Following his last two EPs Spiritwalker and Suffer, GVLLOW is back and sticking with his unpredictable dark wave sound. Twin Flames brings a whole new feel to an artist who has never been someone to stay in one lane. With an 80s feel and essence of The Cure, Twin Flames develops on the foundations placed by the two recent EPs while having a completely unique sound of its own.
Upbeat guitar hooks and synths are at the core of the album yet the lyrics and themes of the album are not so upbeat. Often very melancholy, the lyrics are a sharp contrast to the overall feel of the tracks tackling trauma, loss and heartbreak.
Opening with ‘It’s So Cold’ the tone is set instantly. The catchy guitar, synth and drums combo is high tempo and high energy yet the repeated lyric of “I think I’m better off alone,” suggests otherwise. This dynamic is carried through all 11 tracks, all of which are short and straight to the point.
The emotion carried in lyrics speaks volumes of GVLLOW’s writing abilities, with him penning lyrics that feel much deeper and personal than anything he’s put out before. ‘Pray To God’ is a stand out track with its heavier guitars and a more conventional punk feel while still keeping that dark wave sound that holds the album together.
You’re kept on your toes throughout the whole album with each song being short and the albums overall length being less than 30 minutes. By the time you’ve digested the themes of one track you’re thrown right back in and greeted by more synths that instantly lift the mood. The transition from ‘Say Goodbye’ to ‘Die By Your Hand’ being the perfect example of this.
‘Last Dance’ features a bassline and chorus that are irresistibly catchy and it’s no surprise that it’s already a fan favourite after releasing as a single late last year. Ending with some grungy guitars the track is one of the best of career with it just having that edge of something different.
Bookended by two instrumentals, the last track with lyrics is ‘Fell In Love With A Ghost’ which feature vocals that are almost Nick Cave-esque. Ending with the line “I can’t hold it in, can you feel my pain,” the track perfectly captures the emotions of the album ending on a high.
Twin Flames will leave you with a strange combination of feelings in the best possible way. There’s no lack of creativity when it comes to GVLLOW and Twin Flames shows him at his best. It would be hard not to be hooked from start to finish, with GVLLOW yet again proving there’s no one making music like him.
