Looking at the inlay photo of this record it’s safe to say that Turbonegro are an odd looking bunch, looking like a twisted version of ‘The Village People’ if they were to star in a remake of “The Clockwork Orange“. It’s safe to say that their music is just as twisted.
The first time I put this CD in my stereo I was slightly confused and thought that I had accidentally put in “The Greatest Power Ballads of the 80’s” instead, as the first minute or so reminded me so much of the kind of songs you’d find on movies like “Top Gun”. This is of course until the nicely titled “Wipe It ’til it Bleeds” kicks in. This song rocks, no contest. It takes an AC/DC style riff, gives it even more balls and is so contagious you can’t help but tap your feet along.
“Sell Your Body (To The Night)” sounds like a classic 1980’s song in the vein of Motley Crue or Twisted Sister, it could have easily been written by aforementioned bands. It’s a bit cheesy, but you can’t help but be sucked in. “Remain Untamed” pretty much sums up the bands attitude – “You can touch my lips, you can twist my tits, and you can try to cage me, try to cage me now” – try it, you won’t succeed to calm them down.
Half way through the album the power-ballad synth sounds that started the album kick back in – i’m not quite sure what this is about but it is obviously a nod to 1980’s glam rock – before kicking in to the darker “Fuck The World”, again complete with chanted vocals and some classic
guitar solos over layered synths, this is well produced music and it’s obvious that a lot of time has been spent arranging the songs.
The rest of the album continues in much the same way. “Drenced in Blood” would probably go down well with fans of The Misfits, the lyrics are a blood-induced frenzy and the song is finished off with some perfect “whoahs”, Turbonegro seem to be able to imitate a style while stamping their own mark to it with ease, something which so many bands fail. “Le Saboteur” again comes complete with “whoahs” which are the only words I can understand because all the lyrics are written in French, but at least they give us something to sing along too.
Turbonegro are much like The Darkness, (albeit a more twisted version), in the fact that they manage to take the best bits of so many legendary rock acts and produce an album full of songs that will satisfy any rock fan. I’d be surprised if the The NME and MTV2 weren’t all ready
lapping them up and declaring them “saviours of rock’n’roll”. Give it a few months and they probably will be..
Phil