Pulling Teeth continues to be an extremely active and productive group - touring the world and releasing three full-lengths and several singles since their inception. Paranoid Delusions | Paradise Illusions marks the band's third full-length effort, though I use that term loosely as the length of this recording is a bit on the short end for a "long player" (though that is the norm with their discography).
"Ritual" begins the new effort with reversed loop of drums and spoken word, which I haven't had the time to mess with in an audio-editing program to find out what is actually being said. But if I had to guess, it would be something dark-natured lyrically. Eventually a slow-churning dirge of guitars, bass, and drums arrive from underneath. After the initial two and a half minutes the song moves into the style we've come to expect from Pulling Teeth. Anchored by the guitar tandem of Domenic Romeo and Danny Parker, the group attacks in a frenzy of chugging and thrash-influenced riffs. Meanwhile the rhythm section of drummer Alex Henderson and bassist Chris Kuhn provides a thundering backbone to assault. Vocalist Mike Riley spouts off thoughts of performing in a band and what is missed while on the road, romanticizing the experience but also bringing to light to frustration that accompanies endless touring.
"Unsatisfied" follows as a down-tempo movement of Sabbath-influenced metal for two and a half minutes. After the halfway point, the pace quickens into a galloping Slayer-inspired chug until it again subsides to a crawl. It's a bit of a two-faced song, a trend that occurs throughout the album. "Bloodwolves" begins with thrash-metal frenzy for the first minute or so until a classic-rock inspired solo comes from out of nowhere. It's a bit schizophrenic for my tastes, leaving me slightly disappointed given the strong opening of the song.
This brings us to the titular tandem tracks. "Paranoid Delusions" begins and the music actually reminds me of the first track's opening slow-metal start, perhaps this was an intentional act by the group. As the song unfolds, repetitive chugging provides the background for Riley to unload his uncertainties of the decisions he's made while meandering guitars and blazing solos fill the voids between Riley's mental releases. Meanwhile, "Paradise Illusions" occupies nearly forty-percent of the entire album's playing time. The song is comprised of various audio samples, electronic effects, clean guitars, string instruments, and the uncharacteristically haunting vocal harmonies of what I assume to be Riley (though the liner notes do credit additional vocals from several individuals on the record so it's hard to say). Eventually distorted guitars return as the backdrop to a spoken word discourse on religion. This finale definitely brought to memory some of the experimental recordings committed to tape by Integrity as well as Dwid Hellion's side-project Psywarfare.
Paranoid Delusions | Paradise Illusions isn't exactly what I was expecting out of Pulling Teeth, though that's not all together a bad thing. I appreciate the band's experimentation with new elements; in fact they are quite welcome. Unfortunately, the execution is a bit chaotic, resulting in disjointedness while listening to the album. With a bit more planning - the album feels slightly rushed - I could see the band pulling this off better.
In the end Pulling Teeth are still among the better bands operating under the guise of hardcore, though they seem to be breaking out of that limited mold, not unlike what Black Flag did in their later days. I look forward to what is offered on the band's future recordings as even if I'm not fully satisfied with the work I can still appreciate the dedication and craftsmanship in their music.
