Twin Temple are back with new album “God is Dead”
Twin Temple are currently touring the US with Behemoth and Danzig. If you’ve not heard of Twin Temple before, then judging by the company they’re keeping on this tour, you’d be forgiven for thinking they were a hardcore heavy horror-punk or black metal band…. You might be surprised to hear they’re not.
They play doo-wop….. yes that’s right doo-wop…. A genre made popular in the 1950’s and early ‘60’s and generally has vocal harmonies and a rhythm and blues influence. Well known artists include The Chantels, The Platters, The Chordettes. Some of the most iconic tracks include My Prayer by the Ink Spots and If I Didn’t Care by the Moments.
But this ain’t any old doo-wop – it’s Satanic Doo-wop !!!!
Formed in 2017 by husband and wife duo of vocalist Alexandra James and guitarist Zachary James, formed Twin Temples in 2017 in a challenge to metals dominance over satanic music. In a way similar to bands like The Misfits using 50’s / 60’s pop culture around Marilyn Monroe, Forbidden Planet and classic horror films to create horror-punk, Alexandra and Zachary took the sweet, innocence of 50’s doo-wop, and corrupted it utterly.
What I love about Twin Temple, is that the music is delightful, and harks back to simpler times, and if it wasn’t for the songs titles, (such as Let’s Have A Satanic Orgy or Burn Your Bible) you’d have no idea what they were about lol. Black satanic metal, is fabulous, but doesn’t open itself to a wider audience. It’s marmite, hear it… love it… or hate it… but with Twin Temple, I revel in watching folk smile and nod along not realising what its all about – I’m probably heading to hell lol.
Their debut album “Bring You Their Signature Sound... Satanic Doo-wop: The First Album By the Wickedest Band in the World” (2019) and their theatrical live style were a big hit with metal fans, and the unlikely relationship has grown and grown since, with Twin Temple touring with the likes of Ghost, Danzig and Volbeat to date.
Now, their second album “God is Dead” is released this Friday (13th October) and can be ordered on their website here: https://shop.twintemple.com/
The new album opens with Burn Your Bible which starts with crashing thunder, rain effects and a church bell ringing ominously before breaking into a bright and cheery number with the lyrics “I want you to burn your bible with me tonight”. It’s a perfect example of the brilliance of Twin Temple, with a wonderful short (Gretsch sounding) guitar solo in the middle. It’s vibrant and exhilarating. It fades away in classic retro style too – love it !
Next up is (Fallin' For A) Fallen Angel with its sensational harmonies, and it highlights Alexandra’s vocal skills perfectly. More mellow in tone, it has that Amy Winehouse edge to it.
Let's Have A Satanic Orgy opens with an Addams Family like comic scare tone, before it opens into an almost Dean Martin-like track, with a tropical twist, giving it a twisted dark and sexy feel. It feels devilish and teasing.
The intro to Two Sinners is led by a Doors-style organ sound opening out into a classic harmonies-led doo-wop classic, along the lines of something by The Shirelles, The Crystals or The Ronettes, including that delightful middle section of spoken word.
Next up, I thought I was about to watch an episode of Bewitched with Elizabeth Montgomery as Black Magick swept into life. This one is slow and oozes style like a sultry norma tanega number with a sexy sex solo thrown in for good measure.
Spellbreaker is a true classic 60’s number with that synonymous soft spoken intro about ‘Johnny’ before exploding into an energetic and vibrant number with a right sing-along chorus that just gets you moving every time. A standout track, and a great example of Zachary’s guitar skills.
I almost thought it was Christmas with the Mariah Carrey-esque intro to Be A Slut (Do What You Want) a cracking track about empowerment and sexual freedom – be what you wanna be and live life to the max ! There’s a subtle but brilliant piano running through it, giving it depth alongside the sax.
Finally, as the album closes, we get the title track God is Dead and this is perhaps my favourite on the album. It’s a slow burner, opening like a number from Grease, building in intensity. The vocals on this one are sublime. The chorus is kind of anthemic and urges you to sing along to the repeated line “God is Dead”. I can just see a sea of fans swaying slowing and singing along ! It builds to a crescendo, before a drum roll for a reprieve with the line “I’m so happy that gods dead oh oh oh”. Love it.
I loved it, from start to finish. Is it for everyone ? Nope, but who cares. It’s so so hard to create something different from the rest of the crowd, that stands out as genuinely different. Twin Temple have done that perfectly. If you’re mischievous like me, you’ll be playing to nan and grandad and watch them dance away Be a Slut and I’ll rightly go to hell for it.
Its hard to score in many ways, because what do you compare it to ? As doo-wop music, it is true to it’s origins. Musically the mix is spot on, and both Alexandra and Zachary are clearly very talented musicians and song writers. I can’t fault it for what it is.
Its fun, its engaging, its subversive and Satanic, but you can play it in public !!!!. I thought recently I’d found my album of the year. I was wrong, I think this is it. Well done, an amazing follow up, and fully deserving of a 10 from LiveWire Music.
We just need Twin Temple to head back to the UK on a headline tour….. Take note please Alexandra and Zachary 😊
