Climbing new heights, DOLL drops new single/video ‘Snakes and Ladders’

Ottawa alternative rock band DOLL has released the new lyric video for their latest single “Snakes and Ladders,” the newest chapter in their evolving Animal Crackers trilogy. Following January’s standalone track “Bear Claw” and the fan‑favourite “Shark Bait” from their 2025 album “Better Days, Better Times,” the single continues the band’s creative resurgence, now brought to life visually with a gritty, high‑energy lyric video that amplifies the song’s message and mood.

After re‑emerging from a long hiatus with a renewed sense of purpose, DOLL, the wife‑and‑husband duo of Christina and Pete Kasper, have embraced a period of sonic exploration, pushing their sound into new territory while staying true to the raw emotion and honesty that defined their early work.

With “Snakes and Ladders,” the band lean into a D‑standard, grunge‑inspired throwback while weaving in the darker tones and textures that have shaped their recent evolution. Packed with harmonics, punchy riffs, and Christina’s unmistakable vocal rasp, the track captures DOLL’s signature blend of tension, drive, and cathartic release.

“Our fans expect the unexpected at this point. ‘Snakes and Ladders’ feels like the perfect final piece, gritty, energetic, and a real reflection of where DOLL is headed,” shares the duo.

The single channels the feral energy defining their latest era, a full‑throttle return to old‑school DOLL with raw vocals, jagged guitars, and drums that hit like a runaway car with no brakes. Carrying the emotional weight of Better Days, Better Times, the track confronts uncomfortable truths with a mix of vulnerability and defiance.

Lyrically, “Snakes and Ladders” stands as an anthem of resistance, calling out the “snakes in suits” who pretend to help but only serve themselves. It urges listeners to stay grounded, ask questions, and refuse to play someone else’s game. Musically, it’s one of the band’s most exhilarating songs to perform, built for movement, release, and shaking off whatever’s weighing you down. “As the song says, ‘I refuse to play your game.’ Always ask questions. Keep perspective. Don’t drink the Kool‑Aid blindly.”

The single’s artwork came together through a moment of pure serendipity. While wandering through a thrift store, the duo stumbled upon a vintage Snakes and Ladders board game, complete with classic packaging that felt uncannily perfect for the song’s theme.

“It was like the universe dropped it in front of us. Once we saw it, we knew this was the cover. It was meant to be,” they add.

The artwork mirrors the song’s message, life’s unpredictable climbs and falls, and the importance of staying true to yourself no matter where the board leads.

Add to your Spotify Playlist – https://open.spotify.com/track/2jaDZUp5fZoRJDu7wXTEU7​

All digital platforms – https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/doll14/snakes-and-ladders

DOLL is a Canadian alternative rock band from Ottawa, Ontario. After releasing their debut album Inside the “Dollhouse” in 2009, with singles “Daddy’s Little Girl” and “Sally Lost Her Shoelaces” earning rotation on MuchMusic and MusiquePlus, the band followed up with 2011’s The Ragdoll Diaries, featuring the singles “FMO” and “Youth of Today, Hope for Tomorrow.”
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Over the years, DOLL has shared stages with Three Days Grace, Lacuna Coil, Danko Jones, Protest the Hero, Halestorm, SNFU, Die Mannequin, and many more. After a long hiatus, the band returned in 2025 with Better Days, Better Times, reigniting their momentum and setting the stage for the Animal Crackers trilogy.