This Is Turin - T.U.R.I.N.

 

I remember seeing This Is Turin at Bloodstock back in 2016, although I've been aware of them dominating the Manchester scene since the early 2010's in their early days. They must have made an impact on me as a youngster, because I'm very excited that they're still going strong, stronger than ever in fact. I was impressed back then at their technical facility, and T.U.R.I.N. is a mean feat of an EP, retaining their flair for technicality whilst showing us a new, more polished sound. Strap in, prepare yourself (as if you're in that scene in Casino Royale, the one where Daniel Craig's getting his balls smashed), and let the intensity take you...

I’m feeling a little reminiscent of All Shall Perish’s “The Price of Existence” when I hear the first track on the EP: “Excommunicate”. It’s got a strong opening, showcasing technical prowess whilst presenting that familiar sound of blast beats framing a riff that wouldn’t be out of place in an early Black Dahlia Murder track (I’m talking “Miasma” days). It’s even got elements of And Hell Followed With… in the way that its verse riffs have these short, powerful bursts of energy before subsiding into a slightly more relaxed rhythm. I particularly enjoy the 6/8 signature, lending itself to a rolling feeling and the subsequent 4/4 groove, acting as a verse - chorus type structure. The brief bridge bringing everything to an alarming halt, around 2:00, is like a short breath of air before diving back into the groove, reminding me a little of the impulsive expression you find with Necrophagist. There's an excellent solo between guitarists Davey Langford and Anthony Hayden as well, serving us a side of lyricism followed by a course of satisfying shred, reflecting the impressive degree of consideration towards structure that is evident throughout the short 3-movement EP.

Ambience and brutality meet in a devastating conversation between leads and drums: breathless intensity with tremolo arpeggios [which I can still hear reverberating in my mind's ear], act as a contrasting and complimentary B section to the A section we heard following the Soreption style introduction. The opening, underlying riff permeates, smoothly transferred to James Kinnear on the Bass in seamlessly smooth stretto fashion. Dare I go as far to state the neo-classical elements present - using an analogy of sonata form, these two sections repeat, serving as a traditional-style exposition. The development section leads us through various related keys underneath a soft sky of ambience, before charging headfirst into the B section - acting as a short recapitulation until we're met with the coda... Really, we're met with a tasty breakdown, taking just enough time to build up before the devastating drop, brutally concluding this chapter.

This is far from just a deathcore record - they’ve got some melodic riffs going on that are more than just breakdown material. The strong feeling of regularly accented 4/4 beats that perforate the melodies allow themselves to be opened up for a break here and there. For example, they’ve got a really sweet melodic passage that acts as a bridge between the verse and chorus in “Absolution” that displays a certain level of maturity and self-awareness of the music they’re writing. If you want a breakdown, you’ll find one, but there’s a lot more going on and I love that. Either way, it makes the breakdown that finishes off the ending of “Absolution” all that more powerful, making a perfect segue into the start of “Misery”.

Talk about saving the best til last. Bloody hell. I mean, hold tight. You might need to sit down for this one. I can’t speak when I listen to it. It’s mesmerising, brutal, and absolutely disgusting. Literally everything I want to hear in a deathcore single. Guesting CJ McMahon from Thy Art Is Murder, This Is Turin have pulled out all the stops this time around, and it's certainly payed off. Opening with a bouncy riff and low growls from vocalist Darryl Jones, we're immediately thrusted into a successive wave of dirty breakdown-style beats that characterise the verse, before taking off at the bridge with unrelenting blast beats. There's a bit of variation throughout the verse and bridge with the drums too, subtly making the listener aware that, whilst the riff remains consistent, there's still a sense of progression. I especially enjoy the frequent changes between full-time and half-time feels, allowing a little flexibility within the 4/4 framework which perpetuates throughout. There's also a story arc there which suggests something deeper than what immediately appears on the surface; at first we're transported to gardens of groove where breakdowns blossom. Taking a closer look at the flowers, we begin to notice all the details within their design, or in this case, the consideration shown towards an effective structure throughout.

Following the second chorus, CJ joins the fray (at 1:50), delivering the sorts of gutturals we know him for throughout the bridge and following breakdown, also giving us a little more of that rhythmic variation we've already been teased with. Dare I say I'm reminded a little of Acacia Strain? It's the pure filth that does it for me. They’ve thrown in a few little melodic leads over the same riff later on too, leading up to the tempo changing breakdown a little after 3 minutes in, tailing this off with increasingly quickened drumming that will blow your socks off hard enough that your feet might explode. They say that a good drummer stands out, and I’ve gotta take my hat off here, because Ben Adcroft, their latest member, has got some serious chops. I gotta admit, I also appreciate the use of a low cut filter slowly suffocating the insane drumming through the outro instead of just a plain fade out - I have a bit of a thing about how uninventive fade outs are, but I love it when it's done well, and this is a prime example of how to write an effective ending. It’s leaving me wanting more, hungry and thirsty like one of Ramsey Bolton’s hounds.

What a way to kick off the new year… I hope 2021 continues to bring us this level of quality. Thanks guys, really enjoyed the listen!

Solid 9.5/10

Bloody brutal.

JR