Glasgow’s TWIN ATLANTIC release “Free”, the hotly anticipated follow-up to 2009′s critically lauded mini-album Vivarium, this week in the U.S. via Red Bull Records.

Free was recorded at Red Bull Studios in Santa Monica, CA with legendary producer Gil Norton (Foo Fighters, Pixies, Jimmy Eat World). The Album continues to expand upon the band’s signature sound, melding angular riffs with energetic choruses. Explosive and hard charging, yet melodic and thoughtful, the tracks cut deep and ring true to the listener, leaving a lasting impression.

In describing the new batch of songs, frontman Sam McTrusty explains, “We wanted there to be a brutal honesty in the lyrics. There are love songs and relationship songs, there are some with a party vibe, and there are some that are weird, heavy and grungy pop songs.” Guitarist Barry McKenna adds, “Personally the only thing I wanted to achieve from this whole process is an album the four of us could stand by and invest ourselves in. We have done that.”

The title track and current single “Free” has already been garnering impressive spins on BBC Radio 1, and its companion video clip, directed by Howard Greenhalgh (Soundgarden’s “Black Hole Sun”) is airing on MTV, Kerrang! TV, and Scuzz TV and can be viewed below

The album is the featured “Album of the Month” in Rock Sound’s May issue, in which they give it a “9 out of 10″ and hail it as, “.an ambitious and truly spectacular debut.”

AOL Music is currently streaming Free in its entirety here.

Fresh off several highly buzzed about performances at SXSW last month, Twin Atlantic are currently on a UK/European headline tour (see dates below). Summer festival dates throughout the UK and Europe are lining up now, and the band is expected to be back in the U.S. for a tour this fall.

Upcoming Twin Atlantic Tour Dates

5/3 Newcastle, UK Academy 2

5/5 Manchester, UK Academy 3

5/6 Glasgow, UK Barrowlands

5/7 Leeds, UK Cockpit

5/8 Nottingham, UK Rock City

5/10 Birmingham, UK Academy 3

5/11 Bristol, UK Fleece

5/12 Southampton, UK Joiners

5/13 London, UK Kings College

5/16 Tilburg, NL 013

5/17 Cologne, DE Blue Shell

5/18 Hamburg, DE Molotow

5/21 Stuttgart, DE Zwoelfzehn

5/22 Berlin, DE Comet Club

5/23 Munich, DE 59:1

5/24 Prateeln, SUI Gallery Music Club

5/26 Vienna, Austria Vienna Arena

5/31 Frankfurt, DE Das Bett

6/3 Copenhagen, DK KB18

6/4 Hasselholm, SE Siesta Festival

6/5 Oslo, NO John Dee

Sam McTrusty looks nauseous. He’s about to commit an act that is essentially irreversible and permanent. The lead singer for rock band Twin Atlantic has burned a lot of brain cells contemplating this tattoo and the final verdict…a triangle. That’s right, one solitary triangle on the wrist. Its entirely loaded with meaning, and yet a basic shape that every child 2 and up can identify.

And that’s the beauty and the art of the tattoo. At its best it should mean the most to the one who wears it. Its so personal as a form of expression that it should be thought through and slept on for many many moons. Sam wanted to remember this place and time, and the triangle is a powerful symbol throughout history. It stands for the symbol for god, or the trinity, for power, danger, math, astrology and so much more. Those three little lines are loaded.

Let’s see what Sam has to say about it….

Words by Barbie Brady, photos by Sidney McMullen, Video by Moving Images

One of ChinaShop’s favorite new bands is Twin Atlantic.  They play the rock-n-roll and all the little girls scream. Traveling all the way from Scotland to Los Angeles to record their first full length LP, they played an impromptu set at the world famous Viper Room. Since we first met up with Twin Atlantic in Austin, and since we have sentimental feelings for the Viper room it turned out to be a fortuitous happening.

First of all, The Viper Room has once again changed hands, now being owned and run by the folks who own Pink Taco. Long gone are the Johnny Depp days, and the Jewish Mafia poker nights. Still, the charm and intimacy of the space lingers on. River Pheonix’s ghost may haunt the sidewalk, but you can’t beat seeing a band you love, in a space that only holds a 250 people max.

When the lights come down and the curtains dramatically part, it feels special, like everyone inside is about to witness something magical, like the secret society of the boozy in crowd. But I’m all in!  Another round for my friends!

If I was 20 years younger I would say that lead singer Sam McTrusty was my new crush. Besides singing in that sexy Scottish accent, he’s adorable, and witty. The too cool Hollywood crowd was keeping their distance from the stage and McTrusty quipped, “when they told me I’d be playing this legendary venue, they didn’t tell me about the semi-circle of hatred”. See what I mean, you can’t not like the guy! The added bonus was they truly rocked! Must be the Scotch running through their veins! (see what i did there…scotch…scottish….ok, I’m done now)

Words by Barbie Brady, photos by Sidney McMullen

The Viper Room
8852 W Sunset Blvd
West Hollywood, CA 90069
(310) 652-7869