Written on a cross-country road trip, Miami-based artist Theo Black impresses throughout his new EP, Turned Around — blending post-punk, power pop, and grunge with seamless cohesion. The self-produced four-track collection explores inner demons and societal dread with heavy guitars, shimmering synths, and anthemic rock charisma.
EP opener “Follow The Money” immerses with a catchy, trickling guitar jangling, traversing into a debonair vocal introspection: “all my life they been draggin’ me down / it’s the same damn demons in a different town.” Perspectives on a self-first, capitalist society move into a shimmering synth touch, while the guitar and bass synergy find a lovely middle ground between post-punk, rock, and grunge. Ensuing track “Plans” embraces that post-punk spectrum further, where clanging bass and haunting flourishes meld with soul-searching lyrical prowess, with “I’m tired of the way things have been” admissions pairing with visceral accounts of being terrified and experiencing shadow-y, lingering pain.
Up next, “Your Love” unleashes heavier slabs of guitar, invigorating with an anthemic rock spiritedness. “I still want your love, I still crave your touch,” a yearning vocal lets out, pairing that romantic sense with sturdy rock charisma. Added vocal vigor entices throughout the final minute, within the “over so quick” laments. EP finale “Early Morning” delights as well, thematically tackling the dread of stagnation and loneliness. “I don’t wanna be the one that’s watching from the grave,” vocals carry into pulsing guitar energy, making for another success on an EP that consistently envelops.
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We discovered this release via MusoSoup.
