EP REVIEW: Knock Yourself Out – Babyteeth

Self-described as ‘NIRVANA with vaginas’, British newcomers BABYTEETH are looking to pound 2021 into submission. Building a reputation on a no-holds barred approach to their creativity and impressive live show, the quintet were extremely active on the circuit before the world shut down, no less than opening for ADAM AND THE ANTS at a sold out Roundhouse during December of 2018. Now, after a rocky 2020, the band’s debut EP Knock Yourself Out is available wherever you get your tunes via independent label 7 West Music.

Knock Yourself Out got its name from drummer Samantha Lubin, who did exactly that filming one of their music videos earlier this year and, whilst the EP isn’t likely to bludgeon your senses in a similar fashion, it’ll certainly colour you impressed. Opening track Look Like Death is a snotty-nosed blend of grunge and alt-rock, boasting confrontational lyrics and an underlying snarl that helps carry the track through to its conclusion. Following track Worst Case Scenario showcases a huge chorus combined with bounce and swagger and the trend is maintained with Cut It, another spite-filled tune of honest-to-goodness rock, clearly created and recorded by a band having a hell of a lot of fun.

What takes this EP to the next level, however, is that BABYTEETH aren’t just drawing on influences from music led by electric guitar; there’s also a wealth of pop sensibility woven into their sound. Lies, the third track present, wouldn’t look out of place on mainstream radio during the day – a cleaner, steadier track that shows off the power of vocalist Camilla Roholm‘s pipes and infuses MARMOZETS with figures such as ARIANA GRANDE and MILEY CYRUS. Talking of Miss Grande, the EP finishes with a cover of God Is a Woman, a song that wouldn’t usually be considered in this style but is pulled off remarkably well; the downtuned guitars from EIlidh McKellar and Sam Hammond bringing even more melancholy to the table and comfortably making BABYTEETH‘s own.

At points this year, BABYTEETH were on the verge of packing it all in, but their decision to carry on in the face of real adversity has paid off handsomely. Knock Yourself Out is a charming package of accessible, infectious rock songs that will prick the ears of those partial to the sounds of NOVA TWINS, HOLE and L7 whilst maintaining its own identity. When live shows are a thing again, rest assured they’ll be going all over the country, and they won’t be a band to miss out on.

Rating: 8/10

Knock Yourself Out is out now via 7 West Music. 

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