Album review : TURBULENCE – Binary Dream

Frontiers [Release date: 08.03.24]

Third album from cutting edge Lebanese Progressive Metal band, Turbulence.

Turbulence by name… this truly is a Prog Metal album for genre afficionados. We said that the band’s 2023 Frontiers debut, Frontal was “a defiantly bold attempt to incorporate the music of the wider world into their canon”. That aim continues with Binary Dream.

And it would be easy to use introduce Dream Theater at this point…so we will.

Right from the first note on the album’s opening track, ‘Static Mind’, concentrated listens reveal that the intricacies of the song structures and the musicianship, at first hard to pin down, are presented in much the same way as do the genre’s universal benchmark, Dream Theater.

That comparison doesn’t always stack up, but we can also hear echoes in tracks like ‘Ternary’ and ‘Hybrid’, which have darker sounds and even more complex song structures than the norm.

Doesn’t make them bad people of course. On the contrary, as unabashed high concept (robot wakes up to a “I think therefore I am” moment) albums go, this one continues to demand our full on attention.

The two instrumental tracks, ‘Time Bridge’ and ‘Manifestations’ stand out.

These are for those fans unafraid to wade into densely packed arrangements, where all instruments mesh in an impenetrable maze of Progmetal complexity. There are good tunes there too. Buried deep perhaps, degrees of inner turbulence you might say, but as the tracks proceed, they emerge triumphant.

‘Theta’ is light on its feet,’Corrosion’ too, even thought it’s more of a ballad, each stepping from one heavyweight moment to the next, totally in sync with the band’s musicianship, polishing it up to a gleaming technical shine.

‘Hybrid’, the first trailer track, is perhaps the album’s most accessible piece of music. There’s a visceral power and an intensity to it, but it’s got a strong melodic core that keeps it bolted to terra firma.

Strong album, and you can’t help thinking there’s more to come. ***1/2

Review by Brian McGowan

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.

Check out radio stream repeat on Tuesday 8th (16:00 GMT) and Thursday 10th April (21:00 GMT)
Next Session: Sunday 4 May

Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio

David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 2 March 2025.

UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast on 4 March 2025

How to Listen Live?

Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)

Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.

More information and links at our radio website where you can listen live or listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com

Power Plays w/c 7 April 2025

SEVEN BLOOD To The Unknown (indie)
FROM FALL TO SPRING Incomplete (Arising Empire)
POP EVIL Side Effects (MNRK Heavy)
ERJA LYYTINEN Abyss (Tuohi Records)
SKY VALLEY MISTRESS Too Many Ghosts (New Heavy Sounds)

Featured Albums w/c 7 April 2025

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003 – 2024 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003 – 2024 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003 – 2024 (Singer Songwriter)

Our occasional Newsletter signposts latest additions to the website(s). We also include a selection of recent top albums, based on GRTR! reviewer ratings. The newsletter is sent out a few times a year.

If you’d like to register to receive this occasional mailing please complete the form:

If using a smartphone/tablet please tap here or re-orientate your device

(Note that this registration is separate from site registration which allows you to leave comments and receive daily emails about new content. If you wish to register for this – in addition or separately – please click or tap here – for more information – the form is at the foot of each page. Please read our privacy policy when opting-in to receive emails.