When your band features members of Whispers, I pay attention. That's the case for Grimtooth, a hardcore outfit from Bangkok, Thailand. Formed in 2013, the group has released two demos, but other commitments has kept them rather quiet till this month with the release of their debut EP, The Mentality. If you're into no-nonsense, combat boot-ready hardcore, look no further.
Grimtooth vocalist Khing gave me some of the background on the band and the reason for the long wait for the EP. "Two of our members, Neung (guitar) and Es (drums), are also part of Whispers. Neung is also in the one and only straight edge hardcore band in Thailand called Monument X,
which started around 2014.
"The sound of Whispers is quite different from Grimtooth, and they’ve been very busy in recent years after signing with Flatspot Records, which led to touring in many parts of the world. But since Whispers recently wrapped up an EP with Flatspot, we had a window of time to finally record The Mentality."
Khing described Grimtooth's style perfectly: "Our sound is hardcore punk—raw, aggressive, and gritty. We’re heavily influenced by Boston hardcore bands and those with a similar vibe, such as SS Decontrol, The Rival Mob, The Boston Strangler, Waste Management, Free Spirit, No Tolerance, and Stop and Think."
The Mentality was released by Holding On Records, a Thai label also behind records by Fordecision, Chainfight, and the aforementioned Monument X. As for the songwriting on the new EP, Khing offered some insight into his inspiration:
"The lyrics on 'The Mentality' explore themes like fighting injustice, enduring oppression, and holding out for a day when we overcome those struggles. They also touch on unity, inner strength, and the pain we all go through in life as a way to grow and understand it better."
The new EP also includes Grimtooth's take on the title track to Boston Strangler Primitive LP from 2012. "Neung, our guitarist, suggested it since we’re all fans of the band. That track, in particular, has intense energy and emotion, both musically and lyrically. It’s also not widely known in Thailand, so we thought it’d be a great way to introduce that sound to more people in our own style."
In the last decade of running No Echo, I've seen how much hardcore has grown in popularity in Grimtooth's part of the world with so many bands coming out of there. I asked Khing if that growth has opened up the scene to any issues, or is everything running smoothly within Thailand and the nearby hardcore communities. Honestly, there haven’t been any major issues. Things have been going really well. The Southeast Asian scene has grown so much, with more bands forming and touring around the region.
"There’s a strong sense of community in the Southeast Asian hardcore scene—everyone supports each other like friends. We’re also seeing more international bands coming to play here almost every month, and at the same time, Thai and SEA bands are getting more chances to tour abroad. It’s really great to see this level of growth."
Khing is clearly psyched and appreciative of the support his scene and Grimtooth have been getting from the global hardcore community. "I just want to say to all hardcore fans around the world—please give bands from Thailand and Southeast Asia a chance. We put a lot of heart into what we do, and the scene here has been growing fast.
"If you’re in a band and thinking of touring Thailand, you’re more than welcome. It’s always a good time. Just hit up Gap at Holding On Records —we’ll take care of you!"
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The Mentality is available now via Holding On Records.
Grimtooth on social media: Instagram
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