Style: alternative metal, progressive metal (mainly pure vocals)
Recommended for fans of: Mastodon, Baroness
Country: United States
Expiration date: 6 March 2026
Making a four-piece band is no mean feat, but it’s one on Long Island. The Tooth of the Moon complete by hand. Drawing from the same well as mud and stone metal titans like Mastodon and Disrespect, The Tooth of the Moon the music is accompanied by a rich color, favoring thick settings over clear weight. It’s the sound they’ve delivered over a decade and many releases, and it feels great and fun. The latest EP Bastat does not restore that form – but by reducing it to seventeen minutes, The Tooth of the Moon reveal just how much impact they can make in a small format, delivering four songs full of well-oiled grooves and riffs that stayed firmly in my head throughout my time on release.
Bastat starts with a bluff: the opening track “TRUDGE” is empty. Instead of foot-dragging, the song bursts through the barn doors with thick, shrill riffs, guitars blasting like strings being pulled. The Tooth of the Moon roll forward at a controlled but muscular pace. There is a light breeze from the West Bastard’s time to work, too. This is especially evident in John Carbone’s expression, smooth and smoky, sometimes appearing in a subtle landscape. It’s a suggested approach to the band’s broader aesthetic: the soundtrack features a single-tattooed ranger archetype, traipsing through sun-bleached towns with a gun on his hip. And the lyrics follow, leaning into a sort of far-flung, whiskey-fuelled frontier blues.
Although they have very strong muscles, The Tooth of the Moon like to move strongly, with confidence on the obvious violence-close to the spirit of Mastodon’s a sense of elegance beyond their moments of over-the-top performance, edged with something more tangible. That sense of control extends to Bastard’s a musical instrument. The guitars and vocals trade the verses with unwavering confidence, shifting without boasting—without the bulging muscles of a gym mirror, more relaxed, hard-working energy built through repetition and practice. However, flashes of panache appear here and there: Nick Lee’s reeling, lasso-loose guitar solo in “Mire”, or the rhythmic rhythm that creates “I’S”, as drummer Ray Marte searches for a difficult breakup that is several versions down the road. This last song stands as Bastard’s high level, it accumulates weight and width that contradicts the number of small workers of the group. And leave The Tooth of the Moon a classic playbook, the song closes with a lot of shrill vocals, a temporary but still successful sound.
The Tooth of the Moon show a keen sense of direction Bastard’s hard time to work. They move forward at the same time as the aforementioned climax of “I’S”, but pull back as opening closer “PUSH”, giving the listener room to breathe rather than putting a boot to their chest. But if there is constant frustration Bastatit might be the EP scale. Across the four tracks, there are no obvious weak points, but The Tooth of the Moon they almost work too well for themselves, as I’m left wanting more. For a band that works in such a broad, cinematic way, you can’t help but wish they’d given themselves more time to ride. If this is the fastest way to get through town, it’s enough to make you believe that The Tooth of the Moon stay next time.
Recommended songs: MIRE, KE (and while you’re at it, TRUDGE and PUSH)
You may also like: Pryne, Lord of the Dying
Final verdict: 7/10
Related Links: Bandcamp | Facebook | Instagram
Label: Independent
The Tooth of the Moon is:
– John Carbone (vocals)
– Nick Lee (guitar, vocals)
– Ray Marte (drums, vocals)
– Vincent Romanelli (bass)
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