Until last week, I’d never heard of TURBID NORTH. If not for a well-placed press release that landed in my email with just enough info to grab my attention, I may still be saying ‘Turbid who?’ Instead, I requested a copy of the Texas-based Alaskan metallers debut album.
OROGENY (out now via Ironclad Recordings) is the type of melodic death metal that overrated outfits like a certain band of Swedes I know wish that they’d written. Instead of just stringing a bunch of technical riffs together like so many do, TURBID NORTH adds a groove to their rock that is usually found on the ‘stoner/doom’ side of the metal spectrum, while bringing in some old-school thrash elements as well. Tracks like the 7:13 Kodiak Pt. 2 are fine examples of this, while the 12-minute+ closing track Floating the Ionosphere not only combines the aforementioned, but features some impressive acoustic work as well.
The Bottom Line: Alaska has finally spawned a metal band that I like. If OROGENY puts TURBID NORTH on the map, it should be safe for them to move back home and continue creating without having to plant themselves in another state.
Rating: 4/5 Stars
