Nick Pipitone

Devils Teeth

Milwaukee, WI

RIYL: Man Or Astroman?, The Sonics, Dick Dale, Link Wray, Rocket From The Crypt, The Mummies, The Dirtbombs Thee Oh Sees & Disappears

In a dusty desert, crickets chirp as tumbleweeds blow past in the moonlit night. The faint howl of a coyote can be heard in the distance as a chill cuts to the bone. Is this Earth’s new reality, the hellscape that is 2021? Or is it a distant land and a distant time? It’s not quite clear, but not much is anymore. The purple-hued sky is scanned for signs of reassurance, but none can be found. Just then, a distorted guitar chord breaks through. Other vibrations gather with it, overtaking the expanse of the desert. The unfamiliar sound beckons. Saddle back up. There is no more time to rest—it’s time to ride.

La leggenda di Chong Li (out digitally + physically on April 2 via Triple Eye Industries), the new offering from Devils Teeth, is a spaghetti western garage rock operetta inspired by the character Chong Li from the martial arts film Bloodsport. Self-recorded, largely in a barn-turned-art space next to an insect-infested forest on the outskirts of Milwaukee, La leggenda di Chong Li sprung from the cinematic mind of guitarist/vocalist Jonny Glissando, was produced under the keen direction of bassist/vocalist Erico Bello, is driven by the unparalleled rhythmic prowess of percussionist/drummer Chazz Bolognese, and is augmented with the melodic saxophone contortions of il Snaggletoots.

La leggenda di Chong Li follows up the band’s 2018 debut Suki Yaki Hot!, reaching far beyond that album’s garage-punk-surf mold. Following a sonic and narrative arc, La leggenda di Chong Li builds on the old sound with elements of exotica and spaghetti western, and with production qualities reminiscent of a rich Orbison record, to create its own Wall of Sound coupled with an other-worldly cinematic experience. Scan the horizon for more information from Devils Teeth about La leggenda di Chong Li, as we await its arrival on April 2, 2021.

Artist Video Gallery

Release Reviews

TEI-064: La leggenda di Chong Li

La leggenda di Chong Li is a Spaghetti Western Garage Rock operetta inspired by the character Chong Li from the martial arts film Bloodsport. The album was self-recorded, largely in a barn-turned-art space next to an insect-infested forest on the outskirts of Milwaukee and is the follow up to the band’s 2018 debut Suki Yaki Hot!

Kendra Sheetz

Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures. For Milwaukee garage-surf outfit Devils Teeth, our current extraordinary times have called for—what else?—releasing a self-recorded “spaghetti western garage rock operetta inspired by the character Chong Li from the martial arts film Bloodsport.” You know. The one with Jean-Claude Van Damme.

Matt Wild

Milwaukee Record’s favorite Milwaukee music of 2021.
Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures. For Milwaukee garage-surf outfit Devils Teeth, the current pandemic times called for releasing a self-recorded “spaghetti western garage rock operetta inspired by the character Chong Li from the martial arts film Bloodsport.” (You know. The one with Jean-Claude Van Damme.) Opening with the exotica-tinged scene-setter “She Speaks To Coyotes,” barreling into the over-the-top “Chong Li” and “Ride Of The Devils Teeth,” and culminating in the cliffhanging “Shadows Of Chong Li,” La Leggenda Di Chong Li plays like a fever-dream version of the Pulp Fiction soundtrack crossed with Ennio Morricone. Even better: witnessing Devils Teeth playing much of the album live, while cruising down the Milwaukee River aboard the Vista King, during a wicked thunderstorm this past August.

Matt Wild

TEI-036: Suki Yaki Hot!

Bad ass rip roaring garage with heavy surf and spy movie elements. Think JFA, Henry Mancini, Ennio Morricone spaghetti western. From Milwaukee, standard set up guitar bass drums vocals, but a subtle sax creeps in now and then. Great stuff, play with all the excellent garage from Slovenly, Dirty Water, weve acquired of late.

Your Imaginary Friend, KZSU 90.1FM Stanford University

This Milwaukee band started in 2016 because a bunch of bored friends wanted something fun to do. By mixing up some punk, post-punk, surf and the theatrics of Spaghetti Western soundtracks, they came up with their sound. Their debut album shows off the quirky, talented group’s efforts in a tight package.

With some reverb-soaked vocals, a touch of insanity and powerful playing, this is a wonder to hear. The mix of styles all work together to create a cacophony that sounds like chaos to some, but like sweet honey poured into your earholes, it’s both comforting and strange. Strange to some, but I’ll take the comforting part, without the honey that is…. lol. The songs are fast, a bit sloppy and just this side of losing control, but crikey, what fun! “Party Shark Shake” is a fun song that will get you singing along, jumping up and down and generally acting a fool, but what a way to be.

The band sounds like they’re having the time of their lives and they bring the listener to the party and get you excited to hear more from them. This is the kind of stuff that makes me glad to review albums, a band with talent, humour and just a great listen.

