Twin Atlantic

Cockpit 02/02/10

By Rebecca Atkinson

Despite being a bizarre indie incarnation of Billy Talent, supports Canterbury have a stage presence and complexity of songwriting that suggests a much more experienced band. ‘Lost in the Basement’, written about Leeds, is the set’s stand-out song and their occasional post-rock leanings suggest that their recently released free album (canterburythankyou.com) may well be worth a listen.

As the first ominous rumblings of Municipal Waste are heard from the Cockpit’s main room below, it seems Twin Atlantic have a lot to do tonight. Despite frequent and lazy Biffy Clyro comparisons, the band are more part-Idlewild, part-At the Drive-In. They contrast harmonious choruses and unapologetic chord sequences with a fabulous rawness.

The band have just finished touring with Enter Shikari (unfortunate, but shouldn’t be held against them) and tonight are playing their first sold out show in Leeds. Indeed, this is one of their biggest headline shows to date outside of Scotland and Sam McTrusty is clearly delighted at the reception they receive, throwing himself into the crowd from the very start. The four-piece blast through most of excellent new album Vivarium with a contagious fervour, and in just over an hour they overcome being “unfit Scottish bastards” to deliver an excellent, if sporadic, set. Twin Atlantic are unable to finish several of the later songs as the crowd have trashed their equipment, leading to a very happy compromise with a beautiful rendition of ‘Crash Land’. As the night finishes on a jubilant note, its nice to see the band stepping out into their own and making a racket. - (8)