When I get to heaven, will I know?
There are few bands in the world as exciting as Turnstile. From their early releases that were packed to the brim with a mix of NYHC riffing and danceable rhythms, we’ve slowly seen the Baltimore five-piece become more and more genre-fluid with 2016’s Time and Space, but this all comes to a head in their magnificent new LP, GLOW ON.
The band retains many of their uppity and angular guitar riffs, but also blend in much more melodic chord progressions, world-inspired drumming, lush synths, and even more of a tendency for airy, reverb soaked, sung vocals rather than vocalist Brendan Yates’ usual shouting. All of this is apparent on the albums opening track, “MYSTERY“.
The twinkling, cascading synths that open the track are an immediate disclaimer that this is an evolved Turnstile, before we’re thrown into a sweet and sour guitar riffs and Yates’ chanty, melodic vocals. The highlight of the song is without a doubt the guitar solo courtesy of lead guitarist Brady Ebert. It’s a triumphant moment early in the LP, heightened by a watery Small Clone chorus and excessive dive bombing. We’re then sent straight back through the dreamlike synths and into the next track and single, “BLACKOUT“. The breakneck drumming in this track really elevates the groovy guitar riff that sounds like signature Turnstile, and also helps the chorus of this song absolutely soar. The auxiliary percussion also helps adds a new layer to this track, whether it’s some retro-futuristic drum machine sounds, the pitchy cowbells or even the tribal sounding toms that close off the track right after an effective mosh section.
“DON’T PLAY” shows off the some of the more interesting alt-rock influences on this album, with a chorus that sounds like it’s straight from deserty-sounding wasteland of Songs for the Dead, as well as the later cut, “WILD WRLD“, which could nearly be mistaken for an early song from The Offspring. “UNDERWATER BOI“, however, is an absolute highlight. This is the first time the album dives into the more indie influences the band have adopted since Time and Space and it’s pulled off brilliantly. The track ebbs and flows from luscious, reverberated chords to chunky palm muted riffs, the only consistent element being Yates’ pleasant and airy singing. It’s a risk that could have fell flat on its face, but it somehow seems like a type of sound the band have been projected towards for years, it’s that natural.
“HOLIDAY” is another highlight while remaining as one of the most straight forward hardcore songs on the whole project. The start-and-stop riff is an absolute earworm that got stuck in my head for days, and the lyrics are especially notable as some overtly positive hardcore energy.
“Too bright to live, too bright to die
I wanna celebrate
Beauty is built not from outside
And I imagine it”
It’s one of the best and most straightforward songs Turnstile have ever conceived, and an absolutely amazing choice for one of the first singles.
Other songs off this LP such as “HUMANOID/SHAKE IT UP” and “T.L.C (TURNSTILE LOVE CONNECTION)” are also brief and blistering examples that Turnstile can still write some of the most exhilarating hardcore that the world is hearing right now.
They’re also able to prove the exact opposite with “ALIEN LOVE CALL“. This track was absolute whiplash when it was first released. A slow, chorusy, reverb-drenched ballad, with Yates crooning at the top of his lungs throughout, all topped off with a smooth feature from R&B artist Blood Orange. It’s a massive statement for a band known for pummelling riffs and chaotic live shows to drop a song like this, but it worked out for the absolute best. The same can be said for the later track, “NEW HEART DESIGN“, which generously (and gloriously) dips its toes into some two-step induced 80s camp. Another slightly odd highlight is the track “DANCE-OFF“, which lives up to its name in solely existing to show off some of the bands more obtuse riffs and guitar work.
Some of the songs here do start to sound a bit samey at points though, such as “FLY AGAIN” and “ENDLESS“. They’re definitely not bad as they’re very solid punk romps but compared to more of the absolutely wild sounds on this LP, they start to pale in comparison. Thankfully this LP has a banger to end it all off. We’re taken from the indie pop interlude “NO SURPRISE“, which is fronted by bassist and general mad cunt Freaky Franz, straight into “LONELY DEZIRES“. This song gives me flashbacks to Nonstop Feeling’s magical but way-too-brief “Blue by You”. The whole track sounds sweetly nostalgic with the homey yet punky chord progression as well as this LP’s usual use of distant and echoed vocals, which eventually fade in to a synthy nothingness.
Turnstile are not only one of the most creative bands in hardcore right now, but in the rock genre period. GLOW ON is absolutely dripping with ambition and aesthetics that the band achieve flawlessly and with a fuck ton of confidence. There are countless ideas on this LP that would have panned out to be horrific in the hands of less competent bands, but every member of this band clearly knows how to push their creativity to the absolute limit, and the result as an LP with an overwhelming amount of replay value. GLOW ON is available now via Roadrunner Records, and you can purchase or stream the album here.
9/10