Release Date: May 23rd 2025. Record Label: Art As Catharsis / Copper Feast Records. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl
Being Here - Tracklisting
1.Being Here
2.Apathy 0
3.Into The Sun
4.Bourgeoisie
5.It Starts With Me
6.Heavy As Hell
7.Modern Mess
8.Moon & Tide
Members
Julian Frese - Bass guitar
Ally Gradon - Vocals, synths
Charlie Gradon - Vocals, drums
Dean McLeod - Vocals, guitars
Review
Aussie Psych Rockers Turtle Skull latest expedition into Neo-Psychedelic territory with their latest record Being Here is quite muted where the Doom/Stoner Metal aspect compared to their acclaimed 2020 record Monoliths. The band have lost two members since then and have gained Ally Gradon on Vocals and Synth duties. Being Here is still a glorious celebration of Heavy Psychedelic and Sonic based passages with a subtle Sludge Rock environment being stripped back that reminds me of Church Of The Cosmic Skull, Hawkwind and King Gizzard & The Lizzard Wizzard throughout.
Don’t forget the fuzzed up AMPLIFIER attitude of BLACK SABBATH with modern core Doom-Pop sound developing from the very start. The record is quite ethereal and slightly trippy over into Noise Rock, Indie Rock, Grunge and Pop surroundings which builds superbly from the sublime opening tracks of Being Here, Apathy and Into The Sun.
There’s a dark and gloomy vibe appearing within the lyrics which counterbalances the soulful “POP” vocals from Ally Gradon, Charlie Gradon and Dean McLeod who sometimes all challenge for the position of lead vocalist. It’s quite a breathtaking and refreshing style of vocals to hear with the sludgy and stoner based grooves that remains true to Turtle Skull’s Neo Psychedelic creative vision.
With echoes of distorted amplifiers, sound loops and fuzzy reverb capturing a twisted style of Sixties and Seventies Psych Rock which never loses its sweet natured sounds, themes and uplifting identity despite the seedy and gritty underbelly that develops within the longer instrumental passages on the album.
One of the main strengths of Being Here is Turtle Skull’s fearless attitude of experimenting with distorted areas of Fuzz, Doom, Prog, Psych, Stoner and Sludge based dynamics. This is quite a subversive record with Turtle Skull being quite philosophical on tracks such as Into The Sun, Bourgeoisie, It Starts With Me, Heavy As Hell and Moon & Tide.
There’s something for everyone to enjoy on Being Here with it’s delicious, addictive and highly aggressive energy which resonates a very HIP and COOL environment especially with the stripped back production values and recording techniques used for the entire album.
Turtle Skull have once again released an album that can easily be described as RETRO, OLD SCHOOL and brilliantly modern at the same time. With a bold, jagged and direct experimental sound that fully delivers within the riffs, thrills, spills and grooves department. If you dig your Heavy Psychedelic music with extra SPICE and AGGRESSION well Turtle Skull would like to have a word with you.
Being Here is a masterclass of Heavy Psych based Doom/Stoner Rock that feels like a record for the ages….
Words by Steve Howe
Thanks to Creative Eclipse PR for the promo.
Being Here is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl via the links below
Links
Official | Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram