From their EPK, “compared to its predecessors, “Iterations” moves from monolithic Stoner Doom to Progressive and experimental, enriching its listeners’ auditory experience. 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.” The album has seven songs.

“Init” is first…the beginning if you will. Doom sounds come at you out of the gate, like a thick fog in a graveyard. I have always maintained that harsh vocals work better in this genre, and I stand by that. The clean vocals just can’t stand up to the heavy weight of the music. “Lilith” has a depressive sound, in keeping within the theme of the album. There are some nice melodies however in the chorus, and I would like to hear more of that. “Laspes” is the longest on the album. The opening sequence is smooth, and psychedelic, and there is a slow burn of some nice melodies. It grows a bit darker when the vocals enter, and the extended pacing helps smooth out any rough edges.

“Interlude” is just that…a short, two-minutes of easy, smooth, and melodic tones from the synths. I like the variation presented on the album so far. It segues into “MALACA,” where that first note of the riff is massive. It picks up with a bit of haste from there, but the sound stays in the shadows. The electronic vocals are an interesting addition as well. “Quaus” feels very final within the album’s story. What is beyond the gates of death? Some Progressive elements mix in here, mostly in the meter. “Epitaph” closes the album…a short song dripping with memories, and regret. Overall, this mostly Doom album does have a few surprises, and the band is clearly talented in both songwriting and musicianship, but the clean vocals put a damper on the sound for me. I admire the band’s commitment to sticking to them, but mixing in some harsh vocals once in a while could provide some more dynamism to the album.