Review Summary: The heavy metal veterans returned with full force.
It’s impossible to discuss metal music in Poland without bringing up the trinity of TSA, KAT and Turbo – the bands that locally pioneered the genre in the 80s. They figure together as absolute cult classics… however, the winds of history took them to vastly different places. TSA was the straightforward heavy metal blueprint in our country, but personal conflicts made it fall apart and reorganize more times than I care to count (not to mention they haven’t released any new material for 22 years now). KAT, despite being known mostly for their ballads, were the ones to tap into more extreme territories and bring themes of fantasy and occultism to the table. Still, they ended up in rough relationships with former members and fans alike, as evidenced by another KAT roaming the scene for nearly two decades, as well as the piss-poor reception of the original band’s recent output. Turbo started their journey in the land of melodic metal/hard rock, before gaining even greater prominence as a thrash outfit. And while they also went through multiple lineup changes, disbandments and polarizing ventures, their image remains largely untarnished. More even – with their latest album
Blizny, Turbo obliterate their national and foreign peers alike.
Right from the first song, we’re met with riffage that tears the aether to shreds onboard a freight train of a rhythm section. The guitar triforce of Wojciech Hoffman, Bogusz Rutkiewicz and Przemek Niezgódzki works its way through the album’s runtime with gratifying grit and intensity; the former two show no signs of their age and sound even more vigorous than many younger players. Below roams Mariusz Bobiński’s galloping percussion that digs deep into the ears with sharpness and precision. Above, we’re graced with the versatile vocals of Tomek Struszczyk. Although he has the typical voice of a heavy metal singer like Bruce Dickinson or Rob Halford, he effortlessly fits in the groove/thrash territory as well. This potent squad is aided by a party of guests, most notably the Cugowski brothers – the sons of the legendary rock frontman Krzysztof Cugowski and skilful musicians in their own right.
It’s a bit tough covering the standout moments due to their abundance. “Nowy rozdział” makes for the album’s first major blast, aggressively tackling age-related anxiety and reforging this sentiment into a bold statement of ambition. “Magnetyczny sen” and “Do domu” are also immediate points of interest, thanks to the former’s romantic elegance and the latter’s delightfully memorable main riff. Possibly the most accomplished tracks are the longest three – “W.W.W.W.”, “Łotr” and “Zwyczajnie nie”. The first stands out with its sludgy approach topped off with a playful hard rock chorus and an unexpected breakdown that wouldn’t feel out of place in a metalcore song. The vocal dialogue about taking risks between Struszczyk and Piotr Cugowski is especially gripping and makes this a particularly uplifting piece. “Łotr” is a prog-infused juggernaut, alternating between resentful hardcore verses, mournful slowdowns and dizzyingly heavy refrains where Struszczyk lets out his most desperate upper-range cries. The lyrics could be read as an attack on warmongers in general, yet the mention of Russian combat boots clearly points at the intended addressee. Meanwhile, “Zwyczajnie nie” lashes out at those in power in our own land, selling false promises and sowing discord for their own gain. Its structure is reflective of that; it starts as a raging thrasher and slowly works its way towards the anthemic climax of epic proportions.
Round 45 years into their career, Turbo made it clear as day that they still possess high energy, immense skillset and something to say in this fast-paced world. There are some flaws here, like the too-many too-samey solos in “Przyjdź do mnie”, but these are few and far between. In fact, the greatest sin of the album is its production – the dynamic compression sometimes makes it grating to listen to. But overall,
Blizny is a massive record. Equal parts exciting, emotional and memorable, and a proof that this legendary band remains a force to be reckoned with.
