Review: “Self Titled” by Sore Teeth

I compare thee to a summers day. As a fan of 2021’s EP “This Is Our Core” with “Salvation” being arguably the finest single track that Sore Teeth have in their discography with it’s “Punishment” era Biohazard influences, going into the review of their self titled album was an interesting moment. Four years have gone under the bridge, in which time the three piece of vocalist and guitarist Ross Walker, bassist Chris Welch and drummer James Ashford became a quintet with the addition of Stone Soup guitarist Chris Gilday and former Weaponry vocalist and guitarist Al Bristow. While Gilday spent two year on stages with them,  Bristow only appeared in one social media posted video during a rehearsal. So as the singles from this album began to roll out as far back as 2022 with seven of the thirteen songs appearing before this release, it leaves a mystery around just how much influence, if any, the duo had on them.

In many ways this self titled record does sound like an extension of “This Is Our Core“, caustic throat shredding vocals from Ross Walker accompanied by pummelling, pulverising rhythms that beat you into submission like you’re on the receiving end during a bare knuckle boxing match with a Gypsy like in that Brad Pitt movie. However while the songs remain heavy on the gain and sound like they’ve been influenced by bands like Nails, the key difference is the lyrical approach. Unlike the previous records, the lyrics have been streamlined or simplified so often Walker is screaming a single word or a single repeated verse over the top of the barbaric riffs. Like a good number of late 80’s and early 90’s action movies, if you can switch your brain off and not get too involved in the plot, you can enjoy the thrills and spills. If not, you’re going to be wondering what why Walker has made the style choice. Opening track “Betrayer” is a fine example and while the song title and the word “Lies” can be picked out from the lyrical narrative, the vocals are so caustic that if there is anything else in there… it gets lost like her ghost in the fog. “Unite” has a neck snapping groove to it, the repetition of it working pretty well because its short and sharp, the whole album clocks in at less than twenty four minutes, but if you engage your brain, it kind of sounds a bit unfinished because of the absence of more than a sentence of lyrics.

2022 single “Believe” is arguably the pick of the bunch with its Cancer Bats inspired intro riff as the band lean into their Hardcore Punk past before the bruising “Rise & Fall” returns to the earlier mantra of minimalist brutality. “War” has more substance to it even if you want to scream “What is it good for!” back at Walker, the main riff of earworm quality. “My Self Crisis” has been written for a circle pit with more solid riffs and attitude in place of lyrics and the same can be said of the punishment beating that is “Backstab“. The forty nine second burst of Hardcore Punk violence that is “Get Out My Way” is a blistering moment of madness that could have been written on the back of a napkin at the local greasy spoon. The mid tempo crunch of “Life” is more uplifting while “You Want Competition” has more verve and swagger in Hardcore Punk, proving that sonically at least there is plenty of variety. The scorching “We Ride” is the sonic equivalent to the aforementioned “Salvation” in that its insanely catchy and has a better balance to it. Album closer “Suffocation” is exactly that, a song to drive sleep depravation. Sonically as a self titled album, “Sore Teeth” sounds polished and is as solid as a blacksmith’s anvil, packed with dense riffs and smouldering intensity, it’s got a lot going for it. Lyrically, while the repetition works for the likes of Static-X in an evil disco setting, in Hardcore it just feels a little rough and ready [7/10]