Turtle Skull - Being Here (Album Review)

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

Art As Catharsis

Copper Feast Records

Links

Official | Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Neo-Psych/Doom Rockers TURTLE SKULL Announce New Album Being Here. New Single Into The Sun Streaming.

Art As Catharsis and Copper Feast Records are proud to announce Turtle Skull’s upcoming record, Being Here, a lush and gritty exploration of neo-psych with indie and alt-pop sensibility, out May 23, 2025.

With Being Here, Turtle Skull have evolved. A new lineup. A fresh approach. A leap forward. While the album builds on the sonic foundations of 2020’s Monoliths, it’s a different beast. Still hefty and considered but more immediate. Made for the moment. A record that values gut instinct over perfection.

Tracked live at NoWave in Mullumbimby, with a paired-back approach to studio tweaking, Being Here captures that ‘lightning in a bottle’ energy that happens when a band fully locks in. New member Ally Gradon’s synths inject fresh energy, swirling around meaty riffs and driving rhythms. It’s expansive yet raw, drawing from the likes of Black Moth Super Rainbow, Idles and Cause Sui with a nod to the cinematic sprawl of Spiritualized and The Flaming Lips. A heavy, heady blend of melody and atmosphere.

The new single from the release, Into the Sun, exemplifies this new ethos, centering poignant musings amid a shimmering wash of synth and surging guitar.

"Into the Sun was a collection of riffs I had from years ago that Ally had always favoured", tells drummer Charlie Gradon. "We brought it to the group and it quickly fleshed itself out. The lyrics came after a particularly rowdy yet fulfilling wedding that some of us went to. It’s about being stuck and needing to be with your people. The day to day mundane vs the hyper connected and profound, and how both are equally important.

Listen + share: https://art-as.org/into-the-sun

"Being Here was much more about good songs that we had freshly written being captured live in the moment" says Gradon. "No click, no excessive layering, no studio trickery. The only thing that wasn’t captured live was the vocals. Choosing to self-produce and mix the album gave us the chance to preserve our initial vision, even if it nearly did kill me."

The album puts a spotlight on songwriting, covering weighty subject matter, from the life-force drain of social media to the relentless march of time. But it does so with a call to stay connected, empathetic and grounded. In this way, Being Here isn’t just an album title. It’s a philosophy. A mantra. A demand to be fully present, to embrace the chaos, the beauty, the weight of it all.

No strangers to sold-out headline shows across Sydney and Melbourne, Turtle Skull have a reputation for epic live performances. They’ve graced festival stages at Camp A Low Hum (NZ), The Gumball (NSW), Vivid (NSW) and Ninchfest (VIC) and supported the likes of Frankie and the Witch Fingers (USA), Earthless (USA) and Stonefield.

With Being Here set for release, the band is gearing up for another wave of touring, kicking off with a 7 March show at the Bergy Bandroom in Melbourne as part of the Brunswick Music Festival ahead of rumoured festival appearances later in the year. Keep your eyes peeled for gig announcements and make sure to catch one of Australia’s most electrifying live acts.

Turtle Skull’s new record, Being Here, is out on Art As Catharsis (AUS/NZ) and Copper Feast Records (UK/EU) on 23 May 2025.

Pre-order is live here, for both the AUS/ NZ edition as well as UK/ EU edition: 

https://turtleskullmusic.bandcamp.com 

In UK/ EU also directly available from the label: 

http://copperfeastrecords.com/shop

Links

Official: https://turtleskull.com

Bandcamp: https://turtleskullmusic.bandcamp.com

Instagram: https://instagram.com/turtleskullmusic

Facebook: https://facebook.com/turtleskullmusic

YouTube: https://youtube.com/@TurtleSkullMusic

Art As Catharsis: http://www.artascatharsis.com

Copper Feast Records: https://copperfeastrecords.com

Turtle Skull - Monoliths (Album Review)

Release date: August 28th 2020. Label: Art As Catharsis/Kozmik Artifactz. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

Monoliths – Tracklisting

1.Leaves 06:58
2.Rabbit 04:01
3.Heartless Machine 06:59
4.Why Do You Ask? 06:54
5.Who Cares What You Think? 07:22
6.Halcyon 04:36
7.Apple Of Your Eye 06:40
8.The Clock Strikes Forever 11:42

Members

Tobia Blefari - Percussion (congas, rain stick, shaker, tambourine)
Julian Frese - Bass, piano, vocals
Dan Frizza - Synths
Charlie Gradon - Drums, vocals
Dean McLeod - Guitars, vocals

Review

Turtle Skull debut album released in 2018 was a favourite of mine when it was originally released with the bands unique style of Doom, Psych, Pop, Stoner, Sludge and Experimental Noises allowing the band to playing mostly to their strengths for their album to truly standout. Fast forward 2 years and the back with their even better follow-up with Monoliths.

