From this opening, we move on to Barcelona, where a brooding synthetic whirr and drum machine hang over an ominous verse, showcasing the band’s ability to build darkness and drama, before unleashing a lightning strike of a chorus. It’s a song particularly noticeable for casting a big, cinematic vision of love at its core (‘Kiss in the rain, you were my reason to live’ goes one of Sam’s passionate couplets), but it taps into a theatrical atmosphere that’s spread thickly throughout the record – albeit always with a knowing wink.
Indeed, Power is an album that covers a lot of emotional ground, which is all the more impressive given its short run time. From the bass-led grooves of Volcano, to the elastic synth-pop of lead single and album high point Novacaine, Power finds Twin Atlantic relishing the freedom to be daring, and becoming the band you suspect they may have wanted to be for some time. The reward is a group of songs that feel big and important at almost every turn, and, if the album doesn’t prove to be too much of a left turn for fans, it points towards potential exciting times ahead for a band recharged and reborn.
Verdict: 3/5