Why you Should be Checking out Turnstile
We’ve recently gotten into the surging and rambunctious hardcore punk rock band outfit Turnstile, following the release of their critically acclaimed Never Enough LP a few months ago. The latest album, a long-awaited follow-up to their acclaimed project Glow On, is also a favorite among several local bands, and maybe you should be checking them out, too.
The Baltimore-based rock group has also been making the rounds on social media for their out-of-control mosh pits at their shows, which just screams counter culture.
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Never Enough (2025) by Turnstile
Never Enough was our gateway to the band's diverse catalog of music, consisting of four full-length albums, with this one being their first since the departure of founding member Brady Ebert, who left shortly after Glow On.
The current quintet is composed of frontman, lead vocalist, and keyboard player Brendan Yates; Daniel Fang on drums, Franz "Freaky" Lyons on bass and vocals; Pat McCrory on lead guitar and backing vocals; and Meg Mills on rhythm guitar and backing vocals.
Their latest record is a successful marriage between metal and punk rock sound with dreamier soundscapes found in other stylings such as shoegaze and dreampop, though the band straddles between these genres without fully committing to them.
"But do you really wanna fall apart? And do you really wanna break my heart in two?" lead vocalist Brendan Yates belts out in "I Care," which eventually became our favorite track the first time we got into the album. The guitar riffs really soar and stand out, giving vibes reminiscent of new wave hits of the 1980s and the 1990s.
Turnstile's mastery of this fusion of the dreamy and the in-your-face kick ass energy of a punk song is the shining element of why the band and their latest projects are so compelling.
"Dreaming" is another screamer of a song that even includes a cheeky little cowbell in the background as a nod to reggaeton grooves and horn lines that still fit into the tapestry the song weaves.
The band leans into their sonic experimentation even more with "Light Design," which opens with lo-fi synths and bass lines transitioning into a slick and sharp guitar slide into the soaring rock song.
We also recommend you check out "Sole," the second track off the record that smoothly opens after the title track. The distorted rhythm guitar chugs throughout the song, with a dash of distorted vocals and a dreamy synth bridge that transports you to another world.
The 45-minute album, although critically seen as a project that is not as potent as its older brother Glow On, is a fantastic introduction to the hardcore rock band that is likely to expand its sonic avenues and technical chops. This is as we see more otherworldly acts from the alternative music circuit putting out intriguing records, such as the English rock band Sleep Token, American rock band Geese, and the guitar savant Michael Todd "Mk.gee" Gordon.
