Turnstile did it again. And more.

 

By Stewart Dowouis

When all is said and done, Turnstile will very likely go down in history books as the most commercially successful hardcore band of all time. From Taco Bell commercials, late night network talk show spots, massive headlining tours, a Tribeca Film Festival appearance…they seem to be everywhere all at once, livin’ large in modern pop culture. This is unheard of really for this type of music. Back in the day, the thought of Agnostic Front being used to sell Gorditas would have been pure comedy. Minor Threat never came close to playing the Tonight Show.

Turnstile has done both. 

But with this level of success comes the opinions, of course. And everyone has something to say about it.

The best advice in life one can receive is to NEVER READ the YouTube comments. Yet for some inexplicable reason, I almost always do when it comes to new music. In the case of Turnstile’s new record, “Never Enough,” these comments seem to range from “this isn’t hardcore…boring…lame sellouts” to “my mind is blown…this band is incredible.” Turnstile has genuinely pushed the boundaries of the genre with this new record in a big way, and feathers have been ruffled. Very little traditional “hardcore” sound remains in their songs. ‘78 punk ethos, however, pumps through every second.

Most of the negative comments I’ve read seem to emanate from 20somethings who still have the energy for music politics and, ironically, feel disappointed by such blatant deviation from punk norms. Conversely, a good chunk of the positive comments come from an elder segment of Turnstile’s growing fanbase. My favorite of these goes something like this: “I’m 54. I own a record store. I struggle with new music. Nothing hits me in the heart anymore. And then I heard Never Enough. I can’t stop crying. Thank you, Turnstile.”

I fall firmly within this latter positive camp. 

While there are certainly sonic similarities to classic 90s bands like Quicksand, Into Another, Shelter, Samiam, Seaweed, etc. found in their music, if you listen…REALLY listen…Turnstile doesn’t sound like anything else past or present. They’re not some punk version of Greta Van Fleet. It’s familiar and comforting to us old farts, yes, but also groundbreaking and fresh. The thing that lands so hard and awakens even the most jaded of us when we listen is the vague “let’s go somewhere big…I’m bored” vibe that permeates through every moment of their albums. It doesn’t sound like the old bands we loved. It FEELS like the old bands we loved. Genuine art.

They’re so good, bruh.