Teethin – Avarice Hidden in the Details

      Acclaimed Welsh band contemplates its future...

      02 · 10 · 2025

      Numerous potential futures for rock music lie ahead of us; a maze of diverging paths. Yet, it often seems there isn't a straightforward direction forward. The essential elements of the genre—guitar, bass, drums, and vocals—seem worn out after 70 years of evolution. Can they still produce fresh concepts and evoke new emotions? Does it even matter? Are we comfortable with recycled ideas, repackaged merely to evoke memories of better times gone by?

      Forget that. While it may not be as simple as it used to be, 'rock' (the phrase requires quotes because it obviously encompasses various interpretations) still possesses strong and inventive qualities that need to break free from the past and welcome our bizarre, anxiety-filled, digital present. On their debut EP, Teethin from Wales has made that leap, steering away from the genre's history and seizing the countless possibilities of our chaotic present and unimaginable future.

      Originating from Cardiff and the South Wales Valleys, and featuring members from diverse ethnic backgrounds including Ukraine and the Philippines, Teethin’s group of proudly working-class musicians has produced an extraordinary debut; five tracks of emotionally charged electronic-rock/punk-rap/digi-core that are both intuitive and innovative, as well as furious and soulful. Picture a fusion of The Prodigy, Deftones, and Burial, and you’re getting close.

      With its seamless fusion of live and electronic instruments, ‘Greed Between The Lines’ showcases clever intra-song structuring, balancing menacing intensity with bold flair. Each of these three-minute tracks radiates barely concealed aggression before exploding into expressions of fury and pain. Tracks like ‘Throwin Shapes’ and ‘Lara Scoffed’ employ a similar technique of quieter moments (a relative term) punctuated by sharp bass pulses, evoking a troubling heart rate that refuses to stabilize. When the climaxes occur, the once talkative James resorts to brief outbursts of raw anger: “say it to my fucking face then,” he exclaims with a South Walian accent in ‘My Generation’.

      Above all, the synth-infused, tightly structured ‘My Generation’ epitomizes what Teethin represents. There’s a beautifully melancholic essence to it, despite its robust and ultimately heavy nature similar to the rest of ‘Greed Between The Lines’. The lyrics critique the authority figures who have sedated us with their digital confines, employing vivid imagery that captures contemporary stagnation: “The fuckeries on the internet/keyboards break from vicious text/screens like armour strong defence/imagine face to face unrest.” James’ concluding calls of “say it to my face then” transcend mere rage; he implores you to step into the world and engage with him directly, face-to-face, beyond the screen.

      Despite its explosive anger and scathing critiques (as showcased in ‘Lara Scoffed’, which takes aim at “red-faced patriots”), a profound sense of punk rock humanism flows through ‘Greed Between The Lines’. Teethin yearns for the world to improve significantly, and their impressive debut captures these frustrations while presenting a musical vision that feels both fresh and deeply resonant, arousing excitement.

      9/10

      Words: Tom Morgan

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