Release Date: July 21st 2023. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: CD/DD
Smiles Becoming Teeth: Tracklisting
1.Smiles Becoming Teeth
2.Swirl
3.People Are Not Disposable
4.Like 1973
5.Fountainhead
6.The Never
7.Deathbed Convert
8.Something Meaningless
Members
Christopher Dabner - Vocals / Guitar
Niki Jones - Vocals / Bass
Peter Nightingale - Drums
Review:
Smiles Becoming Teeth is the new album from UK Stoner Metallers Jukebox Monkey that sees the band undergo a Progressive based makeover with the album being vastly different to their 2017 debut album. With Jukebox Monkey taking creative lessons from bands such as Orange Goblin, Mastodon and Alice In Chains. The record also offers a more gritty real life attitude to the album which shines through the bombastic vocals and intense lyrics the band have written for the album.
Opening song Smiles Becoming Teeth is an uncompromising blend of Stoner Metal, Doom, Alt Metal and Grunge with Jukebox Monkey aligning themselves to a more Progressive Sludge Rock way of thinking. As the music becomes more Psychedelic based that showcases a Mastodon-eqsue flavour appearing within the heavier extended grooves that are superbly played and handled from start to finish.
Second song Swirl is a more dramatic song within the lyrics and vocals used for this track. The grooves are quite flashy, loud and OVER THE TOP but Jukebox Monkey manage to convey similar messages of hope that Sergeant Thunderhoof managed on their widely acclaimed last album. There’s many different styles of Doom/Stoner Metal being played on this track with Jukebox Monkey going all in with their new-found “Progressive” style as the song runs past the eight minutes mark. Maybe, the band is too bold and brash with their music. However, this is a wonderfully played and emotionally charged track with many fine moments of wicked Stoner based grooves throughout the song.
Third song People Are Not Disposable is quite a deceiving track as it opens with another finely played and intense Progressive Stoner groove but Jukebox Monkey veer into Alt Metal territory with the music being more personal to the band. That’s the impression I made as the vocals and lyrics have a more “human” element to them. Though, Jukebox Monkey don’t skimp on the Heavy Extended Jams which builds upto some thrilling progressive sludgy guitar solos towards the later stages of the song.
Fourth song Like 1973 is a more straight up Doom/Stoner Metal track from the band with a passionate Thrashy sound allowing Jukebox Monkey to bring new creative themes into their music. The song could be labelled as a Classic Heavy Metal track with Doom/Stoner elements appearing along the way. The vocals are WILD but suit the nature of the track. This isn’t one of the strongest tracks on the album but definitely one of the most interesting contained on the album. As it shows Jukebox Monkey trying different things with their music and I admire how the song doesn’t follow the standard Doom/Stoner Metal template.
The second half of the album sees Jukebox Monkey continue with their aggressive and raw sounding music with some biting socially aware lyrics. The music is subdued in places and with Jukebox Monkey playing a more Alternative style of Doom/Stoner Metal on tracks such as Fountainhead and The Never. However, there are more than enough moments of menacing Doom/Stoner Metal to shake your fists or headbang in agreement with.
The final two songs of Deathbed Convert and Something Meaningless are the most soulful and gloomiest parts of the album. The music is constantly aggressive with regular outbursts of Progressive Metal being quite catchy in places. This part of the album is where Jukebox Monkey excels at and impresses the most.
Smiles Becoming Teeth is an album that offers a different kind of voice and creative vision within the UK Doom/Stoner Metal Scene that may allow the band to gain further recognition within the global underground scene.
Words by Steve Howe
Thanks to Memphia Music PR & Management for the promo.
Smiles Becoming Teeth is available to buy now on CD/DD now.
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