Now, with the arrival of their fourth full-length Never Enough, the band once again stretch the boundaries of what hardcore can be, both in sonic scope and emotional depth. Where GLOW ON shimmered with infectious melodies and sun-baked optimism, Never Enough feels moodier, more expansive, and yet no less accessible. It’s a record that pulses with creative confidence and a refusal to sit still.
The album’s production sees the return of key collaborators from across Turnstile’s evolution. Adam Hawkins, who mixed GLOW ON, is back behind the desk, joined by Time & Space producer Will Yip, who co-engineered the record alongside Jason Lader. The result is a record that balances clarity with grit, studio sheen never comes at the expense of raw energy.
Despite some high-profile guests, Never Enough never feels cluttered or overstuffed. Blood Orange’s Devonté Hynes returns in a subtle supporting role, contributing cello on the title track and “Look Out For Me”, and backing vocals on “Seein’ Stars”. That same track also features a brief but perfectly placed vocal cameo from Paramore’s Hayley Williams, while Faye Webster and Liam Benzvi lend gentle harmonies to “Time Is Happening”.
Elsewhere, the unmistakable saxophone tones of Leland Whitty (BadBadNotGood) lend “Dreaming” a strange, soulful lift. These additions don’t steal focus, they’re textural flourishes that deepen the atmosphere without shifting the spotlight from the band.
A key internal shift came with the departure of founding guitarist Brady Ebert in 2022. Rather than stall, Turnstile recalibrated. Guitarist Pat McCrory (already a longtime contributor and former member of Angel Du$t) shoulders all six-string duties on Never Enough, delivering punchy riffs and lush, layered tones that sit perfectly alongside Brendan Yates’ increasingly adventurous keyboard work. New guitarist Meg Mills (Big Cheese, Chubby & the Gang) is now an official band member, but didn’t feature on the album itself.
Still, Turnstile have always operated as a unit, and the bond between Yates, McCrory, drummer Daniel Fang, and bassist Franz Lyons is palpable. Fang’s rhythmic versatility, in particular, is a secret weapon, his expressive drumming lends melodic structure and momentum to tracks in a way few percussionists can match. Whether it’s the half-time heft of “Sole” or the off-kilter groove of “Dull”, Fang proves that the drums can carry just as much voice as the guitars or vocals.
Musically, Never Enough is more eclectic than ever. “I Care” throws 1980s indie-pop shimmer into a post-hardcore blender; “Seein’ Stars” evokes smooth blue-eyed soul filtered through gritty distortion; “Dreaming” flirts with mariachi melodies. It shouldn’t work, and yet it all somehow does. At the record’s centre lies the expansive “Look Out For Me”, a six-minute journey that channels everyone from The Police to Tame Impala, while remaining unmistakably Turnstile.
What makes Never Enough such a striking listen is its refusal to be pinned down. It isn’t a retreat from hardcore, nor is it an abandonment of the scene that nurtured them. Instead, it’s an embrace of everything hardcore can be, fluid, melodic and unafraid. Much like Bad Brains or Shelter before them, Turnstile continue to pair unrelenting energy with a message rooted in openness and positivity.
In truth, few bands in heavy music today feel as essential as Turnstile. Never Enough isn’t just a brilliant follow-up to GLOW ON, it’s an album that further dismantles the notion of genre walls altogether. At this point, the only label that truly fits them is their own.
4.5/5
Never Enough is out this Friday, 6 June.
Atiba Jefferson
Oran O’Beirne
www.overdrive.ie 2025