Beartooth Has Earned The Right To Be Loved

I need a moment to pause to catch my breath. Beartooth schooled me on the joys inherent to ejecting an unwanted, toxic presence from your life. The band's "Hated" bears fangs, shreds innards, and flat out awakens you with a swift kick in the pants. "Hated" originates from the "Aggressive" album and that's a mighty fine hint at the mood "Hated" sends to your face in full blast vigor. Nobody takes a down off. The players sync up, the instruments grow increasingly foreboding. You shake your head unknowingly as if to admit to yourself, "Hell, yeah!! I know someone who won't let me be myself and it bugs the living crap out of me. The hardcore punk shadings lend themselves well to this material. Vocally Caleb Shlomo pulls no punches. He's out to do a little psychological purging and, shame on you if you've landed on his hit list. Taylor Lumley goes battering ram in his guitar's swerving mindset. He totally nails the discomfort in Caleb's orbit. It comes out best during the chorus in which we again learn how shockingly easy it is to be hated for who you are. "Be yourself," we're encouraged. In this digital era it's not that simple. Oshie Bichar plunges into your gut by way of bass that aims for your craw, locks on, and has lusting after the scars you know his frets are going to leave in their wake. Kamron Bradbury's rhythm guitar crackles like the home style fireplace you wish the calendar said it was OK to snuggle in front of. No fuzzy feelings generated anywhere that I can think of. "Hated" comes off assault rifle soulless, seeking out vulnerabilities, zeroing in on uneasiness, and then pow...the foursome fuses high drama at a fairly low stress level. Judging by the lyrics, I'd say Caleb has his anger issues to sort through. He appears to be loathe to participate in the forgive and forget foxtrot. Not only that he washes his hands of the scapegoat label. Not that he doesn't merit high fives and handshakes all around for sprouting a spine in that department. Who can respect a man who won't take responsibility for his or her actions anyway. For Caleb there's no better feeling than ejecting this bad influence from his life. I am surprised at how seamless the stitching is in this punk ready to thrash garment. I am also highly pleased. You can reach out and touch Beartooth. This band doesn't shy away from interpersonal messes. However they approach the content bathed in the smell of their own friendly fire. No doubt Caleb doesn't have that bullseye painted on his chest anymore. More power to him. Beartooth stays snugly within the posted speed limit which allows you to chew on, digest, and finally swallow the shaky legged thinking Caleb's working his way through. As I've noted Beartooth isn't going far and afield for the purpose of being that exotic band that Spin magazine is desperate to have as its cover story feature. No offense to the respectable publication but Beartooth doesn't sound like its history is out of place with the traditional tack flyers up everywhere within a fifty mile radius route to stardom. They aren't to be confused with glam pretty boys out for a babe of the week score. In my estimation "Hated" earns its love by daring to put authentic moodiness front and center. Artifice isn't part of the Beartooth package. Hooray for that lucid realization.