Just when you think you’ve heard everything that music has to offer, an artist comes along to completely shatter your expectations, and such an artist has arrived in the shape of Gvllow. By fusing a darkwave aesthetic and the SoCal punk sensibility to a decidedly Beach Boys/Dick Dale song-smithery results in a fresh and exciting sound. After releasing the critically-acclaimed Spiritwalker EP in 2021, the artist also known as Gvllow returns with his sophomore album Twin Flames, a record that’s certain to cast its dark spell over an entire generation.

Any person who grew up near (or has an interest in) the darker edge of ‘80s music will recognise the sound contained within Twin Flames. It recalls legendary names such as Bauhaus and Sisters Of Mercy, yet those bands never played with the vitality of Gvllow. Those huge walls of glacial synths and the hollowed out drum sound are typical of the genre, but the effervescence with which they’re played isn’t, and it makes for an interesting tension of opposites. It’s the combination of light and shade, day and night, and the loud and quiet that throws up constant surprises. Evidencing his influences, there’s a strong song sensibility on tracks such as ‘Leave Me Alone’ that render them earworm material, and could find Gvllow crossing over into the mainstream (shock! horror!).

Growing up in Southern California, that world famous punk scene certainly plays into Gvllow’s sound, as does his close proximity to the beach, yet he has also been involved in the rap scene and it have given him a rounded (some would say eclectic) education that has provided a big musical palette to draw upon. It’s a schooling that ensures things never become staid; there’s plenty of variety on here (and some neat production ticks) which means Twin Flames is a shapeshifter that’ll hold your attention over twelve tracks and such is the catchy nature of ‘Die By Your Hand’, that you’ll find yourself singing it’s haunting chorus at the most inappropriate moments.

I imagine it’s Gvllow’s erudition that gives Twin Flames its crossover appeal. This is an album that’ll appeal not only to goths, but also metalheads and punks and, daresay, a more mainstream type of music fan. But rest assured; the dark side has never sounded so good!

• Twin Flames is released via Sumerian Records on 16th February 2024.
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Track List:

1. Intro/Mourning
2. It’s So Cold
3. Leave Me Alone
4. Pray To God
5. Forever In My Mind
6. Say Goodbye
7. Die By Your Hand
8. Last Dance
9. Other Side
10. Night Love
11. Fell In Love With A Ghost
12. Until The Light Takes Me