MILK TEETH - 'MILK TEETH' Album Review

Tracklist:

1. Given Up

2. Flowers

3. Dilute

4. Better

5. Transparent

6. Sharks

7. Medicine

8. Destroyer

9. Smoke

10. Circles

11. Wanna Be

Four years and several member changes after debut album 'Vile Child', Gloucestershire Punk trio MILK TEETH return with their eponymous sophomore album, their first release for label Music For Nations.

Despite all the changes that have occured in the years since 'Vile Child', MILK TEETH have stayed as strong, perhaps becoming even stronger, taking everything that made 'Vile Child' great and improving on it. MILK TEETH starts strong with lead single ‘Given Up’, a tour-de-force that sets the album up beautifully, with each member of the band giving their all to provide an amazing sound that hearkens back to the early 90s with a grungy twist, whilst also providing a new spin on the British Punk sound to create something that is distinctly their own. The sole original member of the band, bassist and vocalist Becky Blomfield’s unique, powerful voice draws you in and entices you to keep listening.

One of the most interesting tracks on the album for me comes in the form of ‘Medicine’, which slows the pace and really shows the diversity of what MILK TEETH are capable of as a band. It was entirely unexpected on my first listen through of the album, straying into a different field that reminds me of 70s ballads and, weirdly, Bowling For Soup’s ‘Melt With You’, but it has that unmistakable MILK TEETH twist and I find it to be one of the standout tracks of the album.

The polar opposite to ‘Medicine’, second single ‘Destroyer’ comes immediately after. MILK TEETH definitely wear their influences on their sleeve, as ‘Destroyer’ would be right at home in amongst the discography of any of the big four Grunge bands. The song maintains a slower pace, but has an undeniable aggression and attitude to it. Guitarist and backing vocalist Em Foster and drummer Jack Kenny, the newest member of the band, work harmoniously in tandem with the powerful bassline provided by Blomfield. Foster’s screams in the background of the chorus offset Blomfield’s slightly more melodic lead vocals perfectly to create my favourite track not just on this album, but of MILK TEETH’s entire catalogue.

Even in the slower moments on the album, the Punk attitude is undeniable. 'MILK TEETH' is an album that proves Punk isn’t dead whilst taking the next step in the genre. The band definitely pay their dues but aren’t afraid to look to the future, and if their evolution in each release is anything to go by I certainly look forward to what the future has in store for MILK TEETH as a band.