4/5

Rick Ecker, TheIndependentVoice.org

Quite clearly you could play spot the influence ad nauseam whilst listening to Suki Yaki Hot!, and whilst it’s true that the album draws heavily on a plethora of well-worn musical tropes it would be a disservice to Devils Teeth to write them off as mere retro copyists. There’s a fresh edge to everything the band does, and you’ll be hard pressed to find a more enjoyable listen anytime soon, so get involved!

Michael Stronge, sentineldaily.com.au

Suki Yaki Hot! is the perfect blend of the dark and dirty side of rock ‘n roll that manages to simultaneously have one foot in the past and present, the surf rhythms are blended with the sense of menace and arrogance that was the hallmark of the best bands that took rock ‘n roll into the garage in the early sixties, and later emerged with something that was a very different beast. Suki Yaki Hot! is an album I’d recommend to anyone who has a love for bands ranging from Link Wray and The Cramps to The 99 Degree and The Meteors. Devil’s Teeth have produced an album that is the prefect soundtrack for those that lurk in dive bars who appear to be looking for trouble, but in reality just want another beer and an album like this on the jukebox.

AJ Phink, thepunksite.com

Screaming in from Milwaukee, which is Algonquin for “The Good Land”, comes Suki Yaki Hot!, the newest album of absolute perfect surf punk from three piece, sometimes four piece, Devil’s Teeth. In a show of absolute rock competency, Capt. Jon Canine wrings, no oozes and drips reverb out of every molecule that makes up what looks to be a vintage Mosrite guitar. These guys do the vibe and sound right, and for you youngsters “right” is with a real spring box reverb setup. The Capt. uses it with mastery, and also recognizes just how musical the mechanics of it can be. On many tracks the listener hears the distorted, warbly chaos as they hit and rock the box, making the springs inside explode and decay. Add in an incredible rhythm section with Eric Incisor on bass and Chuck Molar on drums and you get vintage, nostalgia loaded perfection as they bring out the best in what surf punk once was. - 4/5

Mannerheim, moshpitnation.com

Bits of trebly, reverb-laden garage rock mixed in with bits of surf and noise rock make for a scintillating soufflé of rattling raucousness. The tunes often have an epic quality about them, and the players deftly dance the fine line between being noisy and being noise.

Jimmy Alvarado, Razorcake
Date City Venue Country
04/30/22 Milwaukee, WI Kochanski’s Concertina Beer Hall United States
Venue: Kochanski’s Concertina Beer Hall. Time: 8:00pm. Admission: ?. Age restrictions: No Minors. Address: 1920 S 37th St.. Venue phone: 414- 837-6552. w/ The Dick Satan Trio, 13 Tikis More information
04/14/22 Milwaukee, WI Company Brewing United States
Venue: Company Brewing. Time: 8:00pm. Admission: $10. Age restrictions: No Minors. Address: 735 E Center St. Venue phone: (414) 930-0909. 4/14 Milwaukee Day Showcase: Fox Face, Shle Berry, Devils Teeth More information
03/07/19 Milwaukee, WI Tonic Tavern United States
Venue: Tonic Tavern. Time: 8:00pm. Admission: $5. Age restrictions: No Minors. Address: 2335 S Kinnickinnic Ave. An Evening With Avenues and Devils Teeth presented by Breaking & Entering More information
11/23/18 Milwaukee, WI Cactus Club United States
Venue: Cactus Club. Time: 9:00pm. Admission: $10. Age restrictions: No Minors. Address: 2496 S. Wentworth Avenue. Venue phone: 414.897.0663. Thunderbird Wine Presents: Guerrilla Ghost (Record Release) • Devils Teeth • Taiyamo Denku • Taj Raiden • Nicholas Elert • Dope Folks’ DJs More information
09/14/18 Milwaukee, WI The Cooperage United States
Venue: The Cooperage. Time: 9:00pm. Admission: $10. Age restrictions: No Minors. Address: 822 S Water St. Venue phone: (414) 312-7344. w/ The YawpersTigernite / Wood Chickens More information
08/09/18 Milwaukee, WI Shank Hall United States
Venue: Shank Hall. Time: 8:00pm. Admission: $35. Age restrictions: No Minors. Address: 1434 N Farwell Avenue. w/ Dick Dale. More information
07/13/18 Milwaukee, WI Nomad Nacional United States
Venue: Nomad Nacional. Time: 6:00pm. Age restrictions: No Minors. Address: 625 S 5th St. Venue phone: (414) 800-4529. MONDO LUCHA! feat Devils Teeth and Rio Turbo More information
05/05/18 Oshkosh, WI The Reptile Palace United States
Venue: The Reptile Palace. Time: 9:00pm. Age restrictions: No Minors. Address: 141 High Ave. Venue phone: (920) 231-1296. w/ Rev. Norb & the Onions and The Lemurs More information
04/12/18 Milwaukee, WI Linneman’s Riverwest Inn United States
Venue: Linneman’s Riverwest Inn. Time: 8:00pm. Age restrictions: No Minors. Address: 1001 E Locust St. w/Mouse Corn (release show), Action Jelly, Dogs at Large More information

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