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Twin Atlantic

Scottish band

Twin Atlantic

Scottish band

FieldValue
nameTwin Atlantic
imageMcFly @ Scarborough Open Air Theatre 2025, Twin Atlantic 03 (cropped).jpg
backgroundgroup_or_band
originGlasgow, Scotland
genre{{flatlist
years_active2007–present
label{{flatlist
website
current_membersSam McTrusty
Ross McNae
Joe Lazarus
past_membersBarry McKenna
Craig Kneale
  • Alternative rock
  • power pop
  • emo pop
  • indie rock}}
  • Red Bull
  • Virgin EMI Ross McNae Joe Lazarus Craig Kneale

Twin Atlantic are a Scottish alternative rock band from Glasgow, Scotland. The group currently consists of Sam McTrusty (lead vocals, rhythm guitar) and Ross McNae (bass). Lead guitarist Barry McKenna departed from the band in 2019, but continues to perform with the band at their live shows. They have released seven albums: Vivarium, Free, Great Divide, GLA, Power, Transparency and Meltdown. Their highest-charting single is "Heart and Soul" from Great Divide, which peaked at number 17 on the UK Singles Chart. On 2 June 2016, Annie Mac premiered "No Sleep" as the Hottest Record in the World on BBC Radio 1 and announced their album GLA, subsequently released on 9 September 2016.

History

Formation, ''A Guidance from Colour'' (2006–2008)

Twin Atlantic formed in 2006. All members previously played in other small local bands. Twin Atlantic before recording their debut EP A Guidance from Colour at Long Wave Studio in Cardiff with producer Romesh Dodangoda. They released a single, "Audience & Audio", on 24 December 2007, and the debut EP on 14 January 2008. The band signed a single deal with King Tut's Recordings, and "What Is Light? Where Is Laughter?" was released on 29 September 2008.

Barry McKenna, then of Twin Atlantic, in Glasgow 2008

They also completed a joint headline tour of Scotland with the Xcerts and their first set of solo headline dates across the UK.

''Vivarium'' (2009–2010)

In March 2009, Twin Atlantic released their debut mini-album, Vivarium. They released the lead single "Lightspeed" as a free download from their website on 29 July 2009, with a bonus acoustic version of the track also available. The follow-up single "You're Turning Into John Wayne" was released on 7 September 2009, with the mini-album released a week later.

On 7 March 2009, they played a sold-out gig at Queen Margaret Union (QMU).

The band toured extensively in 2009 and 2010, having played Download Festival, Guilfest, T in the Park, Sonisphere and Belladrum over the summer of 2009, including supporting Taking Back Sunday on a tour of the UK and Ireland in July 2009. This continued into a full tour of the UK in September and then the United States with the Fall of Troy and Envy On The Coast in March and April 2010. In June 2010, Twin Atlantic supported the Gaslight Anthem on their British mini-tour and on 7 August 2010 they played at the Hevy Music Festival.

Twin Atlantic played at the sold-out Belsonic festival in Belfast on 28 August 2010 supporting Biffy Clyro.

Following a sold-out show at Glasgow's ABC, they landed the dream slot of supporting Blink-182 on their reunion tour in Scotland in August 2010.

On 21 October 2010, the band announced, that they would be supporting My Chemical Romance for three upcoming dates.

''Free'' (2011–2013)

Twin Atlantic finished recording their album Free and it was released on 29 April 2011 in the Republic of Ireland and 2 May 2011 in the United Kingdom.

Singer/guitarist Sam McTrusty at ''The Viper Room'', 2012

The album's first single was "Edit Me", released on 14 February.

Second single "Free" was first played on BBC Radio 1 on the Zane Lowe show on 10 March. The third single released was "Time For You To Stand Up" on 11 July, with "Cherry Slut" and "Babylonian Throwdown" as B-sides. On 26 September, a fourth single was released from the album; "Make A Beast Of Myself", including the B-side "Your Amazing Lying, Lion, Lie In".

In the summer of 2012, the band was on the Vans Warped Tour. Twin Atlantic also supported Blink-182 again in some venues on their UK tour alongside the All-American Rejects.

A remix of their single, "Free", was used for the closing of the Discovery Channel's coverage of the 2012 Red Bull Stratos space jump by Felix Baumgartner.

Their song "Crash Land" was featured in the British film Not Another Happy Ending in 2013.

''Great Divide'' (2014–2015)

Twin Atlantic released their album Great Divide in August 2014. In February 2014, Twin Atlantic joined Thirty Seconds to Mars on the second part of their European Arena tour.

On 31 March 2014 Zane Lowe premiered "Heart and Soul" as the Hottest Record in the World on BBC Radio 1. The track won the award for 'Best Independent Track' at the 2014 Association of Independent Music Awards.

