Album Review: Devils Teeth – La Leggenda Di Chong Li

The last time The Punk Site encountered Devils Teeth was back in 2018 when they released the impressive “Suki Yaki Hot” album, this time they have moseyed into town with the concept album “La Leggenda Di Chong Li” that is set to be released via Third Eye Industries on the 2nd April. The band’s latest full length is a spaghetti western garage rock operetta inspired by the character Chong Li, for the uninitiated Chong Li is a character played by the martial arts movie legend Bolo Yeung in the 1988 movie “Bloodsport“, no I haven’t seen it either and I have no idea why he’s worthy of his own spaghetti western themed concept album, I might check Netflix later to see if I can find out, but for now it remains a mystery and instead I’ll focus on the soundtrack.

“La Leggenda Di Chong Li” is broken down into seven acts, the first, ‘She Speaks To Coyotes‘, is almost lounge music, gentle reverb tones and an understated sax appeal, if this is ever used in a movie there will be two people running towards each other in slow motion on a beach, yeah it sounds like that. The subtle introduction proves to be misdirection as it gives way to what your head and heart was expecting, ‘Chong Li  – La Leggenda Di Chong Li Pt I‘ has huge reverb heavy riffs, surf drums and wailing sax, this is followed by ‘Ride Of The Devil’s Teeth‘ which is in the mould of classic Dick Dale riffs and would make a fine theme tune for any self respecting spaghetti western. What we get next is the cinematic climax of the album, the final three acts of “La Leggenda Di Chong Li”, a trilogy that tell a story, building from the moody and atmospheric ‘The Death Of Chong Li‘, this is an act that steadily builds until we get the rock ‘n roll of ‘The Death Of Chong Li‘ before ‘Shadows Of Chong Li‘ drops us back into the lounge.

What you essentially have on “La Leggenda Di Chong Li” is four acts with three intermissions, this comparison would work better if they were laid out like that, they aren’t, but I’m sticking with it, but that’s not to take anything away from Devils Teeth. The high points of this album are huge sounding surfy atmospheric garage punk, something that makes those sections of the album essential listening, but the whole package put together takes you on a cinematic journey. If you want a snapshot of what this sounds like, just imagine that “La Leggenda Di Chong Li” is the soundtrack to a move directed by Quentin Tarantino, the music is written by Ennio Morricone and Dick Dale, performed by the latter with The Del Tones and features guest vocals by The Damned‘s Dave Vanian.

“La Leggenda Di Chong Li” can be pre-ordered via Triple Eye Industries here