Review by Raphaël on July 20, 2025.

One thing I love the most in life is discovering new music. Usually it goes like this, I open a promo email, read a bit about the band, listen to a few songs and see if it clicks. Well, with Turian, it instantly clicked! Trying to describe their sound the most summarized possible, they play an eclectic brand of metallic hardcore, reminiscent of bands like Code Orange, they do have a lot of industrial influences, but it goes broader than that. I hear everything from electronic to post-hardcore to noise rock and a touch of alternative metal.

By the music alone Turian conquered my heart, but it was only the beginning! Fronted by Vern Metztli-Moon, they had this to say about the album "As a Yaqui Indian, this album is about my ancestors, acknowledging their unheard grief and our transcendental connection to one another". Now, if it wasn't evident before, I absolutely adore what I lovingly refer to as "woke-DEI" metal, which is basically any music that deeply engages with political subjects and/or features the point of view of any marginalized individuals. After reading the lyrics I was incredibly pleased, they mix engaging music with deep lyrics that often approaches truly heavy subject matters but often with a catchy beat that makes you want to move! In an interview with Belgian Jasper on youtube, Vern had this to say about performing these deeply personal and meaningful songs night after night: "I think I was ready for that, taking on that role you know, I think actually being able to have the outlet to scream about it and write songs about it, make people listen to the anger I have about it. I feel like it's a productive way of expressing that, like it needs to come out you know. I think that it's meditative and it's not as heavy or taxing emotionally as one would maybe think." The role they are talking about is to be the voice of their ancestors and I could not think of a better way to do that than screaming their lungs out with sick breakdowns!

Now, on to the meat of it all, the album begins with the song 'Spill', which is a straightforward hardcore banger! It's fast, quite complex, with a good dose of dissonance, yet super catchy at the same time. Speaking of catchy, the next song, called 'Chemical Bath', is definitely a highlight! Layers of keyboards are supporting heavy riffs and angry screams. I think the first lyrics that made me instantly fall in love with the band is this line: "Zyklon b chemical bath, Nazis copied the U.S., Corrupted by power hungry hatred you possess, Your spirits will never rest" because yes, this is a historical "fun" fact, Hitler was a big big fan of the US and how they treated black, indigenous or people from Mexico. Reading a bit more, I learned that the song was inspired by the story of Carmelita Torres, a young 17-year-old woman from Mexico that refused, at the border, to go through the humiliating process of completely stripping down and being doused in a mix of kerosene and vinegar. One of my favorite moments on the album is when Vern says: "Dirty, lousy, destitute, Drenching us with insecticide, Treating us like vermin", then the music stops and they yell "YOU ARE THE PARASITE" followed by an upbeat, almost dance breakdown. Back to Carmelita Torres, her brave refusal inspired thousands more and the event was called the 1917 Bath Riots. Last memorable line from the song: Medicalized violence, Racist policies, Your foremen and your fucking sentries, WON'T QUELL THE RIOTING. What an incredibly memorable line! Rest in power Carmelita! Anyway, my final thought on this is, ABOLISH ICE!

Moving on, 'Divine Child (No One's Daughter)' is an alternative metal infused banger that makes me think of Deftones every time. 'Burden of the Blood' is another incredibly heavy song, both musically and lyrically. The line "Burden of the blood, Ancestral repressed grief, A century of memories, Transposed crushing me" makes my eyes water every time. The weight of being a genocide survivor is unfathomable; it must take such courage to even just think about all the ramifications. I have such immense respect for people that tackle such a thing. Speaking of, another incredibly impactful line on the song 'Blood Quantum Blues': "Delusion, drunk on bigotry, Fuck your manifest destiny, Fuck your ordained divinity, Fuck you, You ain't killing me". Being severely disabled, I can totally empathize with this, the feeling you get when the broader society tries to erase your very existence, Fuck you, You ain't killing me, indeed! One of the most powerful moments is when Vern repeats "Indians. Don't. Vanish." on the backdrop of a build up that eventually explodes with the sickest breakdown, chills every time!

Turian has created something truly special, a rich tapestry of influences and sounds used to convey powerful messages. I truly hope this album propels them to fame; their voice is a necessity in these unprecedented times where fascism grows everyday that passes!

9 out of 10