Jonathan Geddes' verdict: three stars.
At one point in this celebratory homecoming show, Sam McTrusty mentioned that "nearly every song we've written since the last time was designed for you guys." You cannot deny the success of this method, given that Twin Atlantic now dine at pop-rock's top table, but there are limitations there too.
The style they've hit upon, of big-hearted and equally big sing-a-long tunes, was carried along by sheer gusto here, although if you'd taken a drink for every arms in the air moment you'd have been blitzed five songs in. Sophomore album Great Divide was played in full, and a heavy diet of chest-beating rockers ensued.
Which isn't to say Twin do this badly. They don't, with an engine room of bassist Ross McNae and drummer Craig Kneale providing such a sturdy backdrop than even Kneale's drum solo was acceptable. There were some fine hooks, played in a crunching manner, such as the barrelling Fall Into The Party, Cell Mate's terrific switch from heavy thud to dance floor filler and I Am An Animal's suitably wild tone.
The issue was more just how heavily Twin's set now relies upon such tunes, meaning that fatigue at all the bombast crept in. McTrusty is a likeable singer, but he couldn't lift the by the book rock of Actions That Echo, Be A Kid's soft-hearted pop or Oceans obligatory acoustic strum. While there remains a visceral nature to the band, the jagged tones of oldie What Is Light, Where Is Laughter felt rather alien alongside a constant barrage of straightforward, formulaic material.
Still, there was an unquestionable feel-good emotion running through the night, which satisfied where the overly rigid tunes sometimes could not.
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