Turbokill’s debut full length ‘Vice World’ introduced many metal fans to a band with a “classic” sound. Taking huge cues from the likes of Judas Priest and fellow Germans Accept, the album flaunted a whole world of twin lead guitar breaks and absolutely ripping solos set against a barrage of unashamedly 80s influenced riffs. On the album’s more bombastic tunes like ‘Pulse of The Swarm’ occasional even heavier moments gave vocalist Stephan Dietrich a massive platform from which to share a huge vocal, but on tunes like ‘Global Monkey Show’, the adoption of a more speed driven, party metal sound gave him the opportunity to truly soar. With numbers like ‘Fortress of The Universe’ showing how the band could also keep up with European power metal trends, ‘Vice World’ was an album that fans of traditional metal couldn’t afford to miss.

Five years on, the band’s eagerly awaited second LP promises more of the same, and the title cut finds Turbokill in truly blistering form. The introduction shares a really powerful sound where the trad metal elements of old Helloween tunes collide with something a little more melodic, but the first verse shares more of a typical Turbokill sound when Daniel Kanzler and Ronny Schuster’s guitars lock into a huge riff set against a pumping bassline. As before, Stephan shows off a great gift for a huge melody, allowing his voice to share a very 80s sound, but via a chorus, Turbokill share even more of a melodic metal sound than ever before. The main hook is absolutely brimming with vocal harmonies, tapping into more of a Heavens Edge influence, and although things never go the whole hog towards the kind of 80s rock that fans of a more AOR-centric sound have often loved, it’s great to hear Turbokill dabbling with something even more accessible than before. Eventually slowing down a touch to introduce a flowing lead guitar, there’s a feeling of variety here, but things truly kick off when the featured solo unleashes a flurry of speed driven notes worthy of standing against any of those much-loved 80s metal heroes. Overall, these four minutes share something for almost all fans of traditional/classic metal to enjoy.

‘Champion’ is released on September 27 th. Take a listen to the title cut below.