“This is a rock and roll show!” I remember hearing Sam McTrusty, Twin Atlantic’s ferocious frontman, screaming into the crowd whilst touring in support of their last album, ‘Great Divide’. I remember unreservedly screaming in response although in retrospect questioning if the melodramatic songs could really be deemed worthy of the title ‘rock and roll’.
With ‘GLA’ I’ve been convinced, Twin Atlantic are a rock and roll band, a modern interpretation of one at least. For every song built on the buff guitar sounds of Barry McKenna there’s a glossy touch exhibiting the more hands-on approach lead songwriters McTrusty and Ross Mcnae have adopted for this record. Releasing their inner music geek we’re treated to wonderful concoctions such as ‘You Are The Devil’ and ‘The Chaser’, two songs dripping with meaty guitar hooks that cut like rough sandpaper but become sensational with the support from the production side through midi instruments and atmospheric background which fills out the sound – something that will refuse to hold back when you hear these songs live.
Something that struck me immediately with my first listen was that normally with a Twin Atlantic album I’m able to draw comparisons. For example, in ‘Great Divide’ I’d hear ‘Oceans’ and think, “oh, this is is the ‘Crash Land’ of this album’, or ‘Hold On’ and think it had the same effect as ‘Make A Beast Of Myself’. With ‘GLA’ you’re given a whole new insight into the mind of the band. However, this is fresh water for the band and it does come through heavily in certain songs.
Half-way through the album the pace of the record takes a big step backwards. While ‘Whispers’ can hold its own as a memorable song, it doesn’t hold a candle to either end of the album. However, this wrong-doing is quickly rectified with ‘A Scar To Hide’. The softest song on ‘GLA’, this 4-minute acoustic piece is the most touching piece of lyricism since ‘We Want Better Man’ and something I think brings to the surface just what this album is capable of doing.
Twin Atlantic have survived the test of time because of one thing, their ability to bring emotion out of anybody who listens to their music. Provoking nostalgia in your listeners is something that puts you above the rest. Forgotten in their last release, this trump card is brought back in ‘GLA’ and proves Twin Atlantic are more than capable of standing the test of time. Here’s to another year of bigger crowds and more global recognition for the Glaswegian rock and roll band.
MAX GAYLER