Reckless Love – Turborider

Album review by; The Dark Cookie

Back after a long absence Finish rockers Reckless Love are back with album number five, Turborider.

And if you are aware of their previous output, you will know this is a bit of a sonic departure for the band. Don’t worry they’ve not become a Grunge or Nu-metal band overnight, no the sound is still very firmly from the 80s, this collection is not from the dark, sleazy, grimy sound of the strip, it much more neon bright and cinematic of Hollywood, it's driven of a pop-synth-wave, and it isn’t going to suit everyone!

I’ll let you into a little secret, first listen I really didn’t like this, mostly far too lightweight, far too much of a departure from their previous dirtier sound. And whilst on subsequent listens the record, mostly has grown on me, it is still a little sparkly for me. I will draw the analogy with JUDAS PRIEST’S similarly titled Turbo Lover (I suspect not a total coincidence), the album Rob and the chaps embraced the tech available to them at that time, creating an album for its time, one that divided fans and critics at the time, and one in recent years I’ve gone back to and now from a distance I have a different appreciation for the sound. Will the same happen here, well, not having a time machine to take me to the future I don’t know, but one can hope.

Kicking off with the title track of the film, sorry album “Turborider”. This so easily could be the theme tune to an 80s straight to video action movie, or slick American cop show, and actually is very good. There are guitars doing their thing, there is a chorus and it is a great opener. “Eyes Of A Maniac” follows straight off with the same synth refrain, a bit more pop-bouncy, but still some nice axe.

“Outrun” is a pacey AOR number, heavy on what to me sounds like a guitar synth (al-la PRIEST) with a catchy chorus and yes, wailing guitars, three for three so far. Then we get to “Kids Of The Arcade” which is a bouncy slick, lighter-weight rocker, which is so 80s in a Crocket and Tubbs, brightly coloured suits with the sleeves rolled up, over the top, slicker than a slippery weasel dipped in engine oil, over-blown number, that clings onto working by its fingernails.

Now, here is the problem track. Not a problem because it’s bad, the exact opposite in fact! RECKLESS LOVE does a cover of OZZY’s “Bark At The Moon”, which actually is, at worst on a par with the original, but for me is better than double O’s, no mean feat as this is a stone-cold classic. I have to say it if by far the best song on the album. It’s loud, it has little touches that pay homage to the era in the sound. The guitar solos are AMAZING. And as much as I hate myself for saying it Olli’s vocals suit the song better in many ways than Ozzy’s. Which for me causes a problem, because most of what follows pales in the light of this one track.

“Prelude (Flight Of The Cobra)” is simply a guitar intro for “Like A Cobra”, and I prefer the former, as the latter really pumps up the pop sensibilities. Yes there is some nice soloing, but it is just a little kitsch for my tastes.

“For The Love Of Good Times” is supposed to be the big power ballad and nearly works. Slowed down a bit, less of the drum machine sound (might not be but that’s how it comes across) and unlike “Bark” Olli’s voice sound very “produced”. “’89 Sparkle” just misses the mark, because it is too Euro-pop for this reviewer.

“Future Lover Boy”. I don’t know what it is, but I don’t know why, but I don’t get it. And I shouldn’t like the closing track “Prodigal Sons” for similar reasons to the last few, but actually I get it. It is a fist punching pop-rock chorus heavy tune. Yes it is quite sparkly, but there are riffs and solos and I can see this being a bit heavier live, where it will work better, like loads of 80s AOR the live experience stripped away a lot of the gloss and became a different monster, lets hope this is the case here.

Very much a game of two halves and one of the best covers I’ve heard for a while being right in the middle of the album nearly blows it for the latter songs. Sticking it at the end as a little bonus might have been a better move, such a hard act to follow.

3.5 out of 5

Musicians;

Olli Herman - Vocals

Pepe - Guitars

Jalle Verne - Bass

Hessu Max - Drums

Social Media Links;

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/recklesslove

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/recklesslove.official

Twitter https://twitter.com/RecklessLoveCom

You Tube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5yDo26IN54MMpMyY9kdTTA/featured

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