Reviews

Coming from a label that is known for signing hardcore bands with other influences, Pulling Teeth had a bit of a stereotype coming into this review. I find some of the acts on Deathwish interesting and intriguing, while most of them I just don't get. Pulling Teeth sounds exactly like their name, which is a good thing. They play fast, thrash influenced hardcore with attitude and a whole lot of distortion and feedback. Just as fast as this band can play, they can also bring things to a crippling slow pace that make the kids slam their feet on the floor and throw their fists in the air. Hardcore isn't supposed to be pretty so why not make it just disgusting and chaotic? Sounds good to me.

The band opens with "With Avarice," which shows their thrash side very well and has some great riffs and two step parts, which you can never go wrong with. The second song, "Dead Is Dead," though one of the shortest songs (only 40 seconds) on the record, is one of my favorites and is also probably the heaviest. The lyrics in songs like "Stonethrowers" are what hardcore is all about, not being afraid to oppose all and express your opinions. "Sick and Tired" and "Basically Dead" are a bit more traditional hardcore with fast snare and hi-hat beats and fast chord progressions, but like each of the songs on this album, the band puts their own twist on traditional style.

Though a short album at only 25 minutes, this band gets their point across and you don't feel like its long-winded. Pulling Teeth doesn't play fast, pit-friendly hardcore for 25 minutes and they keep you on your toes, incorporating solos on songs like "Clipped Wings" and "Basically Dead." The album title song also adds to the diversity, having both intro and outro instrumental parts. Good hardcore albums make you want to be at a show and this album does just that.