Metal Mind is THE record label to go to for all things Eastern European. Working to re-issue classic metal albums as well as continuing to develop the music scene out in Poland, Metal Mind deal with everything from distributing artists as renowned as Fear Factory and Anathema to putting out classic Polish bands like Turbo, often as limited edition packages. What we have here are two albums from Turbo, ‘One way’ and ‘Avatar’ (1992 and 2001 respectively) which highlight the fact that talented, powerful thrash bands don’t have to come from America. Packaged here in classy digi-packs, fully re-mastered, featuring bonus tracks (well ‘Avatar’ does anyway) and limited to 2000 copies, this is a must-have for any fan of the genre.
Avatar
Avatar is the later of the two albums and was recorded entirely in Polish, however there are no less than five bonus tracks on this edition of the album several of which are in English (having originally featured on the UK edition of the album) along with an electric version of Lek and a live track ‘dream’. The first thing that hit me is that this album was released in 2001 – the time of nu-metal and all things baggy trousered, so it is a testament to the strength and courage of this band that they decided to continue in their refreshingly old-school vein of towering riffs, excessive solos and thunderous drums rather than to try to compete with a scene that collapsed just a few years later (especially when one considers the rap experimentation of Machine Head in that period). That said, in Avatar there was a conscious hardening of their sound, and there are reference points to modern metal (remember this was the band’s ninth album) scattered throughout with hints of Slayer on ‘Armia’, the albums exhausting opener that sees the drummer attempting to batter his way into the underworld with a relentless kick-drum assault, elements of Metallica on ‘Granicia’ the opening of which draws comparison to ‘Sanitarium’ and touches of Sepultura and Machine Head also. That is not to suggest that the band are derivative – far from it, rather the production and riffing styles are adapted to provide for the demands of a modern audience.
‘Upior w operze’ has a vicious groove that sounds, one suspects, like Metallica wish ‘load’ had sounded with its hefty bass sound and a top-notch vocal performance form singer Greg Kupczyk. ‘Sen’ is a highlight of the album, an absolute stormer that could compete with Pantera in the heavy stakes, while ‘Lsd’ is faster and looser, with a real classic rock vibe to it. It is these elements, joined so expertly together, that make Turbo one of the most respected bands in Polish hard rock and metal, and which, if there’s any justice in the world, should have seen them crossing the globe along with bands such as Kreator and Onslaught. ‘Katatonia’ has an opening riff that kicks like a mule, and special mention to Mariusz Bobkowski for his excellent drumming which elevates the quieter passages by being both skilled and inventive. ‘Awatar’ itself is melodic thrash at its best, with harmonised guitars paving the way for the vocals and chugging guitars of the main verse, it’s exciting stuff that gets the blood pumping like any good metal should. ‘Embrion’ rolls in under the cloud of thunderous drums and a guitar riff with more than a hint of prime Sepultura. It is an OK track but it doesn’t quite stand up to the quality on display elsewhere on the album, perhaps because the key riff is so familiar although the solo in the bridge section is awesome!!. The album proper ends on ‘Falsz’ which has an Indian vibe to it and some quite astonishing bass playing.
That just leaves the generous helping of bonus tracks, of which there are seven, including some tracks from the English edition of the album. Of these, the quality varies (although all are worth having) but ‘Burn’ stands out as being good fun, high-octane, old-school ROCK (yes the capitals are important!) and ‘Lek’ (included twice – electric and acoustic) which, in its acoustic incarnation, is quite beautiful.
One Way
Unlike ‘Avatar’, ‘One way’ is sung entirely in English. It opens on an eerie burst of synth and howling wind (handily entitled ‘Introduction’) before launching into first song proper ‘End user’, which announces its arrival in a furious blast of thrash riffs and roared vocals. The riffing is tight and precise, and there are some great solos here but, again unlike ‘Avatar’, the arrangement is less complex, although it’s a damn good tune to head-bang to. Stopping on a dime, the listener has barely a moment to draw breath before the furious assault of ‘Regression’ kicks off like a bar-room brawl: bloody, undignified and messy but also exhilarating and if there’s a hint of Slayer to the proceedings here, then that only goes further to demonstrate how good these four musicians are at their chosen profession.
‘Mental alienation’ comes next with a complex riff and a jarring time signature that throws the listener completely. It’s a brave song that is refreshing after the relatively straight forward numbers that open the disc. Woyth’s vocals here are particularly raw and brutal, adding terrace-chant vocals to the chorus before a sublime solo slices across the thunderous rhythm section. ‘Blasphemy’ has more of a groove to it, thundering along nicely on hefty drums and a decent guitar riff that wouldn’t sound out of place on ‘Kill ‘em all’. ‘Refuse to live’ slows the tempo down to a brutal grind complete with a palm muted rhythm guitar that made the floor of my reviewing room shake before unexpectedly introducing a melodic break that is as surprising as it is interesting.
‘One way’ returns to the type of hyper-speed thrash that dominates the early stages of the album, charging in with the kind of riff that Testament do so well and then offering up a solo of Devilish ingenuity. ‘Forgetfulness’ is once again slower, with a vocal that sounds like the singer is gargling with glass and concrete and a chunky rhythm part that underpins the track nicely before it suddenly fires off like a bullet into the solo. ‘The viper’ is frantic and cool, with a powerful chorus. ‘Scum’ opens on a sinister riff, shot through with heavy drums and a massive-sounding rhythm guitar. ‘Disaster area’ closes this monumentally heavy album (with nary a ballad in sight!) on a high note, and keeping things short and simple. Overall it is a rawer album than Avatar, with very different vocals but both albums warrant the attention of heavy metal fans.
Overall you have two albums here that are well worth checking out. While ‘One way’ is the heavier album (and much rawer), ‘Avatar’ matches the quality of its predecessor with a more mature approach to song writing. For those who can’t get past the Polish vocals (and it is a shame if you can’t because you’re missing out on all manner of excellent bands) then ‘One way’ is the one to get as it is sung entirely in English, but for those with a broad mind then Avatar, ort indeed both, albums are highly recommended as classy examples of a genre that has recently returned to the limelight. All hail Metal Minds for their devotion to unearthing metal gems.
