I have seen this band's name over the years and always assumed they were a hard-core band that sounded more like Hatebreed. Perhaps they did at one point, but judging from their 5th album, they are closer to Slipknot. I can hear how they are popular on stages of festivals like Welcome to Rockville. They are punchy enough to convince you they are a metal band while working off grooves that sound like they are Slipknot b-sides, completer when the chanted hooks. It might seem really heavy when they lean into breakdowns unless you already listen to bands like Harms Way or 200 Stab Wound. They take a jarring turn to a more Sleep Token-flavored form of radio pop on "Magnetic". This album is really produced and is littered with electronic embellishments that sound like the best days of Myspace.
"Nails" starts off with a Ghostemane-like vocal. At first, I thought it was a guest spot, but then read the press release where the band said they were giving their take on underground rap, meaning they were ripping off Ghostemane. They also claim this song has their heaviest breakdown ever, so I am guessing the bar is low for that one. " Blur" makes it clear these guys are young enough to have grown up thinking Linkin Park is iconic, rather than a boy band with guitars. 'Tombstone' is a little darker, and storms into the heavier side of what the band does which is more in league with Slipknot. Not the heaviest song you will hear this week, nor the most original, but it is catchy enough for you to bob your head to it.
The band claims it is their take on 90s industrial metal, which means the only 90s industrial album they have ever heard is Static X, which shines through on "Happy Hunting". 3TEETH does this sort of thing much better. I might be cynical about this, but to be fair these guys do not suck either, they are just doing a good job at what other artists already do better, but if you are 16 you might not know any better. This is also the same age when little girls might think a song like "Hellbent" hits hard. It sounds like pop country going pop-punk. But this album is well-produced so they sound good doing it.
I guess it's the fact these guys are from Ocala Florida, the land of the Skunk Ape, that brings the subtle country influence to the surface. for a song like "In My Blood". It tries too hard to be an anthem. It hits me as cheesy and I am sure there are hundreds of kids on the internet who know nothing about music, ok, I am downplaying this numbers-wise, but the point is they would try to defend this. The last song is closer to Sleep Token pop again, and if they are willing to rip off Ghostemane they would not blink at jumping on the Sleep Token bandwagon. Once upon a time, I would not even be bothered with something like this, but last year the Pierce the Veil album rocks my fucking socks, so I give bands a try I might otherwise scoff at, in hopes to find a gem like that. I will give this album a 6.5, as it tries a little too hard and seems to be more marketing than metal, but kids are dumb enough to dig it. It drops on Fearless Records on June 21st.
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