In Position

“It makes no sense to stay at home when all your enemies are in position.” So goes the title track from Turn’s new mini-album, and you can see their point.

When they were dropped by their record company after releasing a debut as good as Antisocial, well, it just didn’t seem fair. Thankfully, Turn are toughing it out and their new offering is a fine indicator that their position as one of the strongest rock bands in Ireland today is more than secure.

Maturity seemed to be the keyword in most reviews for Antisocial, and this particular characteristic is even more in evidence now. Their new stuff holds less of the helpless rage of tracks like ‘Face Down’. There’s a gentler and more considered approach, with an understandable air of reassessing and taking stock. Ollie’s lyrics remain relentlessly personal, no longer splattered with angst, but brimming with weary recognition of mistakes made.

Sombre starts lead to blazing choruses and every track is stunning, particularly the starkly melancholic ‘Catch On You’ and the breathlessly dynamic ‘Heartattack’. The record builds up to a eerie, layered sound in the closing moments, leaving you wanting more.

An appetiser for great things to come, I suspect.