdate=20 February 2012}}</ref> }}

'''''Snakedrill''''' is an EP by English rock band Wire, released in November 1986 by Mute Records. It was the first release after the band's five-year hiatus (1980–1985), and foreshadows their extensive use of electronic instrumentation on following albums, particularly on "A Serious of Snakes", which contains multiple layered synth and keyboard parts.

The entire EP is now included in the form of bonus tracks on ''The Ideal Copy'' (1987).

== Content == "A Serious of Snakes" and "Advantage in Height" are slightly mainstream, avant-pop tracks, while the droning "Drill", which is based around a single chord, is described by Paul Lester in the book ''Lowdown: The Story of Wire'' as "far removed from the luscious musicality" of earlier songs like "Outdoor Miner" and "Map Ref. 41°N 93°W". Instead, "the delight," he wrote, "lay in the sonic layers and textures rather than any melodic twists and turns." The almost a cappella "Up to the Sun," sung as a duet by Graham Lewis and Colin Newman, is likened to a Gregorian chant by Lester.<ref name="allmusic"/><ref name="Lester">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Za-Qc7wOwfsC&q=The+Drill+%28album%29+wire&pg=PT217|title=Lowdown: The Story of Wire|first=Paul|last=Lester|date=2009|publisher=Omnibus Press|isbn=9780857120410|via=Google Books|access-date=6 January 2023}}</ref> The track is described by AllMusic as a "pseudo-mystical incantation" and was allegedly written by Lewis in order to "cure" Newman, who had been suffering from hepatitis.<ref name="allmusic"/> == Track listing == All tracks are written by Wire #"'A Serious of Snakes...'"&nbsp;– 4:53 #"Drill"&nbsp;– 5:05 #"Advantage in Height"&nbsp;– 3:05 #"Up to the Sun"&nbsp;– 2:50

== Personnel == Adapted from the EP liner notes, except where noted.<ref>{{cite AV media notes |title=Snakedrill |others=Wire |date=1986|publisher=Mute Records}}</ref>

'''Wire''' *B.C. Gilbert *Colin Newman *Graham Lewis *Robert Gotobed '''Technical personnel''' *Daniel Miller&nbsp;– producer, mixing<ref name="Lester"/><ref name="A List">{{cite AV media notes |title=1985–1990: The A List |others=Wire |date=1993|publisher=Mute Records}}</ref> *Gareth Jones&nbsp;– producer, engineer,<ref name="A List"/><ref name="garethjones">{{cite web |url=http://www.garethjones.com/cv/cv/1986/1986.html |title=Music Production and Mixing: Discography 1986 |work=garethjones.com |accessdate=24 January 2023}}</ref> mixing<ref name="A List"/><ref name="garethjones"/> *David Buckland&nbsp;– cover photography

== References == {{Reflist}}

== External links ==

* {{Discogs master |50648 |''Snakedrill''}}

{{Wire}} {{Authority control}}

Category:1986 debut EPs Category:Wire (band) EPs Category:Mute Records EPs Category:Albums produced by Daniel Miller (music producer) Category:Albums produced by Gareth Jones (music producer)