Turnstile Shreds Punk/Hardcore Notions On Reckless & Glorious ‘Glow On’ (ALBUM REVIEW)

More than anything, Turnstile has always been a band that gets people moving. Granted, “moving” is a relative term, and probably a bit of an understatement when it comes to Turnstile. Take their live shows for instance, which are typically exercised in unbridled moshing and enough rampant, acrobatic stage-diving to make an Olympic gymnast blush. 

Safe to say Turnstile has garnered a reputation over the years as a band that most definitely slaps. Their downright danceable variety of groovy, rhythm-heavy hardcore appeals directly to the primordial section of the human brain that apparently triggers one to completely lose their shit and slam dance with reckless abandon. It’s a beautiful thing really, and while plenty of other bands in the scene can stir up a nasty pit, what has separated Turnstile from most of their contemporaries recently has been their willingness to experiment and incorporate more alternative flavors into their patented groove-heavy attack. 

They took their first steps in that direction with 2015’s outstanding Nonstop Feeling, an album that not only solidified their reputation as the most danceable hardcore band in the land, with epic breakdowns/riffs galore, but also showcased their potential crossover appeal by injecting a healthy undercurrent of melody and subtle alternative dynamics into the mix.  It was a nifty balancing act that sounded remarkably smooth for such a heavy album, and although it no doubt alienated some of the more traditionalist-sect of their fanbase, the raw power and freshness that encapsulated Nonstop Feeling was truly undeniable. 

Their desire to further expand beyond the confines of traditional hardcore became more evident on 2018’s Time and Space, a record that saw them lean more into their 90s-alternative tendencies, whilst still keeping one foot firmly planted in their hardcore roots. This resulted in a somewhat uneven album, as it felt like Turnstile wanted to evolve their sound but were still trying to figure out which direction they wanted to go, and how to best channel their collective creative energy into something truly unique and groundbreaking.

Now, with the arrival of their new album Glow On, it feels like that aforementioned idea has been fully realized in a resounding fashion. While essentially the music found on Glow On is unmistakably Turnstile, the band really expands their sound into exciting new territory here without sacrificing any of the energy, spirit, or aggressiveness that has come to define them over the years. 

Although the huge muscular riffs that characterized their old moshpit anthems are mostly gone here, their method of attack is no less energetic and fun, as the band sounds generally quicker and leaner, with a punkier, more refined delivery on most of their songs. They still pack a punch (see the celebratory “HOLIDAY”, the hard-hitting “WILD WRLD”, and the anthemic/cathartic “BLACKOUT” for example), but they’re lighter on their feet and more dynamic in nature. Whether it’s the subtle electronic flourishes scattered throughout the album (i.e. the intro to “MYSTERY” or the trippy interlude “NO SURPRISE”), the percussive Latin-rhythms of “DON’T PLAY”, the dreary collaboration with Blood Orange “ALIEN LOVE CALL”, the piano intro to “FLY AGAIN”, or the more traditionally punky/catchy AF “LONELY DEZIRES” and “ENDLESS”, Turnstile clearly have no issues taking some chances on Glow On, and the results are consistently stellar throughout.

Case in point are perhaps the two most dynamic/experimental/melodic songs on the album “UNDERWATER BOI” and “NEW HEART DESIGN”, the latter of which is barely recognizable as a Turnstile song with its vaguely late-80s/lush/new-wavey textures. It’s not only one of the best songs on the album, but also probably the best example of a compelling evolution in the band’s sound. And the aforementioned “UNDERWATER BOI” might be the coolest song on the entire album, with its combo of shimmery guitars, head-bobbing chug, and subtly dark/seductive atmosphere, it’s yet another example of Turnstile expanding their sound into exciting new territory. And at the end of the day, that’s part of what makes Glow On such a great record. It’s the sound of a band growing beyond the confines of their genre and having a hell of a lot of fun doing it in the process. It all sounds distinctly fresh and often exhilarating to listen to, and it’s truly exciting to think about what the future holds for Turnstile on subsequent releases. For now, though, we should simply enjoy Glow On, which has all the hallmarks of an instant classic, and is no doubt an early candidate for album of the year.

Related Content

One Response

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recent Posts

New to Glide

Keep up-to-date with Glide

Twitter