With their self-titled debut in 2017, TORTUGA took the heavy stoner and psychedelic doom metal scene by storm. Following their sophomore offering, Deities (2020), now the Polish four-piece unleash their third studio album, Iterations.
Compared to its predecessors, Iterations moves from monolithic stoner-doom to progressive and experimental facettes, enriching its listeners' auditory experience while managing to mature TORTUGA's epic doom and stoner trademarks. Anyone who may have previously mistook TORTUGA as a Lovecraftian themed band should make no mistake - they are storytellers, and Iterations proves the Poznan-based outfit puts as much effort into said storytelling as their songwriting.
This time, the band digs deep and delivers a concept album about the whole history of the universe (from beginning to the end), which is also applicable, metaphorically, to the history of a person's lifetime. Each of the seven new tracks are related in context to the theme of the entire record, but every one of them is a standalone story.
Songs such as "Lilith", kicking off with a raw drum beat and turning into a melodic groove anthem, showcase the authentic sound and unconventional songwriting of TORTUGA. In a world of over-polished studio productions, it's even more exhilarating to discover Iterations. It's a haunting trip through time and space, full of light and shadow, that culminates with the epic album closing track and official single, "Epitaph".
With Iterations, TORTUGA has passed the challenge of album number three with a grade A: The album is a thrilling, free-spirited, deep and enthralling ride, and one that will ultimately establish the band at the top of the current stoner doom and progressive psych rock olymp!