The band continue with their almost dream-like style of Psychedelic Pop but merged with a heavier reliance and balance on Doom Metal, Sludge Rock and Stoner Metal for a more dramatic style of music with cinematic riffs appearing from the very start. The band aim for a much bigger sound on Monoliths and it works especially on the longer tracks such as Leaves, Heartless Machine, Why Do You Ask?, though they leave some of the best sounds and creative ideas for the bombastic final 12 minute track – The Clock Strikes Forever.

You can say that Turtle Skull draw influence from King Gizzard & The Lizzard Wizzard, Japanese Psychedelic Rock, SLEEP, Black Sabbath and even Elephant Tree in places. Though, this album is most definitely Turtle Skull’s chance to shine in the spotlight. Their use of different musical instruments set against a backdrop of heavy Doomed Out Riffs and spectacular Progressive Sludge/Stoner Metal grooves is what makes the album work for me. In essence, this album shouldn’t really work as it ultimately does. As there’s many different elements in this album that allow the listener to drift off into many different directions.

The vocals are nothing short of absolute perfection. The perfect harmonies from the 3 vocalists that are listed within Turtle Skull have shades of 60s/70s Psychedelic Rock and even Classic Rock running throughout the entire album. You could be treated to a beautiful vocal harmony and the band unleash a heavy blast of Doom Riffs such as on the stunning 2nd track – Rabbit.

The production on Monoliths is brilliantly put together with the band showing many different sides throughout this album and even the quieter parts are equally as good and just as dynamic as the heavier moments that will no doubt bring the Doom/Sludge/Stoner Metal community to the Turtle Skull party.

Overall, Monoliths is multi-layered album bursting with different themes and ideas that will take time to fully understand but you will be treated to a different musical experience every time you listen to this wonderful and genuinely exciting album. This is one album you would be wise not to miss.

Words by Steve Howe

Monoliths is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl via Art As Catharsis (Australia) and Kozmik Artifactz (Europe).

Thanks to Art As Catharsis, All Noir PR and Turtle Skull for the promo.

Links:

Facebook | BandCamp

Turtle Skull - S/T (Album Review)

Release date: May 17th 2018. Label: Art As Catharsis. Format: CD/DD

Peace – Tracklisting

1.No News is Bad News 06:55

2.Take It Or Leave It 08:26

3.Eden 06:08

4.Empty Ships 08:23

Members

Dean McLeod

Charlie Gradon

Julian Frese

Dan Frizza

Tobia Blefari

Review

I wasn't fully sold on Turtle Skull debut album when I first listened to it. Maybe because the band create a different Psychedelic Doom/Stoner Metal sound. As they merge pop based melodies and vocals with heavy psychedelic doom/stoner metal sounds. Then again if it worked for Mars Red Sky then no doubt it can work for Turtle Skull. Though both bands sound very different to each other. I'm describing how Turtle Skull weave pop style sounds against the Doom/Stoner Metal atmospherics that the album fully contains.

Opening track - No News Is Bad News - opens with drone based guitar that blends elements of Psych, Doom and Stoner Rock for a heavy trippy sound. The vocals softens the mood as Turtle Skull build their heavy riffs on solid poppier foundations. The band fully take flight with a sublime progressive guitar riff that drifts between the different genres that Turtle Skull have included here. There is a dreamy sixties psychedelic vibe being played in the background that is paired against a free-flowing Doom/Stoner Metal backdrop. You may not realise this at first but Turtle Skull use a heavy amount of Drone based noises. This gives their music a slight unsettling feel.

Second track - Take It Or Leave It - is a darker neo-psychedelic number with the band playing a faster style of music. The trippy FUZZ based elements become the main focus with Turtle Skull's music building upto a faster and aggressive momentum.

The final two tracks - Eden and Empty Ships - continue with the hybrid and heavy progressive Doom/Fuzz/Pop/Stoner Rock sound have devilish fun creating. My only criticism is the album can be too repetitive at times with certain riffs and vocal arrangements that seem to go on for too long. It's only a few parts of the album but it did drag in places. I do admire Turtle Skull for creating a highly inventive and original sounding album at times.

The production is perhaps the best part of the album as Turtle Skull's music sounds fresh and dynamic. Even when played at a low volume this album is superbly heavy and overflowing with rich inventive ideas.

Turtle Skull have unleashed one of the truly weirdest psychedelic Doom/Stoner Rock albums I've heard this year. This is a trip worth taking over and over again.

Links:

Facebook | BandCamp