The Batlord's Thread of Metalcore that Doesn't Suck but In Fact ****ing Rules

[The Batlord]

Currently listening to Twitching Tongues' first album, from 2012. In a way, they kind of remind me of Acid Bath. They're both classified by simple genre tags (metalcore and sludge respectively), but they have a diversity and individuality that defies such reductive and restrictive labels.

TT would probably get labeled melodic metalcore if that genre tag hadn't already been appropriated by other bands, though these guys have none of the Gothenburg influences of Killswitch or Trivium (though they do throw in some similar melodic choruses at times). I guess just like Homewrecker are what deathcore should sound like, Twitching Tongues are what melodic metalcore should be.

They've got the heavy crunch, occasional punk fury, and sweet breakdowns of metalcore, but some serious grooves that make them sound quasi-stone metal at times. The vocals are worlds away from metalcore though, and sound more like if a punk band with an actual singer was actually singing rather than just going along with the simple beat of the song. He goes into some hardcore roars at times, but in general he sticks with singing. I guess some people might find his voice a bit too nasally, but otherwise he's quality.

With only eight songs, I figured this would be an EP, punk being what it is, but with the relatively long son lengths this album clocks in at least close to a half hour. They fit some serious songwriting, changing dynamics, and diverse influences into those thirty minutes, and I think they're a pretty righteous band. Some seriously infectious ear worms on this album too.

Spoiler for Tasty: