Turning Point
After logging time in other band projects in the York area, singer/guitarist Brandon Rial, lead guitarist Kenneth Fernsler, bassist Bob Heldibridle and drummer Dave Heldibridle converged into the band Turning Point. Their debut full-length CD, “Let Your Money Come Down”, introduces us to Turning Point’s brand of melody-based, hard-nosed rock; marked by rigid rhythms, roaring riffs, and rugged but tuneful vocals. The group’s sound reveals roots in 70’s/80’s hard rock, but also shares common ground with more recent names like Pearl Jam, Creed and Nickelback. The songs are direct and to the point, including industrial-strength rumblers like the disc-opening “Give It to Me,” “Waterstone” and the album-closing “Born to Lose;” brazen, faster rockers like “Two Minute Warning,” “D.U.I.” and “Bitch Slap;” and a pair of acoustic-geared ballads in “Beauty of You” and the Creed-like “Everything.” The performances are solid and tight overall; these guys take care of business without getting flashy or fancy. Ken’s lead guitar work is clean and serves the melodies, while Brandon’s vocals are strong and mid-ranged if not particularly impassioned; some occasional layered harmonies bolster the impact during a few songs. Recorded at Harrisburg’s Seventh Wave Studio and engineered by Jason Rubal, “Let Your Money Come Down” sounds clear and balanced, with all components of Turning Point’s sound given a clear voice in the mix; and devoid of clutter, bells and whistles. Turning Point’s debut is a solid statement of purpose; “ Let Your Money Come Down” successfully conveys this group’s basic, no-nonsense, hard-rocking approach. (To obtain the CD, visit Turning Point’s Myspace website, www.myspace.com/turningpointrocks.) — reviewed by Jim Price
CD Review
“Let Your Money Come Down” (no label)
