The opening track of any album is often an indicator of a band's mindset, and the downbeat, piano-led introduction of
Twin Atlantic's third album The Great Divide is laced with the lament and regret of an act disillusioned with growing up. Conversely, there is a sense of optimism in their singalong anthem "Heart and Soul," which blusters into an uplifting, stadium-sized rock song, taking its cues from '80s hair metallers
Def Leppard in the midst of an album that runs hot and cold throughout. There is a clear indication that the Scottish outfit have shifted direction toward a poppier, cleaner sound in comparison to their 2011 release, Free (no doubt inspired by their arena shows with the likes of
Biffy Clyro,
Foo Fighters, and
Bruce Springsteen) -- the Glaswegian quartet wrote much of this album in the back of a tour bus. The effects of their busy life on the road polarizes the overall feel of the record, which swings from the upbeat and booming "Fall Into the Party" to the longing and separation that underpins "Brothers and Sisters." Lead singer Sam McTrusty's uninhibited accent is genuine and refreshing, but even at his most earnest he's unable to save the soaring rock ballad "Be a Kid" from the tired clichés and simplistic rhyming lyrics employed, while the chest-thumping, youthful anthem "I Am an Animal" also slightly misses the mark. The restraint that holds together "Rest in Pieces" and "Oceans" calls to mind the emo-pop of late-
Jimmy Eat World and
Saves the Day, driven by the raw emotion and soaring guitar hooks that were the bedrock of their debut
Vivarium. There's nothing groundbreaking about
Twin Atlantic's high-energy rock anthems, nor their more reflective moments, and although the album at times borders on sounding contrived, there is enough desire and honesty to keep The Great Divide interesting. Their eyes are without doubt set on reaching mass audiences, where sold-out arenas full of avid fans beckon for their ambitious, radio-friendly, singalong rock. ~ Scott Kerr