3TƎETH - EndEx (2023)^{Release ID: 47748}

I'm in a weird place when it comes to industrial music. I was recently introduced to the world of electronic body music [EBM] and while I could (and probably should) enjoy the heavier side of that genre present in aggrotech, I find myself more at comfort with the futurepop and alternative pop sounds instead. As a result, my explorations of the metal side of industrial music has been a complete blind spot (once again) in 2023.

So when I received my copy of EndEx by industrial band 3TEETH, I had to hinder my expectations since it was in a style that I have been struggling with for quite some time. So what did we get out of EndEx?

While the tracks featuring Mick Gordon are certainly produced much better than the solo tracks "Xenogenesis" and "Plutonomicon", they are also the songs with the least happening in them. The guitar has a lot more punch and gravitas when Mick is present, and typically also have more memorable melodic ideas and phrases. Tracks like "Higher Than Death" on the other hand sound like made for radio industrial metal, as the glitchy production is swamped in favour of power chords and Breaking Benjamin vocal hook.

EndEx is quite a diverse listen in its timbre. The record certainly has its fair share of aggressive moments like "Paralyze" and "ALI3N", but the record ends with the slower "Drift", which has more of a futurepop sound with less guitars and distorted vocals. And regardless of the quality of the bands cover of "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" by Tears for Fears, I was impressed by how 3TEETH were able to take fundamental chord progression, turn it minor without changing the main vocal motif and make the song their own, rather than a straight cover with no thought or unique traits.

When it was over, I respected 3TEETH, but I did not love EndEx. Some of the songs here are just catchy enough to bring me back for more, but the disconnect between the solo tracks and those featuring Mick Gordon make for a divisive full playthrough. Still, some of these tracks will make for a nice detour from my typical industrial listening.

Best Songs: Acme Death Machine, Merchant of the Void, ALI3N, Paralyze (feat. Ho99o9)