Baltimore band Turnstile has been revolutionizing hardcore the last decade, mastering the art of genre fusion and creating a sound entirely different from anything else in the scene. Their newest album Glow On has reached new levels of experimentation, groove and listenability, and is a completely refreshing album for anyone sick of the rigid walls genres and labels can create.
The album starts off with a celestial intro on the track “MYSTERY”, reminiscent of the space rock wave of the 1980s and 1990s from bands like Spacemen 3 and Hum, emphasizing the overarching cosmic theme of the album. Then the guitar enters the picture, followed by Brendan Yates’ echoey, roomy vocals, while sonic sounds fill the background. This track feels like dreaming of stars before being sucked up into the cosmos; such a strong start to the album.
The next track “BLACKOUT” shifts the sound to a pop-punk vibe in the beginning, with some wooden instruments introducing themselves towards the middle of the track; a super unexpected shift. The breakdown of this track is one of the best moments of the album — absolutely insane riff. This track on its own feels like 4 songs combined; it’s playful and upbeat, and feels like a genuine pop-punk throwback.
The following track “DON’T PLAY” has got the grooviest riffs of the entire album, with some electronic piano in the background along with clapping and roomy wooden percussion. I imagine sipping a strawberry daiquiri under the sun when I listen to this one.
Up next comes “UNDERWATER BOI”, which starts off with some heavily reverbed guitar and whistling, celestial noise humming in the background. The track starts to pick up, and carries out the upbeat feel-good theme from the last song, featuring some high-pitched vocals reminiscent of Frank Ocean.
“HOLIDAY”, one of the singles they released, pays homage to the classic Turnstile sound — it makes my heart fill with nostalgia reminiscing the roots of their music. Yates’ vocals have the Rage Against the Machine feel they do on their earlier albums, with lots of hip hop and 1990s New York hardcore influence blended in. This track reflects how far the band has come in cleaning up their recordings and putting modern spins on classic sounds.
“HUMANOID/SHAKE IT UP” got me excited right when I heard bassist Franz Lyon come in on vocals — the track is upbeat and fast, shifting into a heavier sound at the end. “ENDLESS: is one of the tracks that resonated with me the most, with Leeway-esque riffs and Yates’ feel-good vocals. The song is simple, using layered vocals and a fast pace to create dynamics.
“FLY AGAIN” is by far my favorite track on the album. The track begins with a whimsical, dreamlike piano sample and transitions into heavy riffs backed by some heavily reverbed, playful guitar. Lyrically, this song is powerful, talking about reaching your highest potential and feeling a lack of purpose after: “Do you really want to fly again?/ Will you ever get that high again?/ Didn’t I give a damn good try, oh, didn’t I?/ Didn’t I build a world with my design?” The song has been ringing in my head since I first heard it.
Needless to say, I had high expectations when I saw Blood Orange and Turnstile were collaborating, and I was thoroughly impressed. “ALIEN LOVE CALL” combines Dev Hynes’ soothing, dreamy voice with Yates’ pure and powerful tone, harmoniously blending in the roomy atmosphere of the song they created. The song is a smooth and easy listen to break up the upbeat, feel-good album. This song feels exactly as it’s titled — like I’m a celestial-being floating with the clouds, the idea of love flooding my head.
“WILD WRLD” begins with some more wooden sounds, reminiscent of latin music with Yates softly chanting some vocals in the background. The track continues with an upbeat guitar sound and some clapping, with some sonic boom-esque sounds trickling in the back. The song feels pretty fitting for how the state of the world is, and has been, and will continue to be; it’s such a wild world.
“DANCE-OFF” makes me want to groove. The song is dynamic, with Yates’ vocals chasing the guitar. Vocally, Brendan has room to shine in this song — he shows the potential of his voice to be melodic, playful, and intense. The song is carried by a heavy bassline and an experimental guitar solo.
“NEW HEART DESIGN” welcomes more of the highly reverbed guitar sound; a much airier sound contrasted by some grittier guitar. This song perfectly fuses the sweet sound of new indie and R&B with their hardcore roots.
“T.L.C. (TURNSTILE LOVE CONNECTION)” is a track that holds up the album. I think we all are getting our daily dose of T.L.C. listening to Glow On. The track is followed by “NO SURPRISE”, a short and sweet transitional song with an incredibly Beach House-y feel, Lyons taking over the vocals — such a special little track.
“LONELY DEZIRES”, the other Blood Orange collaboration, contrasts melancholy lyrics and a drone-like vocal tone with heavy, fast-paced guitars, embodying more of the Turnstile sound instrumentally than “ALIEN LOVE CALL”. This track is the perfect hybrid of the two artists’ sounds, ending with cosmic noise and drowned-out voices. It’s like the spaceship taking off in the first track has landed with ease; it’s the perfect finale to an incredible album.
Turnstile is the biggest thing in hardcore right now, bringing together people that appreciate a variety of sounds with their all-encompassing fusion of genres. The feedback I’ve seen in response to this album has been beautiful, and as a longtime Turnstile fan, I’m happy to be a part of it. The band is innovative and groovy while still paying homage to their hardcore roots throughout their discography, diversifying the sound new hardcore knows and landing on an entirely new wave.
