Review TURNSTILE ‘Glow On’

Looking at the recent losing streak of the Baltimore Orioles, at least baseball fans don’t have much to enjoy these days. A different perspective and a more positive experience is offered by one of Baltimore’s musical icons, Turnstile.

The quintet started in 2010 as part of Baltimore’s growing hardcore/punk scene. It took a while before the band released with ‘Nonstop Feeling’ a full-length debut that followed two EPs. With ‘Move Through Me’, Turnstile had a first chart entry which brought the band to the attention of Roadrunner Records, the start of a cooperation that is still ongoing. Also, the new longplayer ‘Grow On’ comes via the iconic label.

The new album features fifteen songs that represent the band’s musical history and at the same time is wider and with an extra layer of variation. Songs like ‘Holiday’ and ‘Wild Wrld’ are well-crafted songs that include the energy of punk and the heart rock’n’roll. ‘Blackout’ is another song that bursts with explosive riffs and a very solid groove. Next to these straight-forward smashers there are songs with little twists here and there. There are electro-elements being weaved into the opener ‘Mystery’ and there are calmer moments too on the album. ‘Underwater Boi’ has the heavier riffs but it’s the relaxed sounding moments in the verse that make the difference. The same goes for ‘Alien Love Call’ (feat. Blood Orange), an atmospheric song that adds something extra to the flow of the album. The funky guitars on ‘New Heart Design’ are another tool to create excitement amongst listeners.

A song also to mention is the furious ‘T.L.C. (Turnstile Love Connection’. It’s not only one of the hardest tunes on the album with a clear reference to the hardcore days. The song is taken from the earlier release EP. It’s the title track of a release that was accompanied by a short movie.

‘Grow On’ is a more mature album and although the roots of Turnstile are in hardcore and punk, there are many more influences and little twists that try to gain some momentum in their sound. Turnstile broadens their musical approach and it will be interesting to see where all this will lead to.