Though their sound has evolved dramatically since their inception, Twitching Tongues was born of LA’s hardcore scene in 2009. Formed by brothers Colin Young (vocals) and Taylor Young (guitar/vocals) alongside drummer Michael Cesario and bassist Keith Paull, the unit slowly established their reputation locally, embracing the DIY ethic. With their 2010 demo already circulating, their first official release, I & I (Insane & Inhumane) 7”, arrived in 2011, and by the time of July that year rolled around they were touring the US twice annually, also embarking on their first European tour.
Their debut full-length Sleep Therapy was a somewhat bluesier affair than initially intended, and while increasing their profile lacked the grit of the records that followed. Though tracked in 2010, it was not officially released until March of 2012, and it had been circulating on the internet for several months prior to release. Following that was their Preacher Man 7” EP, and their sophomore full-length, 2013’s In Love There Is No Law, where the band’s sound evolved into something that more substantially separated them from their peers. It was during this era that the band experienced their first substantial lineup change, with bassist Paull replaced by Kyle Thomas and second guitarist Leo Orozco also added to their ranks. Taking a darker, harder direction though also inherently melodic, this collection of songs featured a broader spectrum of dynamics, making them a far more unique - and hard to classify - proposition. This sound firmly established Twitching Tongues and what they were about, though not quite fitting in anywhere also made other bands hesitant to take them on the road, leading them to headline constantly. Regardless, through the strength of the record, combined with ever-spreading word of mouth concerning their live shows and an intense touring schedule their fan base continued to grow. This lineup recorded the band’s third full-length, Disharmony (2015), the most ambitious album they had released at that point. Evolving even further from their origins, the unit further upped the aggression and embraced a variety of styles, and vocalist Young delivered the most frank lyrics of his career. While this drew new fans to the band and met with many favorable reviews, it also served to alienate a proportion of their followers, the members having correctly anticipated that it would have a somewhat polarizing effect on those that had connected with their earlier output, though it remains a record of which the Young brothers remain proud.
However, the album also had an inner-polarizing effect, and following the release of Disharmony, Thomas, Orozco and founding member Cesario exited the band to pursue other projects. While this potentially placed Twitching Tongues’ future in jeopardy, Colin and Taylor Young remained intent to move forward, and they went about recruiting drummer Cayle Sain, bassist Alec Faber, and guitarist Sean Martin. With this revamped lineup, the band entered into the writing process for their fourth full-length, Gaining Purpose Through Passionate Hatred. The title, drawn from a quote by famed social philosopher Eric Hoffer - ‘Passionate hatred can give meaning and purpose to an empty life’ - reflects the band’s mentality in approaching the record: paying homage to those who supported them while belligerently responding to their detractors. With ‘failure’ as a core theme driving Colin Young’s lyrics, it also features his first foray into the political arena, motivated by the contemporary political climate to speak his mind. Directly inspired by film scores, the record has a strong epic feel, the band realizing their vision of having the music flow like a story being told. With interconnected parts, musical references and callbacks in each song, everything is tied together in a manner unlike any of their previous releases. At the same time, while maintaining the same levels of hardness and aggression that has characterized their later work, it features much more immediate and memorable melodies, which evoke the sound of In Love There Is No Law yet at the same time feel fresh and new.
Having rounded out 2017 on tour with the likes of Hatebreed, Dying Fetus and previous tour mates Code Orange, in 2018 they will be touring directly in support of Gaining Purpose Through Passionate Hatred.
