Halfhearted

“On the inside/On the outside/I’m totally lost” the young band from Portland Oregon, Young Turks, distortedly proclaims in a confused conclusion of “Lost” the second track of their debut EP “Half Hearted.” Young Turks seems to have found the perfect formula for crafting their quasi unique brand of hardcore. Taking one part high energy intensity in the veins of American Nightmare, melodic structures and emotive lyrics via Go It Alone, Defeater and Modern Life Is War and the punishing back breaking power of Cruel Hand. Throw all this into a giant pot full of angst, anger and confusion, season it with highly personal lyrics and you have “Halfhearted”. 

Featuring ex members of Broadway Calls and Hell and Reason, Young Turks keeps the spirit of Portland alive with a enlightening take on a genre that can easily be rehashed as much as the next R&B auto tune radio hit. Mixing the best elements from each section of hardcore, as if picking from an orchestra of heavy music, they manage to harness each aspect to their advantage. For a first release this is quite impressive. While it is nothing groundbreaking they are definitely headed in the right direction. 

Pounding drums give footing to seemingly fluid guitars that go from hardcore circle pit insanity to swirling melodic progression, aiming to pluck at even the coldest of hardcore kids heart. The end of “Control”, the final song on the album hits this mark dead on through a despairing progression. A delayed guitar gives way to a rising palm muted riff that slowly builds up so much tension, that when it’s released it’s as if an emotional dam has been broken and the pain being held back flows through the listeners ears and chills the mind. Follow this up with the spacey and cutting lead that enters as the outro reaches its peak and you have one of the best parts on Halfhearted. 

Be sure to keep an eye out for this band as they have the potential to do some great things. Half Hearted is semi-original and nothing earth shattering but is a small step towards jumping over a very large musical gap. The abyssal chasm that hardcore tends to lead itself into. If Young Turks can fine tune there sound enough to find that perfect mixture of melodic, fast and heavy, then soon they will be climbing their way to the top of that metaphorical hardcore canyon. 

Rating: 3/5

Be on the look out for the tape release of Halfhearted on Heart In Hand Records.