Review: The Twilight Sad – No One Can Ever Know

When the rumours started that TTS were planning on ditching ‘the wall of noise’ for their third studio album eyebrows were raised ever-so-slightly. The band’s distinctive ace has meant critical acclaim has been attached to their first two records but has somewhat limited the Kilsyth-born band. No One Can Ever Know is their attempt not to be pidgeon-holed and move away from this sound.

Now sporting a more innate approach to their music, opening track Alphabet beguiles the listener with an eerie organ portion leading the way until it becomes enveloped by the scurl in James Graham’s domineering voice.

One of the finest moments on the record comes in the form of Nil. ‘The wall of noise’ that was omnipotent on Fourteen Autumns And Fifteen Winters and Forget The Night Ahead has manifested itself in this track but in a fresh, brooding manner; lyrics that lift the track above the other songs the album. Graham repeats, “we all knew whose fault it was” as the track breaks into scaling psychedelic guitar portions before landing gently again.

As the album approaches the latter halve; tracks get darker and tend to exude emotion that earlier tracks can’t convey as well. Not Sleeping has the ghostly harmonies of Graham to open with and escalates into a full-on instrumental barrage.

Penultimate track Another Bed has to have the highest tempo in a TTS track ever. Retaining this tempo throughout, backed by overriding keyboard segments certainly makes it one of the most interesting album tracks

The album ends with the first single from the record, Kill It In The Morning; a behemoth of a track that expands its domineering sound with the constant and fear-induced siren that sounds tremendous when the chorus comes around.

Only time will tell if No One Can Ever Know is worthy of its two predecessors success. One thing is for sure is that this album is bold and although it may not appease many Sad fans it’s a record that needed to be made to ensure that they weren’t repeating previous glories but challenging themselves to be creative in a different way and you can only commend The Twilight Sad for this.