Photo by Alexis Gross

A scene divided. Those are the early takeaways from how listeners are feeling about what’s coming our way from Turnstile leading into their hotly anticipated new album. For the record, these pages are on the side of optimism and satisfaction so far that lead single and title track “NEVER ENOUGH” gave us just enough of a scene setting as an introduction with its ambient mood boarding colliding with a new mantra, but apparently, there’s always going to be those who have way too high expectations from the band who on last check gave us a genre-transcending classic in 2021’s GLOW ON. The second and third previews off NEVER ENOUGH unintentionally further capitalize on this polarization nevertheless. It’s a double feature connected through more hardcore art cinema directed by frontman Brendan Yates and guitarist Pat McCrory that reps where this divergence in opinion seems to emanate from. On this 10th anniversary weekend of Turnover’s own most divisive transitional moment in their career in Peripheral Vision, it wouldn’t be such a wild thought to think that its convergence of dreamy indie pop, melodic hardcore, and post-punk continues to ripple its way through the first half of their former co-headliner tourmate’s latest, with fans and peers of both in Paramore’s Hayley Williams and Blood Orange’s Dev Hynes softening blurred angles on backing vocals. But then comes that energy shift. “BIRDS” swoops in on a drone and is a burner made to incite bodies flying into the pit in “classic” TURNSTILE form, with Yates commandeering the path from center stage. “Finally, I can see it / These birds not meant to fly alone.” Depending on your vantage point, you might, too. Hopefully you do, because if there’s anything that makes a band like TURNSTILE a fascinating listen and watch, it’s witnessing their audacity to transform beyond set expectations.

Directed by: Brendan Yates & Pat McCrory

TURNSTILE’s NEVER ENOUGH will be released June 6th on Roadrunner Records.