Turtle Skull – Being Here

by Mark 'Yeti' Richard · Published June 16, 2025 · Updated June 16, 2025

Turtle Skull are a four-piece band from Sidney, Australia. Their music is a mix of psychedelic rock with a blend of alternative doom and indie pop with excellent vocal harmonies. Their debut Self Titled EP was released in 2018, followed by 2020’s Monoliths, and their latest album, 2025’s Being Here. The lineup consists of Julian Frese on bass guitar, Ally Gradon on vocals and synths, Charlie Gradon on vocals and drums, and Dean McLeod on vocals and guitars. Being Here was released on May 23rd 2025, on Art As Catharsis and Copper Feast Records. It contains eight tracks at forty two minutes long.

The title track “Being Here” opens the album with a fuzz drenched guitar riff that plays out and punches into a nice groove. The heavy psych tones and smooth layers of vocals enhance the song with a cool, mesmerizing feel. It has a great flow throughout. The second track, “Apathy” kicks in next. The retro sound works perfectly with the Turtle Skull tones of melodic grooves and pop sensibility attributes. It’s a rocking delight textured with synth and upbeat rhythms.

The third track “Into The Sun” has a psychedelic vibe enhanced throughout the song with seventies rock influences drawn in. The melodic layered vocals, akin to Pink Floyd, are wonderful and connect perfectly with the simple beats and rhythms. “Bourgeoisie” is another mid tempo song with a catchy chorus line of the title and a nice rocking groove. It’s a memorable song that has backing vocals and spacy sounds of synth added in too. “It Starts With Me” is another great tune that keeps the music alive and flowing. The almost pummeling sound rocks on in full swing. The sixth track, “Heavy As Hell” drifts along with a dreamy and beautiful rhythmic melody. The catchy chorus and insightful guitar leads flavor in the vintage fabrics that make Being Here so compelling. These first six songs are more direct in execution than the last two tracks.

“Modern Mess” reminds me of Black Mountain with a chilled out vibe that breathes throughout the almost seven minute track. Some phasing synth sounds and the clean guitar playing glides the song along elegantly. The soft and lush vocals resound beautifully throughout and leaves the listener in a daydreaming haze. The eighth and final track entitled “Moon & Tide”, is another hypnotic musical adventure. The subtle and sonically pleasing tones are felt with an atmospheric aura. The almost nine minute closure is the longest song on the album and it drifts with a sonically flourishing essence. The last minute of the song is a cascade of noisy feedback sounds that sensationally fade out.

Turtle Skull are an excellent band and Being Here is the first album from them that I have heard. It’s a very enjoyable listen and one that has a rocking and chill sound, executed magnificently. It’s interesting that they chose to link the last two ethereal tracks at the end of the recording, exiting the album with a dreamy and celestial sound. I think it’s a brilliant decision allowing the more streamlined songs to sell their music and then create a lush and heavenly closing collaboration. Being Here has something special brewing within each musical composition and has enticed me to want to hear this over and over again.