Pulling Teeth

Martyr Immortal

[4/5]

The nonconformist subject matter on Martyr Immortal details Pulling Teeth’s disgust with mankind’s insatiable greed and consumerism and status-quo complacency. It’s the stuff that will tickle the fancy of many a misanthrope, considering the brutal and oppressive crusty hardcore punk that envelops the disc. Among harsh, crazed blasts like “Ashes And Dust” and “Dead Is Dead” are unexpected touches such as the excellent “Shiteaters,” which sports an unrelenting flurry of insect-like guitars ushering a slower tempo, as well as the dynamic title track, which alternates between slow and moody tones and super-fast fury before bleeding into the beautifully despondent instrumental “(Mori Vincent Omnes).” The seven-minute behemoth “Dismissed In Time,” with its haunting, exotic Queen Of The Damned-esque strings and gravelly spoken-word vocals, is delightfully unsettling. (DEATHWISH INC) Janelle Jones