Artist: The Twindows; Members: Aster Grimm – vocals and guitar; Kyle “Shaggs” Anderson – bass, guitar and vocals; Caleb Banas – guitar and bass; and Oskar Daoud – drums
Album: ‘Valkyrie 2.0’
Freely giving into the instinctive rush of all-encompassing emotions is a powerful motivator for honest musicians who aren’t afraid to hide any part of their lives from their listeners. The Twindows are one such open and free-spirited band, who are gratifyingly sharing their punk attitude and intense energy in their upcoming album, ‘Valkyrie 2.0.’ The 11-track record, which is set to be released on March 15, highlights the wild and unhinged spirit of the alternative punk-rock group that hails from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The band, which formed in 2016, is stunningly driven by not only their unique blend of alternative rock, grunge and punk instrumentation that ranges from the 1990’s to today, but also the quirky lead vocals of singer Aster Grimm. The musicians’ eclectic mix of zany and serious songs make the up-and-coming band one that shouldn’t be missed.
The overall tone for ‘Valkyrie 2.0’ is immediately set by its initial entry, ‘Like My Music,’ which is an all-too powerful and noteworthy anthem that focuses on the downfall of society, due in large part to social media. Through her stunning alt-rock vocals, Grimm emotionally questions why the people she reaches out to never respond to her emails, which powerfully reflects how people’s self-worth can be so easily deflated by others. The Twindows’ musical journey on their new album is enthrallingly launched by them also doubting the authenticity of their connections on one of its best songs.
The group’s next track is the high energy addition, ‘Mosquito/Thick Skin,’ which alluringly highlights the unorthodox guitar riffs that serve as a major factor in driving the unique music throughout their upcoming album. While the guitar is a stunning feature of the tune, the overall instrumentation unfortunately overpowers Grimm’s gritty and unique vocals at times.
‘Mosquito/Thick Skin’ then transitions into ‘Valkyrie 2.0’s third entry, ‘Forgiven,’ which serves as one of the record’s lead singles. The grunge-fueled song interestingly features diverse layers of sound that stunningly work together to create a party-like and playful atmosphere and rebellious spirit.
The Twindows’ next tune is ‘Dig Tree,’ on which they showcase their lighter and brighter style. Launched by a more subdued guitar introduction, Grimm passionately reflects on her emotions, including where she is in life, where she’s going next and how she has been influenced by society.
‘Valkyrie 2.0’ then delves into the powerful track, ‘Ska Death (Ska Death Lounge Death Ska),’ on which the lead singer intriguingly notes how silence can be inviting and exciting at times. As the song continues, the musicians slowly but instinctively build up a stunning ska attitude in their vocals and instrumentation, as they share the angst of being accepted and loved.
The next tune on The Twindows’ new album is ‘Reversals,’ which is driven by a ’90s rock-inspired guitar introduction. The band alluringly builds up a faster tempo within the track’s first 30 seconds of the track, which effortlessly crosses distinct genres. The high-paced tempo over the course of the majority of the song make it the perfect choice for a live punk show.
‘Pulp’ is the next entry on ‘Valkyrie 2.0,’ which is driven by its fiery and intense drums and guitars. While the fierce instrumentation perfectly reflects the musicians’ signature grunge-rock sound, it unfortunately overpowers Grimm’s vocals, which makes it difficult to understand her lyrics at times.
Another intense song on the alt-rock record is ‘Instigator,’ on which Grimm grippingly sings about the emotional process of trying to figure out what went wrong in the world as she explores the challenges she faces. While the singer’s vocals are more discernible and easier to decipher than on ‘Pulp,’ at times the words are once again engulfed by the extreme instrumentation.
The next two tunes on ‘Valkyrie 2.0’ are more hypnotic than their immediate predecessors. ‘The Industry’ and ‘Sleepycore’ feature more soulful and subdued instrumentation and vocals, which add to their emotional impact.
The Twindows’ upcoming album draws to a close with one of its best tracks, ‘Wire Mother,’ which features equally intense and commanding vocals. The tune also features more emotional depth in its instrumentation than a majority of the rest of the record, as it tells its own unique narrative of capturing meaningful attention and love.
Openly giving into the raw rush of all-encompassing emotions is a powerful inspiration for straightforward musicians who aren’t afraid to hide any part of their lives from their listeners. The Twindows are one such honest band, who are gratifyingly sharing their punk attitude and profound energy in ‘Valkyrie 2.0.’ The record highlights the fee spirit of the group, which is stunningly driven by not only their unique blend of alternative rock, grunge and punk instrumentation, but also the quirky lead vocals of Grimm. The singer and her bandmates’ eclectic mix of zany and serious songs make the up-and-coming group one that shouldn’t be missed.
For more information on The Twindows, visit the band’s Bandcamp, Facebook and Instagram pages.
