Twitching Tongues
{{Short description|American metal band}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2021}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Twitching Tongues
| image = Twitching Tongues 9.23.14 Epic Problem Tampa,FL (15347688365).jpg
| image_upright = 1.2
| landscape =
| alt =
| caption = Twitching Tongues performing in 2014
| alias =
| origin = Los Angeles, California, U.S.
| genre = {{flatlist|
- Sludge metal
- metalcore
- {{nowrap|groove metal}}
}}
| years_active = {{start date|2009}}–present
| label = {{flatlist|
- Closed Casket Activities
- Metal Blade
- I Scream
}}
| spinoff_of = Ruckus
| spinoffs = God's Hate
| website = {{URL|twitchingtongues.com}}
| current_members = * Colin Young
- Taylor Young
- Sean Martin
- Alec Faber
- Michael Cesario
| past_members = * Cayle Sain
- Anthonie Gonzalez
- Lee Orozco
- Kyle Thomas
- Keith Paull
}}
Twitching Tongues is an American heavy metal band from California, founded in 2009.{{Cite web|last=Hill|first=John|date=October 13, 2015|title=None Can Escape the Wrath of Twitching Tongues in "Asylum Avenue"|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/twitching-tongues-new-song-asylum-avenue/|access-date=March 23, 2021|website=vVce.com|archive-date=May 19, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220519025251/https://www.vice.com/en/article/6vgyad/twitching-tongues-new-song-asylum-avenue|url-status=live}} The band has released four albums: Sleep Therapy in 2012, In Love There Is No Law in 2013, Disharmony in 2015, and Gaining Purpose Through Passionate Hatred in 2018. They have also released two EPs – 2011's I & I (Insane and Inhumane) and 2012's Preacher Man.{{Cite web|title=Twitching Tongues|url=http://www.metalblade.com/twitchingtongues/|access-date=March 23, 2021|website=Metalblade.com|archive-date=March 6, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210306044253/https://metalblade.com/twitchingtongues/|url-status=live}}
History
The band was founded in Los Angeles in 2009 by brothers Colin and Taylor Young.{{Cite web |last=Tutten |first=James |title=Twitching Tongues, Harm's Way ready to rock BackBooth in Orlando |url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/entertainment/music/os-twitching-tongues-orlando-20151116-post.html |access-date=March 23, 2021 |website=orlandosentinel.com |date=November 16, 2015 |archive-date=July 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210708005754/https://www.orlandosentinel.com/entertainment/music/os-twitching-tongues-orlando-20151116-post.html |url-status=live }} In 2012, their first album, Sleep Therapy, was released, followed by In Love There Is No Law the next year. Their 2015 album, Disharmony, was positively reviewed by NPR's Lars Gotrich, who wrote that Twitching Tongues has "been particularly adept at the moody mosh."{{Cite news|title=Viking's Choice: Twitching Tongues, 'Sacrifice Me'|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/allsongs/2015/09/30/444444776/vikings-choice-twitching-tongues-sacrifice-me|access-date=March 23, 2021|newspaper=NPR|date=September 30, 2015|language=en|last1=Gotrich|first1=Lars|archive-date=March 3, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210303031639/https://www.npr.org/sections/allsongs/2015/09/30/444444776/vikings-choice-twitching-tongues-sacrifice-me|url-status=live}} The album also received a favorable reception from Vice's John Hill, who opined that "hardcore is at its best when it takes risks", using the band's song "Asylum Avenue" as an example.
