Review / 200 Words Or Less
Turn It Around
These Days

This Blessing, This Curse (2006) Michael

Turn It Around – These Days cover artwork
Turn It Around – These Days — This Blessing, This Curse, 2006

It's been a while since Sacramento churned out a new band worth hearing, but Turn it Around is that band. Their four-song 7" is chuck-full of fast-paced hardcore with a dash of melody. "Live it Up" kicks things off in a sound that is reminiscent of Comeback Kid, which is ironic given the band's name in correlation to Comeback Kid's LP. Turn it Around beef things up on the song "S.T.E.V.E.", the guitars are a bit heavier and the pace has been slowed a tad. I wasn't into this song as much as the first. "Concrete Walls" started out quite promising, but toward the end it kind of lost its focus. But the band redeemed themselves with the last song on the 7". The title track, "These Days," demonstrates a bright future for the band. The songwriting on this song is in top form as they combine both their fast-paced punk influences with their breakdown savvy hardcore ones into a top-notch hardcore anthem. I expect big things from Turn it Around in the future.

6.5 / 10Michael • August 29, 2006

Turn It Around – These Days cover artwork
Turn It Around – These Days — This Blessing, This Curse, 2006

Recently-posted album reviews

Osiah

Aion
Unique Leader (2025)

Deathcore is a genre that’s constantly threatening to eat itself alive. For every band trying to push boundaries, there are ten more content to recycle the same breakdowns, the same vocal gymnastics, the same studio-polished violence. Osiah, however, have never been interested in playing it safe and their latest EP Aion is proof that they’re still operating on a level … Read more

Ramleh

Hyper Vigilance
Sleeping Giant Glossolalia (2025)

Ramleh is a cornerstone of the UK industrial and noise underground. Staring out in the early '80s, they are one of the pioneers of noise and power electronics alongside the likes of Whitehouse and Sutcliffe Jügend. But, beneath the havoc and the sonic debris, Ramleh always carried an emotional pulse. It is what separates their finest moment, Hole In The … Read more

Crippling Alcoholism

Camgirl
Portrayal of Guilt Records (2025)

Crippling Alcoholism have always navigated a delicate balance between musical depth and immediacy. A blend that few bands attempt, let alone master, but Crippling Alcoholism's two previous full-length records, When The Drugs That Make You Sick Are The Drugs That Make You Better and especially With Love From A Padded Room did exactly that. With a foundation formed through post-punk … Read more