Turnstile emerged in 2010 from Baltimore’s vibrant hardcore punk scene, blending aggressive energy with diverse influences like Bad Brains and Beach House, reflecting the city’s DIY ethos.
Starting as a five-piece, the band has seen shifts, including guitarist departures in 2015 and 2022, leading to the current lineup that includes guitarist Meg Mills.
Albums like *Glow On* (2021) marked mainstream crossover, earning Grammy nominations and high-profile tours, while maintaining community ties.
The 2025 album Never Enough highlights their growth, incorporating eclectic sounds and collaborations, amid ongoing tours and Baltimore-focused benefits.
Turnstile’s story begins in the suburbs around Baltimore and D.C., where members like Brendan Yates and Daniel Fang discovered punk through siblings’ mixtapes and local shows. Formed in 2010, the band drew from the region’s hardcore legacy, including pioneers like Bad Brains, emphasizing community and self-expression. Their early gigs at spots like The Sidebar embodied the raw, all-ages energy of Baltimore’s DIY venues.
Early EPs like *Pressure to Succeed* (2011) and *Step 2 Rhythm* (2013) showcased short, intense sets on independent platforms. The 2015 debut album *Nonstop Feeling* expanded influences, incorporating punk, hip-hop, and surf-rock. Signing with Roadrunner Records in 2017 led to Time & Space (2018), produced by Will Yip, which blended groovy melodies with hardcore roots.
Then, the 2021 album *Glow On* propelled them to acclaim, debuting on Billboard charts and earning Grammy nods for tracks like “Blackout.” Tours with acts like blink-182 followed, alongside collaborations like the 2023 EP with BadBadNotGood.
Here’s a look at Turnstile’s discography:
Nonstop Feeling, 2015, Reaper Records.
Time & Space, 2018,
Glow On, 2021, Roadrunner Records
Never Enough, 2025, Roadrunner Records
Turnstile was formed in 2010 amid the city’s thriving hardcore punk scene, which itself drew from the influential D.C. punk roots of the late 1970s and 1980s.
Bands like Bad Brains and Minor Threat had set a precedent for blending aggressive sounds with diverse elements such as reggae and straight-edge philosophy, creating a community-focused ethos that emphasized DIY ethics, inclusivity, and self-determination.
This environment profoundly shaped Turnstile, as members Brendan Yates (lead vocals, percussion, keyboards) and Daniel Fang (drums, programming, percussion) grew up in Maryland suburbs like Greenbelt and Birdsville, discovering music through family influences and local shows.
Yates, inspired by his sister’s mixtapes mixing rock, punk, and rap, started playing in middle school with neighbor Brady Ebert (original lead guitar, backing vocals). Fang, from a non-musical family, found punk via his brother’s CDs and downloads, gravitating toward the scene’s diversity and acceptance. Both attended Towson University, where they connected with other members, deepening their ties to Baltimore’s hardcore community.
The original lineup solidified in 2011 with Yates, Ebert, Sean Cullen (rhythm guitar), Franz Lyons (bass, percussion, vocals—from Ohio, previously a drummer who joined after touring with mentor band Trapped Under Ice), and Fang.
Their debut show at The Sidebar in early 2011 was marked by “pure energy,” setting the tone for their high-intensity performances. Early releases included a 2010 demo on Reaper Records, followed by the EP *Pressure to Succeed* (April 26, 2011, Reaper Records) shared via Myspace, and *Step 2 Rhythm* (February 7, 2013, Reaper Records) on Bandcamp. These projects featured short, raw sets lasting about 20 minutes, embodying the “powder-keg” sound of Baltimore acts like Gut Instinct and Next Step Up, centered at venues such as Charm City Art Space (closed in 2015).
By 2015, Turnstile released their debut studio album *Nonstop Feeling* (January 13, Reaper Records), recorded at Salad Days Studios with producer Brian McTernan. It peaked at No. 22 on US Heatseekers and expanded their palette to include punk, hip-hop, surf-rock, and local inspirations like Beach House and Bad Brains’ reggae infusions.
Tours that year, including supporting New Found Glory and the Nonstop Feeling Tour with Superheaven, built momentum. However, post-tour, Cullen stepped down, and Pat McCrory (lead guitar, backing vocals; from Carney, Maryland, and part of side project Angel Du$t) joined in 2016, bringing fresh dynamics. The EP *Move Thru Me* (September 16, 2016, Pop Wig) charted on Billboard, reaching No. 14 on Heatseekers.
Signing with Roadrunner Records in 2017 marked a pivotal shift. Their major-label debut, *Time & Space* (February 23, 2018), produced by Will Yip at Studio 4, topped US Heatseekers and incorporated melody-driven structures, addressing themes of anxiety and loss. Collaborations followed, including the 2020 EP *Share a View* (January 7, Roadrunner) with DJ Mall Grab remixing tracks, blending electronic elements.
The breakthrough came with Glow On (August 27, 2021, Roadrunner), debuting at No. 30 on the US Billboard 200 and earning universal acclaim, landing at No. 8 on Rolling Stone’s Best Albums of 2021. Tracks like “Mystery” (peaking at No. 8 on US Alternative) and “Alien Love Call” (featuring Blood Orange) garnered Grammy nominations in 2023 for Best Metal Performance (“Blackout”), Best Rock Song (“Blackout”), and Best Rock Performance (“Holiday”). This era saw extensive touring, including supporting Suicideboys (2021), My Chemical Romance (2022), and Blink-182 (2023), plus festivals like Coachella. The preceding EP *Turnstile Love Connection* (June 27, 2021) included a short film directed by Yates.
Lineup changes continued: On August 12, 2022, founding guitarist Ebert parted ways amid reported tensions (a dismissed Peace Order filed by Fang), temporarily replaced by Greg Cerwonka. Meg Mills (rhythm guitar, backing vocals; from England, formerly of Big Cheese and Chubby and the Gang) joined as a touring musician in 2023 and became official in 2025. The 2023 EP *New Heart Designs* (August 11, Roadrunner) reworked tracks with BadBadNotGood.
In 2025, *Never Enough* (June 6, Roadrunner) debuted at No. 9 on the US Billboard 200, with singles like “Never Enough” (No. 1 on US Alternative) and a music video directed by Yates and McCrory. Teased via a Los Angeles billboard in March, it featured guests like Hayley Williams and pushed boundaries with dream-pop and alternative rock infusions. Milestones included a free Baltimore benefit show in May for Health Care for the Homeless, raising nearly $50,000 at a Wyman Park concert drawing 10,000, and a Brooklyn release show. Tours spanned Latin America, Europe, Asia (2024), and the Never Enough Tour (2025) with supports like Jane Remover and Amyl and the Sniffers.
Throughout, Baltimore’s impact remained central: Its egalitarian scene blurred artist-audience lines, encouraging genre experimentation despite purist criticism, and skate culture (collaborations with Carpet Company) influenced their welcoming vibe. Now in their 30s, members prioritize community, with spinoffs like Angel Du$t and gestures like Converse shoe collabs (2024). Turnstile’s evolution from underground toil to global stages—evident in 2025 UK Music Video Awards nomination for “Never Enough”—highlights their role in redefining hardcore, fostering diverse crowds and emotional depth while staying rooted in home.
In 2023, they received nominations for Best Metal Performance and Best Rock Song, both for the song “Blackout. The same year, they were nominated for Best Rock Performance for the song “Holiday.” They also brought home a slew of nominations for the 2025 Grammy’s.
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