It can be perilous for a band to emerge fully formed on their first album. Characteristics of their sound can become entrenched in the minds of their fans and, eventually, old ideas can quickly sound new again once the pressure of a follow up rears its head. Then you have a band like Milk Teeth; a band brimming with potential and ideas, but one with plenty of growing left to do.
'Vile Child' is a very good first full length. It's at turns sweetly melodic, aggressive and expansive. Becky Blomfield delivers hooks by the bucketload, while their guitar work sweeps into the molten grunge trappings so popular with bands like Superheaven and Citizen. Josh Bannister, meanwhile, barks like a vein-popping hardcore vocalist.
His exit, just prior to the arrival of 'Vile Child', places Milk Teeth at a crossroads early on in their career. Their next step will now feature a different dynamic by default, but it's a safe bet that they will continue to expand on a slate of sounds that suit their strengths.
Brickwork, Crows Feet and Burger Drop show them at their most open and straightforward, with big melodies underpinned by swirling guitars and chugging low end.
It's here that they are most immediately satisfying, but elsewhere they put their foot down to good effect. Brain Food channels a tonne of frustration into a straight-ahead punk track, while Get A Clue is truly spiteful.
When things get sludgy, on Moon Wanderer, Leona and Driveway Birthday, though, they do sacrifice some hard won momentum. It's this element of their sound that perhaps needs refining, or moulding to suit their obvious melodic prowess. It's just a case of getting things to balance properly.
'Vile Child' sets down a marker. Milk Teeth will be keenly monitored from here on, and it appears that they have the raw materials at hand to surprise, bludgeon and thrill for some time to come.
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