Every now and then an album comes along that you really want to love. One that swings for the fences and includes elements of things you adore. In the case of Toothgrinder’s debut album Nocturnal Masquerade that is the staccato riffing, harsh vocals and big choruses that make you want to kick down walls. It may all feel a bit Killswitch Engage light, but it is done well enough that that doesn’t prevent it being an exciting listen. However, alongside all that greatness there are issues that begin to wield their ugly heads. Issues that turn what could have been a fantastic debut album, into just an exciting one. It’s a small distinction, but one that makes all the difference when you are trying to lay hands on your next favourite band.
And it all starts so well too. The jabbing riffs of ‘The House (That Fear Build)’ contrast nicely with the slower moments and their whispered vocals. It feels like it is liable to explode at the drop of a hat. There is a tension, and you are waiting for it to burst on both this and ‘Lack & Anchor’. ‘Coeur d’Alene’ continues the solid start, its fuzzy production giving the whole thing a punk rock feel.
It’s on ‘I Lie to Rain’ that Toothgrinder’s weaknesses begin to show. A simple radio friendly near-ballad, the whole thing is just a bit dull and kicks off a section of the album where Toothgrinder veer from great to just a bit too much. Those big melodic choruses suddenly become the focus and while on tracks like ‘Blue’ and ‘Schizophrenic Jubilee’ they hit the mark, they end up dominating things on ‘Diamonds For Gold’ and ‘Dance of Damsels’. It feels like a band trying to take their music to the mainstream rather than waiting for it to come to them. It’s all just a bit too polished.
Not that this means you should dismiss Toothgrinder. There is more than enough here to get excited about and at the very least you have to respect a band willing to try and create those huge moments. Cut two or three of the baggier songs from this album and you have a nine or ten track release of brilliant hardcore inspired metal. If they can nail that, then Toothgrinder might just end up becoming one of your favourite bands.
