Young Turks

Around a decade ago, Young Turks would have blended in amongst a sea of similar bands like the Hope Conspiracy, American Nightmare, the Suicide File, Comeback Kid and This is Hell, but the landscape is far different now. With the Suicide File long since living up to their name, American Nightmare refusing to give up the ghost on reunion shows, and Comeback Kid and This is Hell hardly resembling their once hardcore selves, the Hope Conspiracy offer the only, well, hope for this driving and melodic, yet heavy, hardcore punk sound, at least as far as the purveyors of its glory days are concerned. On Where I Rise, the Turks — who are actually young Portlanders — face the aforementioned giants. While they don't topple them a la David and Goliath, they do a reasonable job at standing their own ground. Only time will tell if a follow-up should be entitled Where I Soar, or Where I Plateau. Until then, take Where I Rise for what it is: a fun and quick dash through a sound not as prominent as it once was, or should be.