Released 1988 Genre Alternative rock Label Arista Records | Format 7" single Length 4:56 | |
Writer(s) Marty Willson-Piper / Peter Koppes / Richard Ploog / Steve Kilbey | ||
"Reptile" is a song by Australian alternative rock band The Church. It was released as a single from their 1988 album Starfish, and the songwriting credits are given to all four members of the band.
Contents
Background and composition
Marty Willson-Piper, Peter Koppes, Richard Ploog, and Steve Kilbey were all credited with writing the song. Kilbey provided vocals, and his lyrics describe something that is both fascinating and disgusting.
Release and reception
"Reptile" peaked at number 27 on the U.S. Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart in 1988. The song was well received by critics upon its release. Ned Raggett of Allmusic compared it to "the sheer punch of Heyday's most frenetic moments with a slightly more restrained but still strong, smart performance." The chorus was "rushing", the guitars were "epic" and "melancholic", and the atmosphere was set by "a sudden mid-song slow dive bomb break, guitars howling down into the void."