Genre: Hardcore Punk
For Fans Of: Trapped Under Ice, Cro-Mags, Rage Against the Machine, Leeway, Madball
Favorite Songs: Gravity, Drop, Fazed Out, Bad Wave, Stress
Baltimore based hardcore band, Turnstile, return with their debut LP, “Nonstop Feeling,” released via Reaper Records on Jan. 13, 2015. For those of you involved in hardcore, and are not sleeping under a rock, this is a record on everyone’s radar. Turnstile has been a band since 2010, releasing a slew of demos and EPs, and caught the attention of everyone in the hardcore community with their uniquely groovy style and an interesting vocal delivery. Bottom line, this band is all about the groove with their riffs and sound; these guys will make you move. And with this new record, they released one of the most danceable and fun hardcore records in a while.
“Nonstop Feeling” continues exactly where their last EP ‘Step 2 Rhythm’ leaves off. You have the groovy riffs, the two-step parts, the mosh parts, the breakdowns; this band knows exactly how to pump people up and get them to move in any way they want. The riffs on this album are tighter than ever. Every instrument just locks in and lays down every groove perfectly. Like in the opener “Gravity,” the riffs in “Bad Wave,” or the intro to “Stress,” the band pinpoints their grooves to the smallest level and locks in perfectly. This is the tightest the band has ever sounded and some of the tightest riffs they have written.
Vocalist Brendan Yates sounds like a mix of Zach de la Rocha of Rage Against the Machine and old school Anthony Kiedis of Red Hot Chili Peppers and even changes things up and has some vocal melodies and harmonies on “Gravity” and “Can’t Deny It.” The combination of all of this show that besides being masters of the riff and groove, they are also top notch songwriters, and write some of the catchiest songs in hardcore.
This is a band who is not afraid to experiment with different styles and influences. While the band does stick to their main sound throughout the album, their outside influences show a lot more than they did on their previous releases. Between the pop influenced choruses of “Gravity” and “Can’t Deny It,” the Rage Against the Machine worship in “Out of Rage,” to the song “Blue By You” which sounds like Turnstile has been listening to early Title Fight. While the rage-influenced songs are a great fit to their sound, some songs like “Blue by You” or the filler track “Love Lasso” just seem odd and can throw the listener off. Those two tracks sound like nothing else on the album, and that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It keeps the listener on their feet and can also be a nice break from the pounding groove of the other songs. Overall, Turnstile stick to what they do best on this record and wear their influences on their sleeve while doing it.
While it’s not like Turnstile made a game changing album here, they definitely come out with a strong first impression on their debut. The band knows where their strengths are and aren’t afraid to venture off into uncharted territories with the music they play. Even if you aren’t a fan of hardcore as a genre this is an album anyone should check out and anyone can appreciate it, you’ll find something you like. Turnstile will also be playing Miami on February 15 at Churchill’s Pub courtesy of Breakeven Booking, I highly recommend seeing these guys live if you do, this is music that is best expressed in the live setting, and Turnstile put on one of the best shows in hardcore.
words_mike gardell. photo_massappeal.com.