Norwegian “deathpunk” group Turbonegro were founded in the late '80s, though they occasionally sound like they were born around that time. The band clearly have no intention of growing old gracefully, and their lyrical preoccupations look set to remain permanently lodged in adolescence.
This is no big deal, as many artists have turned a serial lack of maturity into serviceable songwriting. No one could accuse Turbonegro of pulling off such a feat, though. This is the group’s eighth album, and their lack of progression is palpable. Bizarrely, Retox resembles a first or second release from a young band.
The sound is pitched somewhere between breakneck, Pistolian punk rock and more stadium-friendly hair metal. The group are exceptionally tight (perhaps the only indicator of their age), and their songs are founded on a rock solid wall of noisy guitar.
Lead vocalist Hank Von Helvete sings with a sub-Lydon, guttural sneer, which may be appropriate: Turbonegro are preoccupied with rather one-dimensional toilet humour, but lack killer punchlines (or any punchlines at all, come to think of it).
There’s a smattering of decent moments on Retox, though. ‘Do You Do You Dig Destruction’ boasts the album’s cleverest pop hook, and retains the pace and power for which the group have become renowned. ‘Every Body Loves A Chubby Dude’ is also good: the song is built on a hard, dark guitar riff, which managed to bludgeon its way into this listener’s affections at least.
Some morosely beautiful electronic keyboard squelches during the opening of final track ‘What Is Rock?!’, provide the album’s only moment of real sonic adventure. Naturally, it then morphs into a puerile, punk rock mini-epic – confirmation, as if it were needed, that Turbonegro have no intention of growing up.