Album Review: Twin Atlantic – Free
3 min read
Energetic Glaswegian sons of rock Twin Atlantic, fresh from a recent tour of the UK showing off their talents as one of the top acts to be produced by the Scots over the past couple of years, release their highly anticipated debut record Free this month and the much hyped about record sets the bar high for indie acts as Twin Atlantic display a band in top form and with an ambitious sound that is set to take the world of indie by storm.
Though Free acts as the bands debut long player, this isn’t the first release but the foursome. The band have been around since early 2007 and have released a number of singles as well as the 2009 mini album Vivarium which garnish them with critical recognition and gave the act the opportunity of making a few high profile contacts as well as securing some A-list support slots with some globally successful acts. Already the four piece outfit have supported the likes of UK indie favourite Biffy Clyro, Blink 182 and US hard rock superstars Smashing Pumpkins on their UK tours.
Now with the release of Free, Twin Atlantic are tightening thier grip on the indie scene and fixing thier sights on a similar success to their fellow indie rock peers.
Consisting of 13 tracks, Free is an impressive collection for Twin Atlantic to steer the band swiftly in the direction of future indie chart domination.
Time For You To Stand Up is an anthemic monster of indie-pop goodness that shows off the bands ability to churn out a stadium friendly number full of wailing guitar riffs and blaring drum rolls along with front man Sam McTrusty’s unphased efforts of delivering a power heavy chorus that is loud and symbolic of the bands already renowned sound and style.
The records title track is the clear standout on the album. Opening with a slightly reverberated piano intro before lifting off into the bands signature rock laden approach the track is a liberating slab of rapturous splendor and as good as indie numbers get. McTrusty’s vocals are particularly robust and persuasive on the track as he belts out ‘I set my body on fire so I could be free’.
Crash Land shows that the band are capable of producing more subtle additions. Performed predominantly with an acoustic guitar, the number is complimented by some syrupy strings as McTrusty’s strong, Scottish accented vocals dip through a catchy melody that offers a four minute dose of sentiment.
Serious Underground Dance Vibes gives us a token instrumental for the record and plays out to be a nicely structured album filler.
Drum-roll heavy Wonder Sleeps Here has single written all over it. The track is laced with emo-pop and provides us with a radio friendly number that has some impressive musical attributes as well as some fitting and eerie backing vocals that give the track that extra something before the closing and high energy We Want Better, Man seals the deal with the records final number. Mashing together a thunderous melody of spiraling guitars and vocal mid sections that are coated with megaphone effects, here Twin Atlantic crank up the volume to guide us to the end of the record with effortless precision.
Free doesn’t limit itself to being just a national chart hopeful. Instead it’s an ambitious release for Twin Atlantic that has a greater and more worldwide appeal similar to previous cross over acts such as Placebo and fellow Scot rockers Biffy Clyro and displays an act that are quicly becoming one that the Scots will be happy to call their own as the band prepare to take Free out on the road over the coming months as part of Twin Atlantic’s largest headline tour to date.
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