Newcastle’s Twist Helix have returned with their second album ‘Machinery’. Released via Paul Back Music, it follows up on their 2018 concept album ‘Ouseburn’. Last time out, the focus was upon the artistic community in their hometown. This time, they have honed in on their experiences in the music industry.
Euphoria courses through the veins of this album. None more so than on the opening tracks ‘Louder’ and ‘Host’. The former injects the aching beauty of Chvrches with an unparalleled level of dynamism. Shedding light on being ignored as a woman in the industry, especially the live circuit (“overlooked and underbooked”), they combine the fire of punk with undeniable pop and sheer ecstasy that only electronica can provide.
‘Ghost’, plays with a tempo more but, musically, leads you to nirvana in scintillating style. Nights out, gigs, and looking back nostalgically are going to be soundtracked to the closing moments. Bea Garcia’s vocals are a behemoth in stature and the crescendo of drums thunder are brimming with a power that all should bow to.
The euphoria dissipates on ‘Vultures’ but, the powerful rhetoric skyrockets. It’s a vicious Primal Scream ‘Evil Heat’ era swipe at the Weinstein’s of the world for abusing their power. Anger and righteous indignation threaten to overflow as Garcia’s venom launches ‘chews you up, spits you out, he's a vulture’. The #metoo didn’t need a soundtrack but, it has one now!
It’s not all about the euphoria and lyrical polemic though. Twist Helix amply breaks the album up with the spoken word facets of ‘Festival Season’ and the instrumental ‘Transmission’. The latter taking Pendulum for walkthrough 80s clad ‘Stranger Things’ providing a moment to behold.
‘Machinery’ for all its power, perhaps lacks the true killer hooks to take them to the top of festival bills. However, it has a vitality and integrity that demands serious attention on the main stages when festivals are allowed to return. ‘Machinery’ and ‘Exposure’ begin to flirt with the universal appeal of The Killers in their early days. Might this album be their ‘Modern Life Is Rubbish’ or ‘100 Broken Windows moment? The riot before the masterpiece, only time will tell, but, our money is on yes!
*Image courtesy of Paul Murray Media