TURBOKILL – Champion (2024) *HQ*
German metal upstarts TURBOKILL return with their sophomore album, ”Champion” – a record that, as it turns out, more than lives up to its name.
It’s hard to believe that this is only TURBOKILL’s second full length album release. Having already been branded by Rock Hard magazine as “among in the elite in Teutonic metal” and having been at the forefront of the “New Wave of German Metal” tour earlier this year, ”Champion” demonstrates a band already at the height of their powers.
And their recipe is a winner; fusing a modern production with the sound of late 80s early 90s catchy, lite power metal, ”Champion” is an album that brings the best of all worlds; catchiness, hard rock hooks, melodies – and a huge bright sound with many points in common with the current Scandinavian sound.
Fronted by former Alpha Tiger frontman Stephan Dietrich, after the intro ‘Inner Calling’ the group kicks off with the driving ‘A Million Ways’ reminding us of the 80s joyful style of bands like Helloween – the guys deliver up-tempo melodic metal with catchy melodies.
However, the next tracks are much more melodic, anthemic.
The title track comes with a big chorus that invites you to sing along. It’s really ’80s stuff done in a great way, served with a modern production. More ‘happy’ enjoyable tracks appear in the form of ‘A Million Ways’, ‘Tear It Down’, ‘Go Your Way’, the throbbing ‘Mirage Mirror’, and ‘Power Punch’, the latter being a headbanger’s delight.
The star of the band are Stephan’s vocals, they soar high above the cruchy rhythms from Ronny Schuster (rhythm guitar), Marco “Fox” Grünwald (bass) and Kevin Käferstein (drums), encouraging sing alongs. Close to a ballad, ‘Time To Wake’ though has a acoustics into the mix, then ‘Go Your Way’ begins with some Priest-like lead guitar from Daniel Kanzler.
Wrapped by a modern sound production, songwriting-wise “Champion” is an album that refers to some of the ‘champions’ of the second half of the 80s, and it feels like a little time travel to a era when this kind of music had its first glory days. Now, in 2024, the album has a certain retro character.
Listening to these 12 melodic anthems is entertaining, easy to the ears.
Highly Recommended
01 – Inner Calling
02 – A Million Ways
03 – Time To Wake
04 – Champion
05 – Wings Of The Thunder Hawk
06 – Tear It Down
07 – Go Your Way
08 – Mirage Mirror
09 – Power Punch
10 – Sons Of The Storm
11 – Shine On
12 – Overcome
Stephan Dietrich – Lead Vocals
Ronny Schuster – Rhythm Guitar, Vocals
Daniel Kanzler – Lead Guitar
Marco Fox Grünwald – Bass, Vocals
Kevin Käferstein – Drums
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