It’s the old journalistic cliche to say a band have ‘matured’ and ‘grown’ in between releases. Sometimes I’m even guilty of lobbing it in a review in a bid to try and justify a band sounding that wee bit better from one album to the next. I was hesitant to start off the band’s debut full-lengther with either of those two words, but it’s too difficult not to mention. The EP sounded a bit rough and tinny. It did its job (and in some style too, it’s been sold out for yonks), but I’m sure the band would readily admit it didn’t exactly sound like a fair representation of where they are at in 2010. The detractors have chucked the ‘Alexisonfire rip off’ and ‘dial-a-support’ insults at WATO for a long time, but ‘Cutting Our Teeth’ will help shake those tags off. It sounds much bigger and fuller, meaning the band sound far more confident in delivery. And whether you like the genre of music or not, if you’ve heard the EP you cannot fail to admit this is much, much better.
I’m sure most of that growth is down to just how hard this band have toured in the last two or three years. They’ve been everywhere and younger bands could do worse than to take a leaf out of their book. Anyway, on ‘Cutting Our Teeth’ WATO mix the pace up brilliantly. While some of the songs, rightly, rip your head off your shoulders and puke down your neck, they’re probably at their best when they take their foot off the gas. ‘Neck of the Woods’ is brilliant and a song I’ve gone back to a lot. Sure, it has heavier moments, but the strained vocals scream and shout without ever sounding ripped off from another band. There’s a hint of originality here you wouldn’t have expected from the band previously. ‘All Of This Has To End’ is another song that mixes things up, showcasing a really impressive melodic vocal. Ditto ‘I Used To Be So Much More’. Of course the likes of ‘Our Days Are Numbered’ are crackers too and what fans have come to expect. It’s melodic, energetic and pretty special.
WATO don’t exactly let themselves down in any way, although I’m the first to moan about this style of music being a little predictable and this doesn’t deviate from the rulebook too much. The majority of the songs are heavy, quick with sing/scream vocals. And they do work and work well. I think I just prefer the tracks that offer something a little different. Still, look past the inevitable moans and groans you’ve read from me many times before and you’ll appreciate an album that is passionate and angry and well crafted. WATO claim to be ‘cutting their teeth’ on this release. Some may argue their molars are sharp enough already.