Turmoil Staring Back

It is said that everything happens for a reason, a saying that could not ring truer in the case of Philly-based survivors of the nineties, Turmoil. It is precisely this saying which is only now answering the selfish question that has haunted me since their unexpected breakup five years ago; the question being, why did Turmoil break up during the touring cycle for one of the best albums of the genre ever, The Process Of The tangibles of the breakup I was well-aware of, having visited their old website frequently since the time it went online in the late nineties. Documenting the overall string of bad luck and lack of tour support in their final statement, and finally pulling the merchandise section down, was only some of the public evidence of their abrupt halt. Their highly-promoted show in Montreal co-headlining with One King Down was drastically overhauled as the newly-formed Godbelow replaced them, starting off another love affair for me which has not since diminished in intensity. As much as a loyal fan living north of the border could at the time, I watched the Turmoil machine collapse, and it was heartbreaking. But for the better. Turmoil had nowhere to go in 2001. There was no MySpace.com with which to keep track of their internationally-dispersed fanbase or stream auditory evidence of their avant-garde brand of discordant hardcore. Just the grueling option of minimalist touring, and a very different version of Century Media than most new entrants to the scene are witness to today; a label which, in years past, forsook quality bands like Only Living Witness, Subzero, Merauder, Cro-Mags, Demolition Hammer, and 454 Big Block to name a handful of those undermined by an overall lack of interest in the styles these street-level bands were forging, leading to the end for most, including Turmoil. With Abacus Recordings stepping into the picture in 2005, offering to reissue Turmoil's Century Media back catolog along with three fresh and newly recorded tracks, it appears as though label interest has finally caught up with Turmoil before its members were over the hill. And judging by the wide-array of festival and club dates the band has performed internationally since reuniting, tour support is not lacking like it used to, either. This two-CD retrospective, appropriately-titled Staring Back from the bruising track bearing the same name on The Process Of, will bring back memories for those who followed Turmoil throughout the nineties, and offer a mandatory crash course in their politically and sonically charged discography for newcomers to the scene; because if you were involved in the scene in the nineties, you knew who Turmoil were. The Process Of, produced by then-hot producer Steve Evetts (Buried Alive, All Out War, Hatebreed), was and still is a monumental album. Jamie Getz's harrowing backup screams to Jon Gula's throat-shredding accusations designed for hypocrites ("The Locust"), washed-up sellouts ("Let It Die"), and the stagnant nature of the hardcore scene ("Throwing Stones"), capped off a tormenting vocal presence that helped set The Process Of apart from the pack. The frantic pace of "Killing Today For A Better Tomorrow," "Dear Jon," and "Six Demon Bag" continued in the vein of technicality hinted at on the Anchor EP and earlier, their classic debut US album, From Bleeding Hands, both included on Staring Back in their original and more-than-adequate form. While their debut was remixed by Steve Evetts prior to its Century Media release in 1996, it still sounds dark and simple as it was meant to, with Gula's scathing attacks on televised news ("New Media"), American imperialism ("Evolution of Lies"), and social divisions (T"hese Bridges") layered over an early Turmoil sound that never went quiet. Their three new songs, which start off Staring Back are amazingly similar to the sound perfected on The Process Of, if not a tad basic, but this is easily forgiven considering the members had vowed to never resurrect Turmoil. Still, the new material packs a convincing punch for a band out of the game for so long (although Gula, Hydro, and Gardner formed doom sludge band The Kiss Of Death in the meantime), and serves its purpose as a teaser in anticipation of their comeback album, slated for release in 2006. Bottom Line: Like the one band Turmoil based aspects of their songwriting and philosophy on, Voivod, they were ahead of their time in the nineties no matter how hard they toured. What else were they going to do but break up Cheapen their product by being half-assed They left us in 2001, like real men, without warning. Now they have boldly returned, clearly eager to write the music and say the things that they so desired to half a decade ago. What better way to reacquaint oneself with one of the most trend-free, seething hardcore bands of the nineties, than by purchasing Staring Back This is mandatory.