Album Review: Turnstile - Move Thru Me
By Gabe Dooley, Contributor
[Pop Wig; 2016]
Rating: 8.5/10
Key Tracks: "Move Thru Me," "Fuck Me Blind"
Turnstile is a hardcore punk outfit from Baltimore, Maryland who, in the past year, has released their debut studio album Nonstop Feeling, a heavy and wildly energetic collection of tracks. Now the band is back with this new EP, Move Thru Me, an effective demonstration of the group’s ability to pack extreme blasts of energy and aggression all into the span of two minute songs. In fact, this EP just barely reaches seven minutes long. Regardless, the record is completely engaging from beginning to end. Despite the short track lengths, not a single song feels underwhelming, and additionally, the songs on each side of the EP flow nicely from one to the next, making for a satisfyingly cohesive listen.
With this EP, Turnstile unleashes some of their most high octane performances yet. The relentlessly energetic guitar riffs, the loud and powerful drum beats, and the passionately delivered vocals come together in a way that is sure to invigorate any hardcore fans willing to listen.
The record, though not extremely conceptual, sticks to themes regarding the destruction of societal norms. Perfectly exemplified in themes is the song “Fuck Me Blind,” which covers Washington D.C. hardcore band Give. This song expresses ideas of freedom from society’s rules and expectations of gender and sexuality. This song also features backup vocals from Petal’s Kiley Lots, who’s clean singing brings a melodic change of sound to what is otherwise a rather sonically abrasive track.
All things considered, Move Thru Me is a short, sweet, expressive and exhilarating piece of music that is certainly worth the seven minutes it takes to hear. Between the impressive abilities of the band’s members and the ideas behind the music, Turnstile represents some of the best of what hardcore music has to offer.
