In this modern metal world, there’s a number of bands that aren’t afraid to move in directions that buck tradition. Germany’s Blacktoothed is exactly one of those bands. While their newest album, Headway, is full of heavy grooves and some metallic crunch, it’s far from it’s only device for each song. It’s a pleasantly diverse offering that sits as comfortably in it’s rock shoes as it does anything else, and the band isn’t above going outside of the norms to provide a track that’s heavy but also incredibly hook-based.
One of the first unifying factors that can be heard in Headway are the heavy modern grooves. Opening immediately with “Get Me Down,” they swing the doors open for the album, and it starts things off with an energetic bang. As the group moves into a more rock-based, melodic chorus it’s the piece that retains the harder edge. While it seems a natural fit to a heavier cut such as “Hell’s Paradise,” where it explores some darker and heavier moments, it’s just as effective in that track’s follow-up in “Walls,” a more melodic and slower paced track, and gives it some extra emotional weight.
Another highlight that Blacktoothed provides is the vocal dynamic between Hendrik Rathgeber and guitarist/vocalist Matti Keitel. While Rathgeber provides the main vocals, Keitel interjects some extra contrast at times. While “Time Bomb” nicely flips between melodic and heavy moments, the opening vocoder-enhanced vocal trade-off is a fun little bit to start, giving the explosive breakdown ending that much more impressive. Likewise, the work on “Antidote” adds to the hooks, and is never done in the traditional manner of ‘beauty and the beast’ styled employments common in the genre.
Blacktoothed provide an andrenaline-fueled mixture of rock, metalcore, and more with their latest effort. Headway is full of catchy moments that will have you moving around and singing along, but augmented by some moments of modern heaviness that feel seamless in their transition. It’s a formula that makes the band stand out, as well as allows them to really spread their wings and showcase a sound that should have massive appeal.