Coming off a string of sold-out gigs in Glasgow, rockers Twin Atlantic have announced two in-store dates around the release of their new single, ‘Lightspeed.’

Monday 1st March 2010 – Aberdeen, One Up Records (5 pm)
Tuesday 2nd March 2010 – Glasgow, Avalanche (Over 14s only, entry via a limited number of wristbands – visit the store for more details)

‘Lightspeed’ (previously reviewed on TGTF here) will be released on 01 March on limited edition vinyl and digitally. Vinyl 1 has a b-side of a ‘Lightspeed’ remix by Michael Woods. Vinyl 2 comes on clear vinyl in a green PVC sleeve and has a remix of ‘Old Grey Face’ as the b-side (only available from Avalanche Records, Glasgow).

Glaswegian alt-rockers Twin Atlantic have had quite a meteoric rise since forming in 2007, having in the space of just a few years gone from practicing in drummer Craig Kneale’s dining room to supporting bands like Biffy Clyro, the Subways and the Smashing Pumpkins. Their fans are so dedicated, they’ve even been known to get tattoos of the band’s lyrics and logo. When you listen to their new single, ‘Lightspeed,’ their continued success and their fans’ adoration seems completely natural.

The song throbs with energy and there’s so much passion behind singer Sam McTrusty’s vocals that it gives the song a defiant edge. What really strikes me about this song is how authentic it feels, due in large part to the “vocals dripping with gorgeous Scottish vowels.” McTrusty says on their website that the song is about “a kind of togetherness, and us being determined not to give up.”  The way each of the parts, from the drums to the vocals to the guitar, is so powerful while at the same time perfectly in balance really adds to this sense of togetherness. It almost feels like a rallying cry for the band. If they were a football club, this is the song they’d blast before heading out onto the pitch. “Together [they] might just move as fast as light,” so consider yourself lucky that you heard of them before they became massive.

Check out the video for ‘Lightspeed’ below:

‘Vivarium,’ the mini-album from which ‘Lightspeed’ is taken, is available now. The ‘Lightspeed’ single will be released on 1st March 2010. Twin Atlantic will be playing a series of dates in the UK (see their website) before embarking on a North American tour in March and April 2010.

Twin Atlantic – What is Light? Where is Laughter?

Packed with enormous sweeping riffs and impassioned vocals dripping with some gorgeous Scottish vowels they’re quite similar to Biffy Clyro, but a bit more melodic and still incredibly Scottish. Not necessarily everyone’s cup of tea, but I love this new video from their debut mini album Vivarium. This single is released on Monday (30th November).

They Say:
The seeds of Twin Atlantic were sown when front man Sam McTrusty and bassist Ross McNae met at school, united by a love of music. Guitarist and cellist Barry McKenna came on board after driving the fledgling band around Scotland to tiny pub gigs. The final piece of the puzzle came in the shape of drummer Craig Kneale, who had been in an earlier band with Ross. Since those early days, they have evolved into one of the UK’s most exciting new rock bands, poppy melodies twisted with a metallic crunch and shades of prog experimentation.

After an ambitious EP, A Guidance From Colour, and show-stopping support slots with alt-rock legends Smashing Pumpkins and like-minded American prog rockers Circa Survive, fans are already showing up at gigs with their logo and lyrics tattooed to their bodies. They’re far from an overnight success though – a lot of hard work has gone into this band. “Our practice space up until recently was Craig’s dining room,” says Sam. “We’d be at his house at 12 and practice until half four, and then he would go to sleep for two hours, get up, go to work at B&Q all night, sleep for two hours, wake up and then practice. He did that for months.”

In March 2009, shortly after selling out the 1,000 capacity QMU in Glasgow, the band headed over the ocean to the crazed streets of Austin, Texas to play four blistering shows at South by Southwest. Their American adventure took them to LA shortly afterwards to record Vivarium with producer John Travis, who has worked with Kid Rock, Sugar Ray, Static X and Social Distortion.

We Say:
Packed with enormous sweeping riffs and impassioned vocals dripping with some gorgeous Scottish vowels they’re quite similar to Biffy Clyro, but a bit more melodic and still incredibly Scottish. Not necessarily everyone’s cup of tea, but definitely a great band to watch.

You Say:
Watch the video below, or catch them on tour at the below dates

Their tour kicked off on Friday in Inverness and resumes on Thursday

Thursday 17th September 2009 – York, Fibbers
Friday 18th September 2009 – Stoke, Sugarmill
Saturday 19th September 2009 – Liverpool Korova
Sunday 20th September 2009 – Nottingham Bodega
Monday 21st September 2009 – Birmingham Hare & Hounds
Thursday 24th September 2009 – Carlisle Brickyard
Friday 25th September 2009 – Hull Lamp
Saturday 26th September 2009 – Southampton Joiners
Sunday 27th September 2009 – Cardiff Clwb Ifor Bach
Tuesday 29th September 2009 – London old Blue Last
Wednesday 30th September 2009 – London Garage (w/ The Joy Formidable)
Thursday 1st October 2009 – Oxford Bullingdon Arms
Friday 2nd October 2009 – Edinburgh Studio 24