Twitching Tongues toured internationally after the release of their earliest pair of albums, sometimes alongside other metal bands such as Harm's Way. In a 2018 Revolver interview, frontman Colin Young said that Peter Steele had been a formative influence on his music and the band's work.{{Cite web |last=Pessaro |first=Fred |date=April 13, 2018 |title=Twitching Tongues' Colin Young on Influence and Legacy of Peter Steele |url=https://www.revolvermag.com/music/twitching-tongues-colin-young-influence-and-legacy-peter-steele |access-date=March 23, 2021 |website=Revolver |archive-date=February 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220215162143/https://www.revolvermag.com/music/twitching-tongues-colin-young-influence-and-legacy-peter-steele |url-status=live }}
After being on hiatus for a couple of years, Twitching Tongues in April 2023 re-released a newly re-mixed and remastered version of their debut album, Sleep Therapy, and started playing live shows again.{{Cite web|date=2023-04-26 |title=Twitching Tongues Return With "Sleep Therapy Redux" |url=https://www.theprp.com/2023/04/26/news/twitching-tongues-return-with-sleep-therapy-redux/ |access-date=2023-11-06 |website=Theprp.com |language=en-US |archive-date=April 26, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230426181103/https://www.theprp.com/2023/04/26/news/twitching-tongues-return-with-sleep-therapy-redux/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Sacher |first=Andrew |date=2023-07-31 |title=Twitching Tongues added to BBB/DAZE/SOH showcases in NYC |url=https://www.brooklynvegan.com/twitching-tongues-added-to-bbb-daze-soh-showcases-in-nyc/ |access-date=2023-11-06 |website=BrooklynVegan |language=en-US |archive-date=October 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231009092129/https://www.brooklynvegan.com/twitching-tongues-added-to-bbb-daze-soh-showcases-in-nyc/ |url-status=live }}
For Halloween 2023, the band released an EP with Misfits cover songs called Twitchfits Vol.1, also playing a nine-song set of Misfits songs in San Fernando Valley on October 28. For the occasion the band was billed as Twitchfits.{{Cite web |last=Sacher |first=Andrew |date=2023-10-31 |title=Twitching Tongues release Misfits covers EP for Halloween |url=https://www.brooklynvegan.com/twitching-tongues-release-misfits-covers-ep-for-halloween/ |access-date=2023-11-06 |website=BrooklynVegan |language=en-US |archive-date=November 3, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231103144513/https://www.brooklynvegan.com/twitching-tongues-release-misfits-covers-ep-for-halloween/ |url-status=live }}
Drummer Cayle Sain died in December 2023, at the age of 31.{{cite web |last1=Breihan |first1=Tom |title=Twitching Tongues' Cayle Sain Dead At 31 |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2245265/twitching-tongues-cayle-sain-dead-at-31/news/ |website=Stereogum |access-date=11 December 2023 |language=en |date=11 December 2023}} He was replaced by original drummer Mike Cesario.{{cite web|title=Twitching Tongues To Reunite With Original Drummer Mike Cesario|url=https://www.theprp.com/2023/12/15/news/twitching-tongues-to-reunite-with-original-drummer-mike-cesario/|website=ThePRP|access-date=December 15, 2023|date=December 15, 2023}}
The band released Twitchfits Vol. 2 on October 24, 2024; a 10-song album with Misfits covers.
Musical style and influences
Critics rarely categorise Twitching Tongues' music under established music genres: New Noise magazine writer Sean Gonzalez stated that "Trying to confine Twitching Tongue's sound to a specific genre is like pulling your own teeth, it's hard and no one really enjoys the outcome",{{cite web |title=SEAN GONZALEZ |url=https://newnoisemagazine.com/reviews/album-review-twitching-tongues-disharmony-2/ |website=New Noise |access-date=25 August 2024}} while Metal Injection stated that "Every stylistic shift that is seemingly laced through this web of genres shouts originality."