On 23 April 2014 the band's third studio album Great Divide was announced, with a release date of 18 August 2014.

Twin Atlantic did a four-date tour in support of the album, playing Brixton Academy in London and they sold out their hometown show at Glasgow's SSE Hydro. During the summer of 2015, the band performed at several festivals including Glastonbury Festival and T in the Park festival at the new site at Strathallan Castle. The band headlined the BBC Radio 1 Stage on Saturday at T in the Park 2015. They concluded their album campaign at Reading and Leeds Festival in August 2015.

The last single from the album campaign was "Fall into the Party", the official video included highlights of the previous 18 months promoting the album at several gigs, festivals, and their massive headline show at The SSE Hydro.

The band were nominated as finalists for Best Live Act 2015 by the Association of Independent Music. Twin Atlantic were named 'Best UK Band' at the 2016 SSE Scottish Music Awards.

''GLA'' (2016–2019)

Twin Atlantic released their fourth studio album, GLA, on 9 September 2016. The tracks "Gold Elephant: Cherry Alligator" and "No Sleep" were released on 3 June. Annie Mac premiered "No Sleep" as the Hottest Record in the World on BBC Radio 1. On 7 July 2016, Zane Lowe premiered the track "Ex El" on his Beats 1 radio show.

The second single from the album "The Chaser" was then premiered by Annie Mac on Thursday 18 August 2016 on BBC Radio 1. They gave fans the opportunity to be involved in the music video, which was shot in Buff Club in Glasgow, the club where they played their first gig together.

The album was produced by Jacknife Lee in Los Angeles. GLA is the airport code for the band's hometown, Glasgow. They made their BBC national TV debut on Later... with Jools Holland on 4 October 2016 performing three songs "No Sleep", "The Chaser" and "Ex El".

They then embarked on several tours in support of the album, taking them around the UK and Europe, including a run of three nights at the renowned Barrowland Ballroom in their native Glasgow.

Twin Atlantic were writing new music, which they hoped to release shortly thereafter.

''Power'' (2020)

Twin Atlantic announced their fifth studio album, Power, and simultaneously released the lead single, "Novocaine". In a Kerrang! interview speaking of the band's first new music since 2016's GLA, frontman Sam McTrusty said of "Novocaine": "I wanted to force myself to be more honest and open. The song tells the story of the most intimate connection I’ve ever felt with someone else: when I first met my wife. That feeling of obsession taking over every thought and reason was almost like an addiction at the time. It embarrasses us in some ways that we fell victim to such a clichéd movie script love story, but equally amazes us that it ever happened."

They have a UK intimate tour lined up for 2020 with the album releasing on 24 January 2020.

''Transparency'' and Kneale's departure (2021–present)

In September 2021, drummer Craig Kneale released a statement via social media announcing his departure from the band, and the band subsequently announced their sixth album Transparency, which was released on 7 January 2022.

Twin Atlantic performing live in 2022

Musical style

Twin Atlantic's music has been described as alternative rock, power pop, emo pop, and indie rock. The band's influences include Blink-182, Nirvana, Rage Against the Machine, and Depeche Mode. McTrusty has also cited Bruce Springsteen's 1975 album Born to Run, Nirvana's 1991 record Nevermind, and Shellac's 1994 debut At Action Park as personal influences.

Band members

Current

  • Sam McTrusty – lead vocals, rhythm guitar (2007–present)
  • Ross McNae – bass, keyboards, backing vocals (2007–present)
  • Joe Lazarus – drums (2021–present)

Former

  • Craig Kneale – drums (2007–2021)

Touring

  • Barry McKenna – lead guitar, cello, keyboards, backing vocals.

Discography

Studio albums

TitleDetailsPeak chart positionsCertificationsSCO
Peak chart position on the Scottish Albums Chart:BEL
(WA)
IRL
UK
UK
Indie
Peak chart position on the UK Indie Albums Chart:UK
Rock
Peak chart position on the UK Rock Albums Chart:VivariumFreeGreat DivideGLAPowerTransparencyMeltdown
2814821
43751
177621
3167921
111
1271
816
"—" denotes a title that did not chart.

