Review: Turbowolf at The Croft, 3/9/11.
Written for Bristol’s Crack magazine:
It’s September 3rd and The Croft is hosting a Wolfparty. Five bands, two rooms, ten cigarettes and eight ciders. Let’s do this. This is Turbowolf’s first headlining show of the year, the first in Bristol in recent months and they’ve made it personal; they’ve picked the support acts, chosen the venue, promised an after-party and packed the place with friends, family and fans. Metal.
Things have changed for Turbowolf in 2011, they have recorded their album, toured Europe with Korn and Dimmu Borgir (quite a feat for the then label-less quartet), signed with Hassle Records (Trash Talk, Alkaline Trio, Cancer Bats), recorded a couple of videos and bagged a new drummer and a newish bassist. Exciting times, but tonight they have a job to do and a triumphant homecoming to celebrate.
They open up with the blistering Ancient Snake and commence with an onslaught of flailing hair, limbs, sweat and noise. The audience join in dutifully – crashing into one other and singing every word. The Big Cut and Things could Be Good Again (also from their recent foreplay-before-the-album EP) demonstrate a punkier sounding Wolf than we had heard previously – somewhere between Soundgarden on glue or The Misfits on heroin – and adds a stylish dynamic to their set.
Like true pioneers of audio/visual overload, Turbowolf ensure that you have something to watch while you soak in their sounds. Vocalist Chris only stops to tamper with his keyboard from time to time and spends the rest of his time in, on or under the audience. At one point manages to surf to the rear of the room, belt out a song, dive and surf back to the stage. Another crowd surfing session takes place on a skateboard that somebody had left lying enticingly onstage. Andy (guitar), Joe (bass) and Blake (drums) play with finesse and power in equal parts and demonstrate a band that has further evolved from an energetically scruffy ball of noise, towards something more accomplished, able to hold its own alongside the big boys.
Recent single, A Rose For The Crows is the heaviest of their set and a psychadelic swirl of stoner metal that slowly concludes with an elegantly simple down-tempo outro, built from pure doom. Forthcoming single Read And Write is an already established fan favourite and is making waves with various DJ’s across the county, thanks to its energy infectious hooks. The band close with Let’s Die and say good night and ensuring that the night remains encore/cliché free and a battered audience get the opportunity to head outside and dry out.
A very busy 2011/12 now awaits as the band embark on a UK tour with Hawk Eyes and The James Cleaver Quintet (including another show at the Croft), followed by a couple of dates with the mighty Monster Magnet. This will coincide with the release of their eponymously titled debut album on the seemingly prophetical date of 11-11-11. Voodoo. Surely a contester for Bristol’s premier live band – catch them in a venue near you.
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