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Kawaleria Szatana (1986)
Released in 1986, Kawaleria Szatana is Turbo's third album and a prime example of classic '80s heavy/speed metal. These Poles managed to shake off their wimpy early stuff and deliver something far more aggressive. The playing is tight, the solos are killer, and the riffs are memorable. There’s even a noticeable Iron Maiden influence creeping in with some of the melodies, which adds to the album's charm.
The vocals are a weak point for sure. They're not the worst but his screams sound like a crow wandered into the studio. During his more restrained moments, Kupczyk's voice is tolerable enough but just lacks the smoothness that most singers would usually have when trying such high pitched parts. It can definitely be grating.
For an album recorded in Communist-era Poland, Kawaleria Szatana sounds surprisingly good. The production doesn't come off as cheap, despite that dreadful cover art, which seems to scream "low budget." The songwriting is varied, but it’s the faster tracks that really stand out. Highlights like “Żołnierz fortuny” and “Kawaleria Szatana cz. II” show the band at their best: tight, energetic, and full of raw, early-'80s metal spirit.
The vocals are a weak point for sure. They're not the worst but his screams sound like a crow wandered into the studio. During his more restrained moments, Kupczyk's voice is tolerable enough but just lacks the smoothness that most singers would usually have when trying such high pitched parts. It can definitely be grating.
For an album recorded in Communist-era Poland, Kawaleria Szatana sounds surprisingly good. The production doesn't come off as cheap, despite that dreadful cover art, which seems to scream "low budget." The songwriting is varied, but it’s the faster tracks that really stand out. Highlights like “Żołnierz fortuny” and “Kawaleria Szatana cz. II” show the band at their best: tight, energetic, and full of raw, early-'80s metal spirit.
(6 May 2025)
Ostatni wojownik (1987)
Released in 1987, Ostatni wojownik is Turbo’s fourth L.P. Recorded behind the Iron Curtain in Communist-era Poland, this album shows the continued musical evolution of the band, as the sound here is more aggressive than ever before. It's a bit of a mixed bag, though. On one hand, it features two of the best tracks they ever recorded: "Ostatni wojownik" and "Miercz Beruda". The latter, in particular, is my favourite of their entire catalog. It starts with a somber, melodic part that quickly rips your face off with intense riffs. As the tension builds, around the 2:50 mark, everything is unleashed, the aggressive riffs, the high-pitched screams, and some epic melodies. It’s a great mix of speed and thrash, showcasing tight playing as well as a solid sense of melody and song structure.
By this point, the drummer from Wilczy Pająk had joined the band, and you can tell he brought a much-needed dose of viciousness. The vocals, while a bit rougher than before, still include those high-pitched screams that add a distinctive edge. Turbo sticks with their native Polish for the lyrics, though they also released an English version. I don’t see any reason to bother with the English one. I’d rather hear it as it was meant to sound, with no compromises.
Unfortunately, after the first two tracks, the album loses its momentum a bit. The third track starts with some noisy intro that goes on for far too long, instead of just getting right to business. The atmosphere is further undermined by the fact that this is followed by a live recording of "Seans z wampirem". The noticeable change in sound quality isn't nearly as jarring as the audience noise. The flow of the album never quite recovers. By the time "Koń trojański" comes around, the damage has been done and while there are some epic melodies, this instrumental track drags a bit.
Nitpicking aside, Ostatni wojownik features a lot of great '80s speed/thrash metal and is definitely worth a listen. "Miercz Beruda" is an especially unforgettable song. It’s a shame Turbo didn’t stick with this direction afterward though they never were ones for consistency throughout the years.
By this point, the drummer from Wilczy Pająk had joined the band, and you can tell he brought a much-needed dose of viciousness. The vocals, while a bit rougher than before, still include those high-pitched screams that add a distinctive edge. Turbo sticks with their native Polish for the lyrics, though they also released an English version. I don’t see any reason to bother with the English one. I’d rather hear it as it was meant to sound, with no compromises.
Unfortunately, after the first two tracks, the album loses its momentum a bit. The third track starts with some noisy intro that goes on for far too long, instead of just getting right to business. The atmosphere is further undermined by the fact that this is followed by a live recording of "Seans z wampirem". The noticeable change in sound quality isn't nearly as jarring as the audience noise. The flow of the album never quite recovers. By the time "Koń trojański" comes around, the damage has been done and while there are some epic melodies, this instrumental track drags a bit.
Nitpicking aside, Ostatni wojownik features a lot of great '80s speed/thrash metal and is definitely worth a listen. "Miercz Beruda" is an especially unforgettable song. It’s a shame Turbo didn’t stick with this direction afterward though they never were ones for consistency throughout the years.
