Well, well, well. I’ve always wondered whether that old saying needs punctuation or not. If in doubt chuck those Oxford commas. So this is the first review back following an extended period of what we’ll loosely describe as technical difficulties. On the plus side, it’s given me a bit of a break. Be reyt, mate.
Ultimate Worrier is the debut LP from Back Teeth, who are based out of Birmingham (UK, not Alabama, although it may have a similar percentage of people whose dad is also their uncle). Back Teeth describe themselves thusly on their bandcamp page: “A gruff punk org-core dad-rock band stitched together from festival friendships and late-night singalongs.” This LP follows up the self-titled 7in from the other year (also on Little Rocket Records).
Chances are that you may have already encountered Back Teeth live, as they’ve been out gigging a fair bit in the UK, including a recent run with Her Head’s On Fire, and have just been across the pond to play The Fest and doubtless a couple of other dates. Plus, you can’t really avoid mouthpiece Lewis Bloor, as he’s always somehow at everything.
The lads have clearly put in a lot of work on Ultimate Worrier, and it’s a definite gear shift from the 7in. We’ve got a crisper production, the band are even tighter, and the song writing quality has ramped up. Not that there was owt wrong with the 7in, of course. It’s quality. The songs are clearly personal (what’s the point otherwise, am I right?) and heartfelt as you’d expect for a band drawing influence from the wider orgcore genepool. Probably loads of people think the whole orgcore bubble burst years ago. Maybe it did. Who cares? Personally, I perceive something of a renaissance in the subgenre, and I’m here for it.
Right from the off, Back Teeth are swinging for the fences, and the momentum doesn’t let up throughout the 10 track duration. Do you like anthemic shout-alongs? Of course you do. And it’s here in spades. Think Dead Reckoning era Small Brown Bike meets No Idea Records labelmates Gunmoll. Then add in the hooks of Nothington circa Roads, Bridges and Ruins and you’re almost there. It would be remiss of me as something of an orgcore fanboy to point out that this work is full of nods to many bands of the genre from yesteryear (Witches With Dicks, Mall’d to Death, Mayflower, generalised output of Kiss Of Death Records anyone?).
I’ll probably get in trouble for saying it, but this is possibly my favourite LP of 2025 so far, and there’s been a great deal of stiff competion, in my opinion. I’ve been playing this to death. People have been buying this LP to the extent that at the time of writing, there are only 5 copies left at Little Rocket Records in the UK, and only about 10 in the US at A.D.D Records, who are distroing LRR releases. So if you want onboard the hype train, best be swift about it, innit. The band might have a couple left, so i they do pick one up at a gig. Probably ought to mention that the awesome artwork has been done by Jason Lubrano of Iron Chic!
Anyways, I certainly can’t quibble the quality of the output at all, and am happy to give this a well deserved Tony of Nurgle rating of 10/10. Long may it turn in 33.3rpm circles on my record player. Check it for yourself below:
Just to reinforce the matter, buy here before you can’t:
UK (LITTLE ROCKET RECORDS) – https://btlrr.bandcamp.com/album/ultimate-worrier
JP (WATERSLIDE RECORDS) – https://watersliderecords.bandcamp.com/
US (A.D.D. RECORDS) – https://addrecords.bandcamp.com/
EU (SOUNDS OF SUBTERRANIA) – https://shop.soundsofsubterrania.com/
