Twin Temple – Bring You Their Signature Sound… Satanic Doo Wop
Release Date: 2019
Label: Rise Above Records
Rise Above Records is one of my favorite labels mainly because of the fact that they are never afraid to sign a band/artist that is off the cuff, a little left of center, or just downright fucking off the wall. When Twin Temple’s PR person tipped me off to them, he said, “You are going to love this band.” Satanic Doo Wop? This could be either really awesome or a fucking train wreck. This person knows me well so I put on Twin Temple’s album and braced myself.
The opening track, “The Devil Didn’t Make Me Do It” kicked off sounding like a song you’d hear at a ‘50s sockhop. I could just picture girls dancing around in a gymnasium while guys did their little storefront jerk moves. Lead by husband and wife temple leaders Alexandra and Zachary James, Twin Temple presented a sound into this genre that I had yet to hear a band do. I was both intrigued and still slightly cautious. The love song “Lucifer, My Love” is absolutely fantastic with its sweet ‘50s guitar tone and besides, with a lyrics like, “Lucifer, you’re a much better kisser than Jesus,” how can you not fucking love that?
The showstopper on this album is without a doubt, “I’m Wicked.” Lead vocalist Alexandra James unleashes the one of the most sexy vocal deliveries I’ve ever heard accompanied by the awesome guitar playing of husband Zachary and a barroom piano that makes being evil seem really appealing. If this song is any indication of what being bad will get you then sign me the hell up, pronto.
Twin Temple’s sound is very consistent with the era of music that they play but with the Satanic lyrics and imagery, some may call it over the top, corny, or gimmicky. Honestly, Twin Temple isn’t doing anything more over the top or gimmicky that bands like Behemoth, Watain, or even a band like Morbid Angel. The thing that separates Twin Temple from these other bands is that they make music that I would much rather listen to.
Twin Temple’s message and spiritual beliefs are articulate and understandable whereas the other bands just growl and scream. If you’ve got a message or a belief that you want to express, what good is it if you can’t understand what the fuck the singer is saying? Call it whatever you want but I find Twin Temple to be a much needed change in the current flow of occult rock and not since Jess and the Ancient Ones have I been this psyched about a new occult rock band. Twin Temple is the perfect soundtrack to your next left hand path/Satanic sockhop and if those don’t exist, because of Twin Temple they should.
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