Canadians are going to completely encapsulate rock before long. I don’t say this sarcastically (God forbid derogatorily) but instead with respect and admiration of the incredible talent I’ve witnessed coming from the Vancouver area. No matter where you look nowadays, you’ll find that most of the great hard rock is coming straight out of Canada and there’s not a lot anyone can (or would want to do) to change that.

“The Turn” is yet another superb example of not only a great Canadian band, but of hard/alternative rock written and performed to meticulous perfection. Competing (soundwise) with the likes of “The Classic Crime” “Emery” and many of the other top alternative rock bands, “The Turn” is probably the most under-heard, truly awesome band I’ve ever discovered.

Starting, this self-titled album off is the riffy rocker “Cut 2 Pieces.” Showcasing terrific vocals, crunchy guitar and extremely tight drums and bass, “Cut 2 Pieces” actually manages to represent the band’s entire sound with deft effortlessness. (Or so it would seem.) One of the most unique things I noticed upon listening to the opener is how truly unique the vocal style is. If you mixed the raw vocal production of “Lifehouse” and threw in crazy range and vocal lines of disco era pop you would be somewhere close to the amazing and other-worldy vocals that permeate this collection of tunes.

“The Innocence You Fake” is an amazing follow up track that continues to deliver upon the promise that the first track suggests. Utilizing ageless rock n’ roll riffs with incredible melody (“Emery” meets Rise Against”) the band once again proves that they aren’t about to disappoint. “I’ve been waiting so long for you to come clean… it’s time to move on. You’ll never get another piece of me… and I’ve been wastin’ my time, it hit straight between my eyes… say your last goodbyes, forever.”

“Dirty Knuckles” is a “kick you in the face” dose of aggression and creativity. Using creative instrumentation and mixing, the band ones again takes the listener off guard. This time the band is showing more “Chevelle” meets “Evanescence” and yet the vocals and songwriting are still completely and beautifully original. Although the dynamic writing is stronger than ever, this one is definitely one of the most aggressive “face melters” on the album.

I can’t really say too much about the movement or “arc” of the album… because every song is just a dead knockout that out does the last. If you can picture an album where every track is compulsively listenable, begs repetition and yet remains complex and thought provoking, you’re pretty close to summing this gem up. To be honest, if I don’t here this music popping up on “Smallville” within the next year or so, I’ll be surprised and disappointed. “The Turn” is penning exactly the kind of hard rock that the mammoth genre needs to breathe some new life back and bring in some new fans.

No negative comments needed. “The Turn” is the kind of music that anyone should want listen to and another great indication that inspiring talent is still out there and very much alive!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kyle I'm a self taught musician of nearly 20 years and I'm proud to say that music encompasses my life. I'm just a simple guy that loves music and who is constantly searching for new music to feed his musical vices!

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