Twitching Tongues is an American heavy metal band from California, founded in 2009.[1] 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.[2]

Twitching Tongues
Twitching Tongues performing in 2014
Background information
OriginLos Angeles, California, U.S.
Genres
Years active2009 (2009)–present
Labels
SpinoffsGod's Hate
Spinoff ofRuckus
Members
  • Colin Young
  • Taylor Young
  • Sean Martin
  • Alec Faber
  • Michael Cesario
Past members
  • Cayle Sain
  • Anthonie Gonzalez
  • Lee Orozco
  • Kyle Thomas
  • Keith Paull
Websitetwitchingtongues.com

History

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The band was founded in Los Angeles in 2009 by brothers Colin and Taylor Young.[1][3] 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."[4] 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.[1]

Twitching Tongues toured internationally after the release of their earliest pair of albums, sometimes alongside other metal bands such as Harm's Way.[3] 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.[5]

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.[6][7]

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.[8]

Drummer Cayle Sain died in December 2023, at the age of 31.[9] He was replaced by original drummer Mike Cesario.[10]

The band released Twitchfits Vol. 2 on October 24th 2024; a 10 song album with Misfits covers.

Musical style and influences

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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",[11] while Metal Injection stated that "Every stylistic shift that is seamingly laced through this web of genres shouts originality."[12] In the cases where they have been categorised, critics have called them groove metal,[13] metalcore[14][15] and sludge metal.[16][17] They incorporate elements of doom metal, hardcore punk,[18] alternative metal, traditional heavy metal[12] and gothic rock.[19]

They have cited influences including Type O Negative, Carnivore,[20] Bolt Thrower, Candlemass, Merauder,[21] Only Living Witness, Cave In, Crowbar and Coheed and Cambria.[22]

Members

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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

Discography

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Studio albums

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  • 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)
  • 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

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  1. ^ a b c Hill, John (October 13, 2015). "None Can Escape the Wrath of Twitching Tongues in "Asylum Avenue"". vVce.com. Archived from the original on May 19, 2022. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
  2. ^ "Twitching Tongues". Metalblade.com. Archived from the original on March 6, 2021. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
  3. ^ a b Tutten, James (November 16, 2015). "Twitching Tongues, Harm's Way ready to rock BackBooth in Orlando". orlandosentinel.com. Archived from the original on July 8, 2021. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
  4. ^ Gotrich, Lars (September 30, 2015). "Viking's Choice: Twitching Tongues, 'Sacrifice Me'". NPR. Archived from the original on March 3, 2021. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
  5. ^ Pessaro, Fred (April 13, 2018). "Twitching Tongues' Colin Young on Influence and Legacy of Peter Steele". Revolver. Archived from the original on February 15, 2022. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
  6. ^ "Twitching Tongues Return With "Sleep Therapy Redux"". Theprp.com. April 26, 2023. Archived from the original on April 26, 2023. Retrieved November 6, 2023.
  7. ^ Sacher, Andrew (July 31, 2023). "Twitching Tongues added to BBB/DAZE/SOH showcases in NYC". BrooklynVegan. Archived from the original on October 9, 2023. Retrieved November 6, 2023.
  8. ^ Sacher, Andrew (October 31, 2023). "Twitching Tongues release Misfits covers EP for Halloween". BrooklynVegan. Archived from the original on November 3, 2023. Retrieved November 6, 2023.
  9. ^ Breihan, Tom (December 11, 2023). "Twitching Tongues' Cayle Sain Dead At 31". Stereogum. Retrieved December 11, 2023.
  10. ^ "Twitching Tongues To Reunite With Original Drummer Mike Cesario". ThePRP. December 15, 2023. Retrieved December 15, 2023.
  11. ^ "SEAN GONZALEZ". New Noise. Retrieved August 25, 2024.
  12. ^ a b "Album Review: TWITCHING TONGUES Disharmony". Retrieved August 25, 2024.
  13. ^ CAMP, ZOE. "SEE TWITCHING TONGUES PULL SWORD ON UNCLE SAM IN VIOLENT NEW "HARAKIRI" VIDEO". Revolver. Retrieved August 25, 2024.
  14. ^ Deiterman, Corey. "Twitching Tongues, Show Me the Body and Vein Make For Stacked Hardcore Bill in Austin, TX (SHOW REVIEW)". Retrieved August 25, 2024.
  15. ^ Weaver, James. "Live Review: Terror @ Sound Control, Manchester". Retrieved August 25, 2024.
  16. ^ Wenig, Christina. "Twitching Tongues GAINING PURPOSE THROUGH PASSIONATE HATRED". Metal Hammer. Retrieved August 25, 2024.
  17. ^ "Code Orange: Strange Fruit". Metal Hammer. Retrieved August 25, 2024.
  18. ^ "TWITCHING TONGUES ANNOUNCE HEADLINING TOUR IN SUPPORT OF NEW ALBUM DISHARMONY". Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles. Retrieved August 25, 2024.
  19. ^ "Twitching Tongues- Gaining Purpose Through Passionate Hatred". Retrieved August 25, 2024.
  20. ^ PESSARO, FRED. "TWITCHING TONGUES' COLIN YOUNG ON INFLUENCE AND LEGACY OF PETER STEELE". Revolver. Retrieved August 25, 2024.
  21. ^ Weaver, James. "INTERVIEW: Colin Young – Twitching Tongues". Retrieved August 25, 2024.
  22. ^ "TWITCHING TONGUES". Retrieved August 25, 2024.
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