In 1997, Philippines rock band
Teeth released
Bum Squad, an extended play (EP) consisting of four songs.
Bum Squad was released approximately two years after the band's first album, and is a taste of the next
Teeth album to come. Two songs here, "Bum Squad" and "Luha" (trans: Tears), subsequently appeared on the second album, 1997's
Time Machine. "Luha," however, appeared on
Time Machine in a much longer version than heard on
Bum Squad. The shorter length on
Bum Squad makes for better music, as the longer version becomes tedious and even boring. "Superhuman" is built on a
Soundgarden or Nirvana-sounding riff and contains passionate vocals; "Epekto" (trans: Effect) is also built upon a catchy and searing riff, the instrumentation woven imaginatively around half-sung/half-spoken vocals. Both "Superhuman" and "Epekto" probably should have been issued on
Time Machine, as the songs are better than much of that album's material. ~ David Gonzales