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Pulling Teeth

Martyr Immortal (2007)
Deathwish Inc.

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Contributed by: Anchors
(others by this writer | submit your own)

Published on February 5th 2008

Amidst all the hype about Ceremony, Fucked Up, and pretty much any band in that vein, people seem to be passing over one of the truly great hardcore bands to come around in the past five years. While those two bands get the accolades, it’s actually Maryland’s Pulling Teeth that deserve them.

While their last effort, Vicious Skin is the one that put them on the map, it’s their newest, Martyr Immortal, that will remind you exactly why.

This album has two speeds -- fast, and faster. It really is impressive how the band is able to keep up such a fevered pace while not sacrificing the stellar songwriting that fans of the band have come to know. Speed isn’t the focus, it’s just the means. And since it’s the actual songwriting that was focused on first and foremost, it almost goes without saying in regards to Pulling Teeth that the product is near-perfect.

Every song is downright tenacious, packed with an attitude and swagger that amplifies everything to an extremely high degree. The snarl of vocalist Mike Riley gives an overwhelming anger and venom to each and every song, and that anger is matched and sometimes superceded by the calamitous efforts of his bandmates. Look no further than “Clipped Wings” for a raucous blast of tempo changes and punchy vocals that leads to a completely unexpected bit of clean riffing before slowing to an intense crawl. That’s three dramatic but extremely fluid tempo changes in not even a minute and a half; Pulling Teeth is even more impressive when the duration of the song increases.

The album’s title track sees the band go through a number of long, ominous instrumental passages before really unleashing the anger, only to go back and forth between the styles a few times more. It’s a technique that encompasses everything the band is good at; be it an in-your-face blast of intensity or a mood-shifting instrumental passage, Pulling Teeth does everything at a 100% level of quality. The closer, “Dismissed in Time,” only further exemplifies this point. The mix of strings, soundscapes and truly eerie guitar tones is unsettling at best, because knowing the band's penchant for exploding out of nowhere, it feels like there’s a scream or riff around every corner. It’s that expectation that makes the track all the more impactful.

The best favor that you could do yourself is to forget Ceremony, forget Fucked Up, forget Coke Bust or any other buzz band of the moment, because as long as Pulling Teeth continue to put out records, they are where everyone’s attention should firmly be focused. Because just as their songs, at any moment, they could explode.

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donkeykongjr (March 3, 2008)

can YOU scream for a minute straight?

eyeslikebombs (February 11, 2008)

This band makes me freak the FUCK out. fucking INTO IT.

douglas_is_rad (February 8, 2008)

No one was claiming that he was mixing up Fucked Up and Ceremony. People were suggesting that describing Fucked Up and Ceremony as "purely hype bands who pale in comparison to Pulling Teeth" is ridiculous. They all play different styles of hardcore, and they all excel at the style of hardcore they play. There is no need to talk shit about other bands when they are just as talented as Pulling Teeth.

inagreendase (February 7, 2008)

I think the "vein" he's referring to is the vein of hyped hardcore. I don't think anyone's mistaking Ceremony for Fucked Up or vice versa.

bizzlebrizzle (February 7, 2008)

times*

bizzlebrizzle (February 7, 2008)

Fucked Up and Ceremony are in the "same vein" as Pulling Teeth? Man this review blows too.

This album was really good but not as good as you're making it out to be. I fucking love Pulling Teeth but I think the lyrics are kinda weak at time.

jamespastepunk (February 7, 2008)

Ceremony and Fucked Up?

Really?

bytheslice (February 7, 2008)

I haven't even heard this yet, but I'm sure I'll love it. Deathwish has such an ear for quality. I have to admit I'm a little jealous...

GlassPipeMurder (February 6, 2008)

i love the guitar playing buried under the crunchy coating.

davebrave4 (February 6, 2008)

Tenacious? Really?
I think I'd need a little bit more explanation before I can understand how a song can be tenacious.

wentz_equals_death (February 6, 2008)

i am just more confused that ceremony and fucked up are being placed in a vein together... i guess i see it, but at the same time i don't

asxyouxwish (February 6, 2008)

great band, but that's no reason to ignore the other bands you brought up.

sillygirlrecords (February 5, 2008)

it rules so much to see mike and the guys get this much attention.The members in this band have really worked their asses off in past and present bands. I do understand where the reviewer is coming from judging those other bands, but those other bands are great as well. But Pulling Teeth really earned this...

victim (February 5, 2008)

What the fuck? Ceremony and Fucked Up hate? What bullshit. Pulling Teeth is obviously really good but Ceremony and Fucked Up are in the stratosphere..

Why not just make a positive review for an album that clealry deserves it on its own merits?

Trauma16 (February 5, 2008)

Was waiting for a review of this. Fantastic album.

theyounginfluential (February 5, 2008)

every band mentioned in this review (especially pulling teeth) is great

douglas_is_rad (February 5, 2008)

I don't mean to start shit over bands, but I fail to see how Fucked Up is anymore of a hype band than Pulling Teeth. Yes, Pulling Teeth made a really fucking great album. But Fucked Up made one of the best hardcore punk albums in the last 10 years.