A head-rush of clashing yet complementary boy/girl vocals and nineties nostalgia, Milk Teeth are bursting their way onto the alternative scene. Formed in 2013, the grunge-like English rockers have gained status quickly, starting off 2015 with a new EP and an almost entirely sold out tour with ex-My Chemical Romance guitarist Frank Iero’s new band frnkiero and the cellabration. With the aforementioned release of their second EP Sad Sack at the start of the year, the Bristol-based quartet ooze nonchalance and mystery, the kind of can’t-touch-me cool that MC Hammer aspires to have.
Opening track ‘Vitamins’ is led by the female portion of the band, Becky Blomfeld, who drifts from sweet high notes to a grunge-fuelled passion that leaves her breathlessly barraging her bass. The repetitive “Take me” lyric is sang sensually yet meaningfully by the band’s female front, however it is matched by a guttural growl from her counterpart Josh Bannister, male vocalist of the band, resulting in an powerful and emotive juxtaposition that perfectly echoes the way the song speaks of a love, but a love that’s doomed for disaster. Constantly paired with violent chords and falls in volume to match the songs story, Milk Teeth have utterly smashed it with this opening song.
The rest of the EP, which can be found on the band’s website, does everything but disappoint. ‘MELON BLADE’ comes next, with an intense, suspense-fuelled introduction created by a catchy riff and clever increase in tempo and pace, which sets the mood for bitter and punchy song that follows. Blomheld maintains a strong vocal throughout the song, the fuzzy indie sound this track holds showcasing that the band can cater to more than just one genre and are not to be underestimated or pigeon-holed when they have so much potential in various different genres/sub-genres of music.
“We’re animals who want and need to spread their seed to breed” is the opening line of ‘LINDA’, slightly monotonous and seeping with angst, this track throws the band straight into grunge-filled ranks of greatness with bands such as Nirvana, and more recently, with fellow UK unit Basement. This song marks the switch from female to male and also light angst to raw pain with the help of Bannister’s throaty growls. ‘BAGELS’ however is when Bannister truly comes into his own, harsh yet melodic snarls dominate the track, taking the band to new heights with a post-hardcore edge tainting the sound, further demonstrating the versatility that the young rockers possess.
The record draws to a close with ‘NO FUN’ and ‘TRAMPOLINE’. There’s a return to a more grunge sound with ‘NO FUN’ as Blomfeld returns to the mic, this time however both her and Bannister share vocal parts. The contrast of their voices as they sing simultaneously adds a multi-textural feel to the track, the melodic versus the violent uniting in an abstract creation of raw, undiluted emotion. ‘TRAMPOLINE’ sees Bannister take centre stage, opening the record in a Kobian-like manner, the usual throaty shouts replaced by a monotonous drawl that has its own sense of beauty, an echo of self-reflection falling off the guitarist-come-singer’s tongue. “What the hell am I doing here?” the lyrics ask – well, if you’re listening to Sad Sack you’re doing exactly the right thing.
Representative of old favourites, such as Nirvana and Hole, yet a classic in their own right, Milk Teeth manage to generate a sense of nostalgia while simultaneously creating a fresh and exciting sound. Definitely a band to keep your eye on, check Milk Teeth out on tour over the coming months.
Words by Heather Moss