(6 May 2025)
Dead End (1990)
Turbo really was a band with an identity crisis, from frequent lineup changes to constant stylistic shifts. They followed up Ostatni wojownik with 1989's Epidemie, which was pathetic and weak. However, they obviously got their hands on Beneath the Remains sometime after that, because with their 1990 L.P. Dead End, they rebounded with their heaviest album to date.
The new vocalist adds a lot, with a harsher vocal style similar to Max Cavalera’s that makes the material more aggressive. The music here is much more direct overall, and the fastest, sharpest riffs would not sound out of place on Ostatni wojownik. That is not to say the songwriting is one-dimensional. There are subtle technical and melodic ideas throughout, and the solos are intricate. There are a lot of memorable riffs, and the songs never blend together. Sparse keyboard use pops up in a few spots and adds atmosphere without derailing anything. You can definitely hear the Sepultura influence in some of the riffs.
In a sense, they lost some of what made them unique since this kind of sound was everywhere by 1990. They finally put together a more coherent, focused, and heavy approach and ended up blending in with everyone else. But that does not matter. This is easily the most solid thing they had done up to this point. I have seen people call this death/thrash, but outside of the title track, there are hardly any death metal riffs. It is just fast-paced, vicious thrash metal.
It took several years, but Turbo finally made an album that is good all the way through with no weak points or strange moments. If you like Egzekuthor, Kat, Prosecutor, Gladiator, and the like, check this out. Standout tracks include “Annihilate”, “Dead End” and “Mortuary”.
The new vocalist adds a lot, with a harsher vocal style similar to Max Cavalera’s that makes the material more aggressive. The music here is much more direct overall, and the fastest, sharpest riffs would not sound out of place on Ostatni wojownik. That is not to say the songwriting is one-dimensional. There are subtle technical and melodic ideas throughout, and the solos are intricate. There are a lot of memorable riffs, and the songs never blend together. Sparse keyboard use pops up in a few spots and adds atmosphere without derailing anything. You can definitely hear the Sepultura influence in some of the riffs.
In a sense, they lost some of what made them unique since this kind of sound was everywhere by 1990. They finally put together a more coherent, focused, and heavy approach and ended up blending in with everyone else. But that does not matter. This is easily the most solid thing they had done up to this point. I have seen people call this death/thrash, but outside of the title track, there are hardly any death metal riffs. It is just fast-paced, vicious thrash metal.
It took several years, but Turbo finally made an album that is good all the way through with no weak points or strange moments. If you like Egzekuthor, Kat, Prosecutor, Gladiator, and the like, check this out. Standout tracks include “Annihilate”, “Dead End” and “Mortuary”.
(3 June 2025)
One Way (1992)
Following Dead End, Turbo’s existence continued down a tumultuous path. The band was briefly laid to rest before guitarist Wojciech Hoffmann recruited new members to take another stab at it. The result was 1992’s One Way, which basically picks up right where the last album left off. It’s so similar, in fact, that you can hardly tell there’s a different vocalist.
Musically, this is vicious death/thrash, in the vein of Sepultura and Attomica. Thrash riffs dominate most of the record, but there are more overt death metal elements this time, especially on tracks like “End User”, “Mental Alienation” and “Blasphemy”. The production is a bit more raw and stripped-down than on Dead End, and the jagged edges actually enhance the aggression of the material. That said, it’s not just nonstop intensity. There are some memorable choruses and a few slower parts that add atmosphere, making the faster moments more impactful when they return. The lead guitar solos cut through with a razor-sharp tone that suits the rougher sound perfectly.
Unfortunately, by the time Turbo settled into a consistent style, it was already considered outdated. Most bands either dove fully into death metal or wimped out with groove and other experimental nonsense. They disbanded again not long after this release. Still, One Way is a heavy, relentless album and stands as one of the stronger entries from the early ’90s Polish death/thrash scene.
Musically, this is vicious death/thrash, in the vein of Sepultura and Attomica. Thrash riffs dominate most of the record, but there are more overt death metal elements this time, especially on tracks like “End User”, “Mental Alienation” and “Blasphemy”. The production is a bit more raw and stripped-down than on Dead End, and the jagged edges actually enhance the aggression of the material. That said, it’s not just nonstop intensity. There are some memorable choruses and a few slower parts that add atmosphere, making the faster moments more impactful when they return. The lead guitar solos cut through with a razor-sharp tone that suits the rougher sound perfectly.
Unfortunately, by the time Turbo settled into a consistent style, it was already considered outdated. Most bands either dove fully into death metal or wimped out with groove and other experimental nonsense. They disbanded again not long after this release. Still, One Way is a heavy, relentless album and stands as one of the stronger entries from the early ’90s Polish death/thrash scene.
(7 June 2025)
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