Feeling nostalgic and adventurous for more Heavy Metal, I thought id check out the controversial record released a couple years before Ram It Down. I barely listened to Turbo in my youth as it was often cited as their worst album. Interestingly it made for a commercial peak at the time. Title track Turbo Lover is also a cracking classic they still play live to this day. The critique I remember used to focus on the inclusion of synths, something they had not done so bold before. Having given it a good go, the electronics are barely a fraction of whats wrong with Judas Priest's tenth, Turbo.
Softening the edges of their metallic might and looking for anthemic vibes in all the wrong places, Priest essentially miscalculate their strengths. Pivoting to themes more fitting of partying, excess and love. The records overall tone seems have one foot in the Glam Metal trend of the time. Every song brings a bigger than life attitude looking for the sing along stride of the time, which on paper it achieves but the you can sense the crowd pleasing lyrics falling flat. Oddly, this isn't too far from their kettle of fish but Halford's lyrics just don't strike a nerve. He doesn't feel authentic or real, often awkward or uncomfortable. its as if he is on auto pilot at someone else's show.
Its all so odd, song after song checks all the boxes yet it plays through a musical uncanny valley. The big riffs rock hard and wild guitar solo's blaze over top with that classic Downing & Tipton shred but it never escapes the gravity of its own softened tone. The old school analog synths don't flip the scale in either direction. On a couple of songs they are more prevalent but its mostly a soft aesthetic dressing. It is the Glam persona they attempt to take on that's mostly to blame. Wild Nights, Hot & Crazy Days is probably the best example. Halford crams all the lyrical cliches in but despite his phenomenal presence as a timeless front man, It doesn't suit them.
Turbo is a strange experience. On one hand I do kind of love the overt cheesiness, more so the delivery than words. On the other, it all plays with an awkward misfire that fails to land emotionally. The album does deliver another cracking tune tho. Locked In just about beats the Turing test. Its big crooning guitar notes and warm bass drive is a gorgeous moment. The synth break before the solos is fun too. Its no secret as to why this one is so contentious but that's nothing to do with the electronics. Its the song writing and lyrics to be blamed. I'm glad I checked Turbo out but I wont be returning.
Rating: 4/10