German power metal upstarts, TURBOKILL, return with their sophomore album, Champion. A record that, as it turns out, more than lives up to its name.

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It’s hard to believe that this is only TURBOKILL’s second full length album release. Having already been branded by Rock Hard magazine as “among in the elite in Teutonic metal” and having been at the forefront of the “New Wave of German Metal” tour earlier this year, Champion demonstrates a band already at the height of their powers.

TURBOKILL

REVIEW

Opening instrumental track “Inner Calling” is sweeping in scope and features atmospheric keyboards that are then joined by guitar soloing that becomes more grandiose and up-front as the track nears its conclusion.

That conclusion heralds the sumptuous, flowing riffing of “A Million Ways”. Rapid fire drumming initiates a galloping pace that only slightly drops after impressive vocalist Stephan Dietrich enters the fray. An unashamed fists-in-the-air anthem, Dietrich imbues this track with the majesty of prime Michael Kiske and the production (from Lars Rettkowitz of Freedom Call) is suitably sparkling.

“Time to Wake” was the band’s choice for first single and it is easy to hear why. A song that showcases their effortless ability to write metal anthems, it also captures the sense of urgency that the band had after coming back after the COVID-19 lockdown. As Dietrich himself explained in the record’s liner notes, the song constitutes a “wake-up call” and is “about breaking out of the hamster wheel, listening to your inner voice and going in search of yourself”.

Title-track “Champion” is next in line and it’s a humdinger. Brooding, then urgent Jake E Lee style guitar riffing captivates throughout. The chorus is simply spectacular. Triumphant and uplifting, the harmonized shouts neatly encapsulate the notion of unity and togetherness.

There’s a little more of a frenzied opening to the start of “Wings of the Thunder Hawk” that reminded me of Painkiller era Priest, but the track soon drops to a more deliberate pace. The Helloween vibes are once again in abundance here and the chorus is once again majestic in its execution. It’s little wonder that this one was the choice for the third overall single from the album.

The hits keep on coming with “Tear It Down”, which was the second single from the album and was originally released last year. Dietrich’s emotive voice channels Geoff Tate and Bruce Dickinson and the song’s lyrics powerfully convey themes of bravery and resilience. In particular, the transcendence from the slightly restrained verses to the more assertive chorus had me raising my fists in the air.

“Go Your Way” starts with a slow building intro that reminded me of Priest’s classic “Hellion”. Fireworks then ensue with an even more epic sounding chorus in which once again harmonized vocals get the heart rate pumping.

“Mirage Mirror” would fit comfortably on a classic Queensrÿche album. The more pensive vocal tone within the verses provides a welcome contrast to the more anthemic tracks that preceded it. Dietrich arguably gives his best vocal performance on the entire album here and illustrates that he can be understated as well as ebullient.

Another track that lives up to its name, “Power Punch” is replete with muscular riffing from Messrs Schuster and Kanzler. The chorus is an absolute blast. Never mind deeper meaning, this is one to forget your troubles and simply bang your head and raise your fists.

Like its predecessor, “Sons of the Storm” does not pull any punches. Leaning heavily into trad power metal, it’s easy to imagine standing in a festival crowd, nodding your head and trying not to spill your beer as you raise your plastic glass in salute.

A song that was written in honour of lost loved ones, “Shine On” is the solitary ballad on Champion. Showcasing their versatility, the track evokes the pomp of late 80s Scorpions and this does it no harm. Closer “Overcome” on the other hand is an absolute rager. A full-on blitzkrieg of precision riffing compelled me to grit my teeth and nod along in rhythmic obedience. Another highlight on this track was its gripping middle eight section, which dropped the pace before delivering a shimmering guitar solo to complement Dietrich’s sustained vocal highs.

cONCLUSION

Power metal enthusiasts rejoice, this will be one of the most enjoyable 53 minutes you will spend this year. A shoo-in for my album of the year listings, TURBOKILL have produced a fantastic sounding trad metal release with Champion. Unashamed, unabated old school metal delivered with all the exuberance of a band brim-full of confidence.

The Nwothm Score: 10/10

TURBOKILL bandcamp: https://turbokill.bandcamp.com/album/champion

TURBOKILL Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TURBOKILLBand?locale=en_GB