Homespun: Glass Teeth

Glass Teeth formed about a year ago, but the quintet has already gained some acclaim for its live shows, during which singer Jeff Robtoy (Adversary Workers, Cardiac Arrest) reportedly prowls throughout the crowd with his mic, both delivering lyrics and hassling onlookers. The group's self-titled debut EP is no less in-your-face, with Robtoy's guttural growl emanating in waves as his bandmates play alternately slouching and breakneck hardcore riffs. Mike Hansen's drums can go from minimal to overdrive at a moment's notice, although they're a little too high in the mix on this recording. It's Mark Early's synth work, however, that separates Glass Teeth from other hardcore bands in town. He's not so much playing a keyboard as he is wrangling sawtooth waves and endowing them with the right amount of white noise to give Teeth's songs a brittle, industrial edge. The band's formula works best on "Hospital Gift Shop," a tune that throws dubby ambience and synth washes against octopus drumming and Robtoy's measured, menacing delivery.

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