by Greg Prato
The Vipers were an obscure 80s band that was transfixed with 60s garage/proto-punk, often drawing comparisons to such similarly styled outfits as the Chesterfield Kings, the Cynics, and the Lyres. Although the band received some favorable press and reviews during their tenure together, the Vipers failed to break through to a larger audience. Over a nine year period (between 1984 and 1993), the Vipers issued such albums as Outta the Nest, How About Somemore?, Not So Pretty...Not So New, Nest in Peace, and Venom. The Vipers debut was reissued in 2000 via the Cavestomp label, which added several previously unreleased bonus tracks to the mix.