EPs

TitleEP detailsA Guidance from ColourFinch + Twin Atlantic Split EP

Singles

TitleYearPeak chart positionsCertificationsAlbumSCO
Peak chart position on the Scottish Singles Chart:AUT
BEL
(FL)
MEX
Air.
UK
UK
Indie
Peak chart position on the UK Indie Singles Chart:UK
Rock
Peak chart position on the UK Rock & Metal Singles Chart:US
Alt.
"Audience and Audio""What Is Light? Where Is Laughter?""Lightspeed""What Is Light? Where Is Laughter?" (re-release)"You're Turning Into John Wayne""Human After All""Edit Me""Free""Time for You to Stand Up""Make a Beast of Myself""Yes, I Was Drunk""Heart and Soul""Brothers and Sisters""Hold On""Oceans""Fall Into the Party""No Sleep""Gold Elephant: Cherry Alligator""Ex El""The Chaser""Mothertongue"
2007A Guidance from Colour
2008
200986Vivarium
433518
2010
2011Free
43289913229
5812992
2012329
2014414172135Great Divide
94731
34
2015
2016543915GLA
"—" denotes a title that did not chart

Notes

References

References

  1. McMonagle, Mickey. (17 October 2019). "Twin Atlantic return with a brand new sound inspired by Glasgow's club scene".
  2. "TWIN ATLANTIC - full official chart history - Official Charts Company".
  3. Maine, Sammy. "NME: Twin Atlantic to play secret show in Glasgow tomorrow".
  4. "Twin Atlantic Biography | Twin Atlantic". Free.twinatlantic.com.
  5. "August 2010 - Custom House Square, Belfast". Belsonic.
  6. (16 June 2010). "Twin Atlantic to Support Blink-182". [[Rock Sound]].
  7. McKinlay, Fiona. (17 November 2010). "DiS meets My Chemical Romance: "It's hard to stay dirty" / In Depth // Drowned In Sound". Drownedinsound.com.
  8. "Twin Atlantic Recording Debut Album With Gil Norton | News | Rock Sound". Rocksound.tv.
  9. "Twin Atlantic Announce Debut Album Title | News | Rock Sound". Rocksound.tv.
  10. "'Time For You To Stand Up' Released Today. | Twin Atlantic". Free.twinatlantic.com.
  11. (24 January 2012). "Blink-182 Announce Supports For UK Tour". [[Rock Sound]].
  12. Hawkins, Sam. "AdTech Ad Listen: Twin Atlantic Return With New Single, 'Heart And Soul'".
  13. Twin Atlantic. (8 September 2013). "Branching out on the new album with some Dub Sing Alongs. It'll be all the rage in 2014. @ CaVa Studios".
  14. (27 November 2016). "Twin Atlantic named Best UK Band at SSE Scottish Music Awards". BBC News.
  15. Mark Beaumont. (9 September 2017). "Twin Atlantic promise new material by next summer". [[NME]].
  16. (17 October 2019). "Twin Atlantic Announce New Album, Power, And Intimate UK Tour".
  17. Rogers, Jack. (3 September 2021). "Twin Atlantic Have Announced The Details Of Their New Album 'Transparency'".
  18. "AllMusic - Twin Atlantic".
  19. Redrup, Zach. (2 March 2017). "NEWS: Twin Atlantic confirm headline UK tour for May 2017".
  20. (2 May 2011). "ALBUM: Twin Atlantic – Free".
  21. (23 January 2009). "Twin Atlantic - Artist - Clash Magazine".
  22. MacKinnon, James. (7 June 2020). "Twin Atlantic: "Hope And Love Tend To Conquer Fear And Hate"".
  23. Shutler, Ali. (September 14, 2023). "Twin Atlantic share 'Stuck In A Car With You' and tell us about their "unhinged guitar record"".
  24. (September 6, 2016). "TWIN ATLANTIC'S SAM McTRUSTY {{!}} 'GLA' IS OUR PLACE BETWEEN OUR TASTE, VISION AND INFLUENCES".
  25. McBay, Nadine. (February 27, 2020). "The rise of Twin Atlantic, hanging on to their independence".
  26. Ramirez, Carlos. (December 16, 2011). "Five Albums That Changed My Life: Sam McTrusty of Twin Atlantic".
  27. "Belgian Positions (Wallonie)". ultratop.be.
  28. "Irish Charts - Twin Atlantic".
  29. "Chart Log UK 1994–2010 DJ T – Tzant".
  30. {{cite certification
  31. Inglis, Tony. (5 January 2022). "Twin Atlantic – 'Transparency' review: their weirdest, funniest and most appealing album yet". [[NME]].
  32. "Twin Atlantic – Austrian Charts". austriancharts.at/.
  33. "ultratop.be - Twin Atlantic". Hung Medien.
  34. (June 2021). "Mexico Ingles Airplay". Billboard.biz}}{{Dead link.
  35. Zywietz, Tobias. "Chart Log UK: 2012".
  36. "Twin Atlantic- full Official Charts History".
  37. (10 May 2019). "Twin Atlantic Chart History".
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