Growing Pains, Sonic Gains: Puppy Teeth Bite Back on Brilliant Debut EP 'Teething'

There is an underlying anxiety to youth that most guitar bands try to iron out with over-production. They trade the jagged edges of real emotion for slick, radio-ready hooks. Edinburgh five-piece Puppy Teeth refuse to make that trade. On their highly anticipated debut EP, Teething, released via Violet Nights Recordings, the quintet delivers a brief, four-track masterclass in what they appropriately dub "bubble grunge". It is a sound that walks a fine line between the claustrophobic intimacy of bedroom pop and the explosive, feedback-laden catharsis of 90s shoegaze.

The EP opens with "Melatonin", a track that has practically lived on repeat for anyone following the Scottish indie scene this year. It begins with a harsh, alarm-like guitar riff that jars you awake before settling into a pensive, late-night groove. Lead singer Anna’s vocals hover somewhere between a hushed, through-the-wall whisper and a desperate plea. When the track shifts at the two-minute mark, spiralling into a repetitive, looping breakdown of "I just wanna sleep", it perfectly captures the agonizing stasis of insomnia. It feels raw, unrehearsed, and intensely human.

Musically, the band operates like a single, breathing organism that isn't afraid to get weird. "Paranoid" pushes the rhythm section forward, building from a reserved, pensive verse into a massive wall of head-bangable rock layered with wordless, soaring vocals. Meanwhile, "Ghost" plays brilliantly with texture. The guitars weave beds of gentle feedback underneath an infectious, spiteful chorus: "Life isn't all about you". It is arguably the most memorable hook on the record, proving that the band can write an indie-disco anthem whenever they want—they just prefer to keep things beautifully esoteric.

Closing track "That Time" brings the EP to a spectacular crescendo. Starting with delicate guitar work and quiet vocals, the song gradually folds in on itself before detonating into a cacophony of inventive rock blasts. It is a firework finish to a record that explores the friction between fragility and strength.

Teething is a stellar introduction to a band that fully understands their identity. Puppy Teeth have crafted a record that feels like a summer afternoon with a harsh, wintry edge. It’s moody, witchy, and absolutely essential listening.