The road from guilt to acceptance can be a rocky one. Shame and self-awareness can be powerful motivators, but also highly destructive if left unchecked. These are the volatile forces at play within Twin Criminal’s “Temples,” a track we had the pleasure of premiering back in July of 2018. Inspired by the dissolution of a longterm relationship, guitarist and vocalist Trevor Flanders wrote the lyrics as a way to address his heartache and pain, as well as a means to confront his own privilege surrounding the breakup. Underlying all that emotional tension, of course, is the trio’s propulsive, metal-tinged attack led by Danny Paschall’s manic drumming. Combined it makes for a listening experience this is both gripping and cathartic.
Directed by filmmaker and songwriter David Tabor, the video is perhaps best understood as a visual metaphor for the track’s competing states of being. At the clip’s onset, the band is dressed in crimson while set against a white backdrop. The red projects passion and intensity, while the background counters with calm serenity. Later, the group find themselves all in black, performing in a forest clearing. Again I’m only speculating, but this would seem to indicate a clash between our darker selves and nature’s intractable indifference. Or maybe the whole thing is just meant to look cool. Who knows. In any case, it’s a savvy merger of music and cinematography that’s well worth a look.
Watch/listen above.
Twin Criminal will perform on Mon., Mar. 2 at 529 alongside A Deer A Horse, Naw, and New Bedlam. Doors open at 8 p.m. Admission is $8. 21+ to enter.
More Info
Bandcamp: twincriminal.bandcamp.com
Facebook: @twincriminal
Instagram: @twincriminalmusic
SoundCloud: @twin-criminal