ALBUM REVIEW: Twin Flames – Gvllow

Few artists attempt as bold strides through genre as GVLLOW, and even fewer can pull such a feat off. His debut full-length release Waste Away aimed for a broadly punk-rock sound, lightly tinged with dark electronic elements and a subtle rap and R&B influence. These latter elements came prominently to the forefront on his 2020 self-titled release, a dark-gothic rap album that occasionally lets the punk in his soul speak up. The release of two EPs (2021’s Spiritwalker and 2022’s Suffer) marked another soft reboot that set the groundwork for Twin Flames – a synth-heavy new-wave record that carries the weight of punk rock and R&B on its back while standing separate from the past. While there is some distance between the styles across his catalogue, this release proves that he can turn his hand to whatever interests him most at any particular time with remarkable results.

While the aforementioned styles are certainly still part of the blueprint of GVLLOW’s work, Twin Flames stands entirely on its own. Taking inspiration from THE CURE and more modern acts like DRAB MAJESTY and AFI, this collection of short electronic goth-punk tracks hits all the markers one would want from this new gloomy venture. The upbeat hooks on the chorus of Leave Me Alone work in tandem with the emotional lyrical content, the weightless guitars and soaring synths grounded only by the rhythmic basslines and drumming patterns.

GVLLOW uses this record to embark on a search for meaning that refuses to resolve itself. There’s a soulful dismay present on It’s So Cold and Fell In Love With A Ghost, evoking emotions of loss and surrender without providing an obvious route out of this lonely spiral. It would be easy for such a journey into the self to become a chore, but Twin Flames is a statement of refusal against that very idea, instead embracing these burdens with an ethereal musical landscape as a backdrop.

The new-wave and punk energy from the first album come back around on Die By Your Hand, which is a surprisingly uplifting and energetic track given its title and the themes present on the album. There is a strained balance throughout this record – competing forces all clawing to the forefront without ever making the final product unreadable. It would be near impossible to talk about this album without mentioning SISTERS OF MERCY, who share the same overcast melancholia and mainstream-leanings, all underpinned with similar post-punk tropes. GVLLOW comes off cleaner in this aspect – the production isn’t anywhere near as raw as SISTERS OF MERCY’s could often be, but the airtight aura that comes as a result is wholly worth the effort of the decision.

Ambition can be a positive driving force in the creative industry, but at times it can cause competing interests to combine in an ugly way and lead an entire project into messy territory. Twin Flames is a product of ambition that could easily have taken a wrong turn if left in the wrong hands, but its strength proves that this brave step was in the right direction for an increasingly intrepid GVLLOW.

Rating: 8/10

Twin Flames is set for release on February 16th via Sumerian Records.

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