{{cite web |title=Album Review: TWITCHING TONGUES Disharmony |url=https://metalinjection.net/reviews/album-review-twitching-tongues-disharmony |access-date=25 August 2024}} In the cases where they have been categorised, critics have called them groove metal,{{cite web |last1=CAMP |first1=ZOE |title=SEE TWITCHING TONGUES PULL SWORD ON UNCLE SAM IN VIOLENT NEW "HARAKIRI" VIDEO |url=https://www.revolvermag.com/music/see-twitching-tongues-pull-sword-uncle-sam-violent-new-harakiri-video/ |website=Revolver |access-date=25 August 2024}} metalcore{{cite web |last1=Deiterman |first1=Corey |title=Twitching Tongues, Show Me the Body and Vein Make For Stacked Hardcore Bill in Austin, TX (SHOW REVIEW) |url=https://glidemagazine.com/209228/twitching-tongues-show-me-the-body-and-vein-make-for-stacked-hardcore-bill-in-austin-tx-show-review/ |access-date=25 August 2024}}{{cite web |last1=Weaver |first1=James |title=Live Review: Terror @ Sound Control, Manchester |url=https://distortedsoundmag.com/live-review-terror-sound-control-manchester/ |access-date=25 August 2024}} and sludge metal.{{cite web |last1=Wenig |first1=Christina |title=Twitching Tongues GAINING PURPOSE THROUGH PASSIONATE HATRED |url=https://www.metal-hammer.de/reviews/twitching-tongues-gaining-purpose-through-passionate-hatred/ |website=Metal Hammer |access-date=25 August 2024}}{{cite web |title=Code Orange: Strange Fruit |url=https://www.loudersound.com/features/code-orange-strange-fruit |website=Metal Hammer |access-date=25 August 2024}} They incorporate elements of doom metal, hardcore punk,{{cite web |title=TWITCHING TONGUES ANNOUNCE HEADLINING TOUR IN SUPPORT OF NEW ALBUM DISHARMONY |url=https://bravewords.com/news/twitching-tongues-announce-headlining-tour-in-support-of-new-album-disharmony |website=Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles |access-date=25 August 2024}} alternative metal, traditional heavy metal and gothic rock.{{cite web |title=Twitching Tongues- Gaining Purpose Through Passionate Hatred |url=https://mmhradio.co.uk/twitching-tongues-gaining-purpose-passionate-hatred/ |access-date=25 August 2024}}
They have cited influences including Type O Negative, Carnivore,{{cite web |last1=PESSARO |first1=FRED |title=TWITCHING TONGUES' COLIN YOUNG ON INFLUENCE AND LEGACY OF PETER STEELE |url=https://www.revolvermag.com/music/twitching-tongues-colin-young-influence-and-legacy-peter-steele/ |website=Revolver |access-date=25 August 2024}} Bolt Thrower, Candlemass, Merauder,{{cite web |last1=Weaver |first1=James |title=INTERVIEW: Colin Young – Twitching Tongues |url=https://distortedsoundmag.com/interview-colin-young-twitching-tongues-2/ |access-date=25 August 2024}} Only Living Witness, Cave In, Crowbar and Coheed and Cambria.{{cite web |title=TWITCHING TONGUES |url=https://somewillneverknow.org/interviews/twitching-tongues/ |access-date=25 August 2024}}
Members
;Current
- Colin Young – vocals (2009–present)
- Taylor Young – guitar, vocals (2009–present)
- Michael Cesario – drums (2009–2015, 2023–present)
- Sean Martin – guitar (2015–present)
- Alec Faber – bass (2016–present)
;Former
- Keith Paull – bass (2009–2012)
- Lee Orozco – guitar (2012–2015)
- Kyle Thomas – bass (2012–2015)
- Cayle Sain – drums (2015–2023) (died 2023)
- Anthonie Gonzalez – bass (2015–2016)
Timeline
{{#tag:timeline|
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at:03/15/2010
at:11/01/2011
at:06/18/2012
at:08/21/2012
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at:10/31/2023
at:02/01/2024
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at:08/20/2013
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at:03/09/2018
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bar:Kyle from:10/01/2012 till:12/01/2015 color:bass
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bar:Alec from:06/01/2016 till:end color:bass
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bar:Cayle from:12/01/2015 till:12/11/2023 color:drums
bar:Mike from:12/20/2023 till:end color:drums
}}
Discography
= Studio albums =
- Sleep Therapy (2012, I Scream)
- In Love There Is No Law (2013, Closed Casket Activities)
- Disharmony (2015, Metal Blade)
- Gaining Purpose Through Passionate Hatred (2018, Metal Blade)
= EPs =
- I & I (Insane and Inhumane) (2011, Photobooth Records)
- Preacher Man (2012, Closed Casket Activities)
- Disharmony Zero (2018, Metal Blade)
- Twitchfits Vol. 1 (2023, Closed Casket Activities)
- Twitchfits Vol. 2 (2024, Closed Casket Activities)
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{commons category}}
- {{AllMusic}}
- [https://www.metalblade.com/twitchingtongues/ Twitching Tongues] at Metal Blade Records
- {{discogs artist|Twitching Tongues}}
Category:Hardcore punk groups from California