ALBUM REVIEW: EndEx – 3TEETH
While 3TEETH have been around for 10 years now, it’s good to see they are still tinkering with their sound, with some definite hints towards a more metallic hardcore approach at times in their latest release Endex. As a result, this is a lean towards some of their heaviest output to date, with some veering between nu-metal, industrial and other elements creating a wider sound than they have had before.
They continue to display their influences proudly in their music, with the mid-album track Merchant Of The Void sounding like the bastard offspring of KORN and NINE INCH NAILS, while opener Xenogenesis has a more brooding approach, resonating with an evil sound that weaves a genuine sense of being ill at ease with a foreboding in the same sense as SLAYER‘s Seasons In The Abyss or the early RAMMSTEIN self-titled track.
The variety brought in has allowed them that opportunity to be more expansive, too, as some of the choruses are absolutely huge. The kind of feeling may be more in common with older AOR bands in that you just want to sing along loudly, akin to the likes of BRING ME THE HORIZON with Can You Feel My Heart? in more recent times. For what is a fourth full release from the Californian five-piece, it shows a remarkable level of clarity in chasing their muse, the willingness to experiment with their sound and take some risks, whilst still remaining true in core to the roots laid down in earlier albums.
Looking at the singles, the likes of Slum Planet looks at issues addressing us all in terms of how the planet is treated, showing that the band are not afraid to address issues important to them. Other singles to date in Scorpion, Drift and Higher Than Death all serve to highlight different aspects of their approach to the writing of the music part of this album. This shows a strong awareness of their intent during creation, as well as their need to demonstrate exactly what was in their minds.
Despite having quite varied influences and approaches to songwriting on EndEx, it still feels like a comprehensive whole body of work. The production values are superb, as you have now come to expect from the talented industrialists, with the levels perfectly done, as even the vocals are mixed in and out of the rest of the sound, depending on quite where they want the emphasis for that part of the song. This is an aspect that can often be overlooked during the production side of things and shows a humbleness in allowing their producer that level of influence to hone their sound to that higher level than others find.
EndEx is a great body of work that anyone with an interest in the likes of ROB ZOMBIE, among the many other similar artists, should be looking to add to their collection. There’s a variance to 3TEETH‘s writing throughout the album to provide all the dips and highs you could both want and expect from this style of music without any loss in the clarity of what they have wanted to create. Despite what are clearly varied influences, it sits as an accomplished body of work and has a fantastic maturity in songwriting to have become the piece that it is.
Rating: 8/10
EndEx is out now via Century Media Records.
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