Twinkle and the Sluts
We were recently contacted by Twinkle And The Sluts about their new EP, Slutier Than Thou to see what we thought. This 4 piece band describe themselves as rock with an edge of punk playing music for when your boyfriend dumps you. Now, having never been in the situation of my boyfriend dumping me, or come to think of it ever having a boyfriend, I figured I would go into this without that preconception in my mind so I could just see what was on offer!
Shut Your Dirty Mouth kicks off the EP in a punky style, the pounding drums layered with riffing guitars and a hammering bass line, the whole mix building up to the introduction of Twinkle on the vocals. The vocals are surprisingly clean yet powerful, adding in a further sense of melody over the distorted and fast paced backing music. What you end up with here is a track which you can well imagine being played live and setting the venue on fire, the pace and urgency of the track will definitely get crowds moving along and going crazy. My personal favourite part of the track is the middle section where everything almost breaks down for a moment opting for a jumpy pace rather than the frantic one set down so far – it adds in another dimension to the track. Closing as it began, this is a hell of an introduction to a band!
Built To Last follows on at number 2, a track which once again builds up through the guitar and drums layered over the bass before bringing in those melodic vocals once again. This time the vocals are more urgent, more spat than before yet still somehow harmonic as a contrast to the backing track. What’s really cool here is just how bass heavy the mix ends up being, it’s got a massive depth which you wouldn’t expect from a 4 piece band, and that’s largely down to the volume of the bass guitar – it shakes you to the core with bassy poundy goodness! As the track comes to a close and Narcissism comes in to being, the sludgy rhythms continue but this time almost softer and more polished than before. There’s a definite contrast in the recording of this track somehow, almost like this one is a later track which demonstrates how far the band have come since starting out. Harmonic and melodic throughout, this is a far more reflective ballad type of track compared to the others. There’s still that frantic edge which gives this band the rawness that is so often lost, but there’s something more refined here going on, and I like it!
Coffin Nail closes the EP and once again demonstrates why this band is going to be a force to be reckoned with on the rock/punk scene, this time returning to the frantic approach from the outset and not relenting until the moment the track closes. What’s really striking on this track is the drumming, if you really listen to the rolls that are being pulled off you can’t help but sit back and just think hold crap, this band can play! The whole track is once again melodic yet frantic throughout, and one which again I imagine will be insanely well received on the live scene. I also think it closes the EP perfectly as it leaves you wanting more, leaves you wondering what is going to come next and makes you want to listen to the EP over and over again.
I’m always wary of bands who try and define themselves as fitting into different genres, but I think these guys have nailed it. Their music is solid dirty rock music, but it’s got a punk edge to it. There’s something in the frantic nature of the way it’s produced that can’t help but make you think about the older punk bands and proper rock bands, and then makes you realise that THIS is the future of those bands! The music is well written, well produced and well performed, but most importantly isn’t over written or produced. By nature, this genre can be simplistic and often that can put people off but these guys seem to have taken it and put their own stamp on it – you only need to listen (and I mean properly listen) to everything going on in the mix to understand what I mean! I for one can’t wait to see what comes next for these guys as I think they’ve got an exciting time ahead of them.
To find out more about Twinkle And The Sluts, check out their Facebook page HERE.
Shut Your Dirty Mouth kicks off the EP in a punky style, the pounding drums layered with riffing guitars and a hammering bass line, the whole mix building up to the introduction of Twinkle on the vocals. The vocals are surprisingly clean yet powerful, adding in a further sense of melody over the distorted and fast paced backing music. What you end up with here is a track which you can well imagine being played live and setting the venue on fire, the pace and urgency of the track will definitely get crowds moving along and going crazy. My personal favourite part of the track is the middle section where everything almost breaks down for a moment opting for a jumpy pace rather than the frantic one set down so far – it adds in another dimension to the track. Closing as it began, this is a hell of an introduction to a band!
Built To Last follows on at number 2, a track which once again builds up through the guitar and drums layered over the bass before bringing in those melodic vocals once again. This time the vocals are more urgent, more spat than before yet still somehow harmonic as a contrast to the backing track. What’s really cool here is just how bass heavy the mix ends up being, it’s got a massive depth which you wouldn’t expect from a 4 piece band, and that’s largely down to the volume of the bass guitar – it shakes you to the core with bassy poundy goodness! As the track comes to a close and Narcissism comes in to being, the sludgy rhythms continue but this time almost softer and more polished than before. There’s a definite contrast in the recording of this track somehow, almost like this one is a later track which demonstrates how far the band have come since starting out. Harmonic and melodic throughout, this is a far more reflective ballad type of track compared to the others. There’s still that frantic edge which gives this band the rawness that is so often lost, but there’s something more refined here going on, and I like it!
Coffin Nail closes the EP and once again demonstrates why this band is going to be a force to be reckoned with on the rock/punk scene, this time returning to the frantic approach from the outset and not relenting until the moment the track closes. What’s really striking on this track is the drumming, if you really listen to the rolls that are being pulled off you can’t help but sit back and just think hold crap, this band can play! The whole track is once again melodic yet frantic throughout, and one which again I imagine will be insanely well received on the live scene. I also think it closes the EP perfectly as it leaves you wanting more, leaves you wondering what is going to come next and makes you want to listen to the EP over and over again.
I’m always wary of bands who try and define themselves as fitting into different genres, but I think these guys have nailed it. Their music is solid dirty rock music, but it’s got a punk edge to it. There’s something in the frantic nature of the way it’s produced that can’t help but make you think about the older punk bands and proper rock bands, and then makes you realise that THIS is the future of those bands! The music is well written, well produced and well performed, but most importantly isn’t over written or produced. By nature, this genre can be simplistic and often that can put people off but these guys seem to have taken it and put their own stamp on it – you only need to listen (and I mean properly listen) to everything going on in the mix to understand what I mean! I for one can’t wait to see what comes next for these guys as I think they’ve got an exciting time ahead of them.
To find out more about Twinkle And The Sluts, check out their Facebook page HERE.