[ATTENDED: February 10, 2022] Twin Temple
I was really intrigued to see Twin Temple because I’d heard about them through….NPR? I’m not sure, but I remember hearing about this satanic doo-wop group.
I don’t really like the music as I don’t like doo-wop, but I was all in for the spectacle. And wow, what a spectacle.
The band came out of stage: drums, bass, keys and a big old tenor sax. After riffing for a bit, the two main persons in the band came out on stage in their full satanic regalia.
Their bio states:
The band was started on Halloween (a Witch’s Sabbath) in 2016 when a destruction ritual was performed, and Alexandra and Zachary James stepped into their power as Twin Temple, energetically killing all their previous incarnations up until that point.
And while a lot of “Satanic” metal bands begin and end their worship of Satan on stage, the same can’t be said for Twin Temple. Both their music and their practice of Satanism, on and off the stage, are rooted in the ideals of free will and giving space to those who are often not allowed any.
So no, Twin Temple doesn’t drink the blood of virgins or kill babies to sacrifice on the full moon. They are challenging notions about what it means to free the oppressed, fight back against dated and binary ways of thinking, and doing it all while hailing the dark lord himself.
So the duo came out on stage–Alexandra in her huge beehive hairdo and Zachary with his tiny mustache–and proceeded to do some rituals.
They blessed the stage, sprinkled unholy water around, and then asked us all to shout “Hail Satan” as they asked the fires of hell to burn away the evils of sexism. To burn away the evils of racism. I’ve never heard a band do anything like this before.
And then they kicked into a song. Actually the opening and closing instrumentals are part of the setlist. I really enjoyed the dark brooding riffage of “In Lvx” while the jamming wildness of “In Nox” was a fun way to end the set. Which basically means that there were words for four songs.
Alexandra’s voice is really amazing–she has power and range. Although the sound quality for them wasn’t that great–I really couldn’t hear any words, so I have no idea what the lyrics were. But their songs were all old-school rock n roll. Again, if I liked this kind of music, this would have been 100% up my alley.
Alexandra was a fun front woman, inviting all of us to the title of her third song “Let’s Have a Satanic Orgy.” This one had a kind of retro Mexican feel–with clicking castanets. I enjoyed this song a lot more.
So a song like “Satan’s a Woman” is a pretty standard fifties rock n roll song with a lengthy sax solo. But they put their own spin on it (the parenthetical Satan is crooned, like any other doo-wop word might be).
Pleased to meet you, Satan’s my name
I can make you sin, I can make you feel pain
I can twist, I can make you seduce me
Wanna do the Watusi?
You can call me Luci(Satan) Satan’s a woman
(Satan) Yeah, I’m a woman
(Satan) Satan’s a woman
(Satan) Oh yeah, I’m the evil one
“I’m Wicked” was a slower song with old-fashioned keys. I couldn’t help but think of Amy Winehouse singing this song.
As the set ended, the band jammed out while Alexandra and Zachary did some more rituals. She drank something from a chalice (the guy in font of me gleefully shouted to his (son? brother?) she’s drinking blood! It’s dripping down her chin! I couldn’t really see all that well (because these two were very tall), so I have no confirmation. Then he brought out an upside down cross and did some kind of ritual and then the walked off stage while the band jammed.
It was an amazing visual experience and it was an a jam packed 25 minutes. I even enjoyed the music by the end.
- In Lvx ⊕
- Sex Magick ⊕
- Let’s Have a Satanic Orgy
- Satan’s a Woman ¥
- I’m Wicked ⊕
- In Nox ⊕
⊕ Twin Temple (Bring You Their Signature Sound…. Satanic Doo-Wop) (2018)
¥ Twin Temple Present a Collection of Live (And Undead) Recordings from Their Satanic Ritual Chamber… Stripped from the Crypt (2020)
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