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Straightfaced
Pulling Teeth
What can you say when the band hands over a juicy metaphor like "pulling teeth." As in, "describing this music with an ounce of originality is like..." Perhaps most disheartening is that even Epitaph has succumbed to the rap metal sweepstakes, funding a SoCal variant to the chest-thumping, Faygo-spraying dikweeds who now dictate from the alternative sales charts. Albeit, there is a smidge of punk seasoning on occasion. Especially when they strafe through high-voltage slammers like "F*** Your Scene" and "In Doubt," near the end of the album. By then, I'm already lost, having been beaten and bruised by the constant flagellation of bass notes and triggered kickdrums. Though Static X and Staind fans might find this invigorating, I'm left lame by its refusal to be anything more than carnal, cutthroat and abrasive. Try flossing and spitting. -ml kilgore (Epitaph)
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