 | Pulling Teeth "Paranoid Delusions..." receiving great reviews!!! Decibel Magazine: "...8 out of 10" Punknews.org: "...4 out of 5 stars...Ultimately, this release is a total exploration of contradictions. From the title and dual covers (done as an awesome shifting hologram for the LP release) to the lyrics and music they are set to, the clash of conflicting images, literal and metaphorical, seems to echo the conflicts of reality: life and death; rich and poor; and security and adventurism. The whole works to complete a large and satisfying artistic statement..." Sputnikmusic.com: "..."Paranoid Delusions / Paradise Illusions" is a record that helps define Pulling Teeth as one of Deathwish’s more sophisticated bands and leaves them being viewed in the same mindset as label heavyweights like Converge, Cursed, and Integrity. The sophistication in the textural aspects on this record with the incorporation of guitar, bass and synthesizers, is both heavy and melodic as can be seen by the variety of sounds achieved on "Paradise Illusions," from its field recording introduction to its final explosion. As of now Pulling Teeth seemingly has released the best heavy record of 2009..." Themusicalfinger: "...Paranoid Delusions/Paradise Illusions is an album that shows a hardcore band that can do much more than play four chords and say "fuck you" a lot. Pulling Teeth is responsible for an early contender for year-end AOTY honours. A must hear..." Hardtimes.ca: Talk about digging deep. Is there any style these guys can’t pull off with flair? Baltimore nonconformists Pulling Teeth are going to surprise many with the direction taken on their sophomore Deathwish Inc. release, "Paradise Illusions, Paranoid Delusions," not only with the band’s clear desire to allow a wider variety of influences bleed into their trusted Discharge-meets-Slayer-meets-Motorhead form, but also with the length and overall content contained within this at times overpowering EP..."Paradise Illusions, Paranoid Delusions" is not exactly a distancing from the 'core, but it certainly is the most branching out the band has done since launching a few years ago. This is not some confused experimentalism; it's Pulling Teeth growing darker and more challenging, both lyrically and musically, than ever before. If punk and hardcore are indeed meant to shake things up within the scene, both for the sake of progression and stimulating the same in fellow artists, then Pulling Teeth are on the verge of achieving exactly that end with "Paradise Illusions, Paranoid Delusions." Artists Jeff Beckman and Jake Bannon, who respectively created and designed the packaging for this release, deserve a hand for a concept so vividly realized that it almost sells the release itself. While Romeo's far-reaching ability and creativity on guitar cannot be understated, "Paradise Illusions, Paranoid Delusions" marks the first time the Canadian-born veteran brings out doom rock and ambient textures from his bag of riffs. We must not forget that it was Romeo who literally invented Canadian deathcore with his first band, Ontario’s notorious Day Of Mourning, nearly a decade before bands like Despised Icon and Beneath The Massacre seemingly discovered the beauty of fusing hardcore and brutal death metal, and also performed live with Ringworm after the Cleveland pioneers lost Frank 3 Gun to Terror. Those expecting another “Martyr Immortal” will be forced to replay “Paradise Illusions, Paranoid Delusions” enough times to realize that their favorite band has, whether deliberately or not, inched their trade closer to a true sound of despair and emotional despondency, all the while compromising none of their integrity or appeal. Frontman and agent provocateur Mike Riley adapts impressively to Pulling Teeth’s first real foray into experimentalism, employing not only his vicious snarl but also whispers and spoken-word when called for, notably on the EP’s closer. If the music itself doesn’t lead to jaws touching the ground, the lyrics sure will. On "Unsatisfied" and "Bloodwolves," Riley is activist-minded and so determined and unfazed that it’s frightening..." Noisecreep.com: "...Baltimore, Maryland's Pulling Teeth is certainly pulling all the stops with their third full-length release. Collaborating key elements in hardcore, metal, and even a dash of punk this album is sure to please fans of the loud, hard, and fast..." Lambgoat.com: "...Pulling Teeth make yet another argument for their place in the upper echelon of modern hardcore..." Pulling Teeth "Paranoid Delusions Paradise Illusions" Audio Player Pulling Teeth Releases & Apparel in the DW Estore Pulling Teeth Myspace 
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