Not many bands can pull a crowd this big for their first live outing. With vocals yet to be formalised on their forthcoming release, Twin Zero have barely any music in the public domain, and considering the low key publicity which preceded the event it’s clear something very special is about to happen.
Karl Middleton, frontman for The Blueprint and previously Kerrang! favourites earthtone9 is perhaps the biggest star draw on stage, but the seven strong line up includes his former co-worker Simon Hutchby and members of Vex Red, Subvert and Sack Trick amongst others. After a gutsy and frenetic opening set by Prima Cura, Twin Zero take the stage and prove themselves to be easily the sum of their parts.
Over a forty-plus minute set the strength of Twin Zero’s material is frankly staggering. The band play across the full width of their dynamic and ditch the verse chorus verse strategy for something altogether more interesting. Second song ‘Monolith’ smoulders gently before slamming into epic territory that takes full advantage of the artillery supplied by Ben Calvert and Hutchby’s drumming. The two guitars and bass triumvirate at the thumping heart of the band match the calibre of Middleton’s roaring and choral vocals and whilst it’s true that the head and body rock ethic Twin Zero share with the likes of Tool is a delicate and genuinely difficult balance to strike, (especially when playing to the uninitiated) ‘Monolith’ and its peers scream ‘mainstream success’ louder than anything I’ve heard in years.
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There are no weak moments, apart from perhaps a low mix which fails to do full justice to Dave Cheeseman's keyboards. All the same, tonight this music covers huge ground without alienating or resorting to cliché (despite its current vogue).
At the end of the gig set-lists and handwritten lyrics are snatched up by a hungry crowd. Clear your diary for their next live dates. Fight to get tickets if you have to.
http://www.twinzero.net
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