Album Review: Turbo - Broke & Ugly
Reviewed by Sam Jones
Let’s dial down the intensity a touch for the moment a look to Canada’s Turbo for some good, old fashioned heavy metal. Formed a number of years ago, Turbo hail from Nova Scotia and are so into their traditional metal that they didn’t opt to test the waters with a Demo or an EP to start with, choosing instead to dive headfirst with their debut full length album titled Fast As Fvck in 2020. That was four years ago, and at last the band are ready once more to give us an adrenaline-riddled ride with the simply titled Broke & Ugly. Still currently unsigned and acting fully independently, Turbo have set Broke & Ugly to release come July 12th so this is a good way of getting our ears to see what these maniacs have primed for us.
I like Turbo conduct themselves on record; right away on the opening track, their frontman roars “It’s good to be back!” as if the break between records was too much for even the band to handle, let alone their fans, and so as this album gets going they are just as glad to be back to it and cannot wait to show people what they’ve been cooking up. While the band do play a traditional form of heavy metal, you can’t help but feel like they play with a very loose and unhinged approach. This isn’t your Judas Priest or Iron Maiden clone where they’re trying their best to imitate a tightly woven together band attack, rather Turbo emphasise a much more free style where one doesn’t need to listen too closely to get the most out of Broke & Ugly. Turbo remind us metal can also be exceedingly fun and their energy complements this notion greatly; one can imagine their live shows being this maddening frenzy of adrenaline as each track succeeds the preceding one.
As can be imagined, Turbo’s production is pretty light on the senses and never seeks to overwhelm your ability to discern what is happening at any instance. Though the band still possess a venomous, piercing quality to their songwriting, it’s never done to any visceral scale. When the riffs are flying, there’s no difficulty in making out what is happening, for every lick and individual note is easily audible and guides us through section of the track you’re currently enjoying. Though the tempo rarely abates throughout the record, Turbo still keep themselves rooted to the ground and don’t play so fast that their performance becomes some blinding maelstrom; this is no extreme metal performance and Turbo absolutely realism in that they’re glad to be back with a new record and that infectious glee is here in spades as solos and relishing licks come at us from every direction.
One can hear some clear Inepsy and other speed metal influences, especially as Turbo showcase their vocals from what is, clearly, a prominent position within the mix. It needs saying that Broke & Ugly, despite how people may view it from its fun and less serious aesthetic, is a very well mixed record that never has you pondering where each instrument is or what you should be focusing on in the moment. Additionally, the mix strongly highlights the importance the band have applied upon the vocals. Though the band may be throwing their all at you, the vocals are always present and vying for your attention, even when riffs and drums are otherwise battering your skull. I think it helps the band that their vocal work certainly harnesses a peculiarly savage tone without it being too far removed from the band’s underlying aesthetic. Their frontman’s vocals is snarled just enough to give the band an edge without creating any odd juxtaposition in tone.
Though the band are this speed metal concoction and exhibit a free-flowing fun to their sound, it must be stated the surprising variety of riffs and vibes they manage to bring with their record. These kinds of albums can sometimes fall into the trap of just being one style written and played nine or ten times over. It’s therefore pleasing to note Turbo wrote songs that genuinely felt different to one another whilst still oozing that familiar kickass attitude. Some songs are far more boisterous whilst others certainly bleed with a stronger melodic edge; you then have a selection that aren’t necessarily serious but do have a firmer standing upon the ground and these are where your affinity towards Turbo really seems to solidify. It’s this needed variety in vibes that the band had to include so that their album doesn’t get buried in the deluge of traditional and speed metal released nowadays. It also helped reinforce the idea that Turbo are a band I’d want to return to.
In conclusion, Turbo’s second full length album is the equivalent of getting into a newly juiced up hotrod, the roof reeled back in, as you’re flooring it down the highway until your smoke trails combust. From start to finish, Turbo live up to their name in droves and then some with energy that cannot be denied and a plethora of tracks that offer much to be remembered. Though boasting a full nine tracks, Broke & Ugly doesn’t even eclipse a full half hour and therefore opens itself up for numerous relistens. It starts up, gets you in the mood to kick some butt, yet doesn’t attempt to overstay its welcome to any degree. For me personally, this style of speed metal can be a vast hit or miss but I thoroughly enjoyed my time with this record, and during its duration I was brought on board with Turbo’s infectious power. Furthermore, I’d wish to visit their first record, and am excited to see what they do for a third, prospective release; I merely hope it’s not another four years because this is really good, fun material that anyone can get behind. A refreshing break from crushing, defeating extreme metal is sometimes needed, and Turbo are one fine cocktail.
Nice review! It got me to check out their embedded video, and then two more beyond that! I love that a band like this is (obviously) not doing it for the money and their enthusiasm for this style of music just shines through. Good stuff!