Twin Atlantic impressed with their cracking debut full length, ÔÇÿFreeÔÇÖ.┬á Since then, the amount of interest focused on their follow up has increased with every year that has gone by. The boys from Glasgow have coped with this unexpected pressure with ease. There are no second album nerves apparent anywhere on ÔÇÿGreat DivideÔÇÖ. The album is confident and cohesive. There is a clear sense of ambition in these songs.

In the three years since ÔÇÿFreeÔÇÖ, Twin Atlantic have been allowed to soak up the road and all the life experiences that being in a touring band brings. These experiences are the foundation and bones of their latest offering. Both lyrically, with focuses on strained relationships and conflicts of identity; and also musically, with more focussed and lean songs.

The songs on ÔÇÿGreat DivideÔÇÖ, are big, really big. This is helped, of course, by producer Gil Norton who seems to push the warm, symphonic nature of these rock songs to another level of brilliance.┬á Bold opening track, ÔÇÿThe Ones That I LoveÔÇÖ, is down tempo and beautiful. It is a demonstration that the band do not merely rely on bombastic production to impress; although, they do impress with that too.┬á For instance, lead single, ÔÇÿHeart and SoulÔÇÖ, would not feel out of place nestled in a classic Bon Jovi setlist, with its stadium hungry chorus. And itÔÇÖs not the only chorus that vocalist, Sam McTrusty, has penned here. To name a few, ÔÇÿHold OnÔÇÖ, ÔÇÿBrothers and SistersÔÇÖ, and ÔÇÿCell MateÔÇÖ are all chorusÔÇÖs that beg to be sung along to; with the latter being home to the most brutal rolling riff in Twin AtlanticÔÇÖs arsenal.

Scattered between these anthems are a relatively high ratio of ballad-esque tracks for a rock album.┬á Songs such as, ÔÇÿThe Ones That I LoveÔÇÖ, ÔÇÿOceansÔÇÖ and ÔÇÿBe A KidÔÇÖ, sit surprisingly well and help to showcase the mellower end of SamÔÇÖs Glaswegian accent. This arguably only falters once, on fairly commercial offering, ÔÇÿRest In PiecesÔÇÖ.┬á But, itÔÇÖs the exception that proves the rule.

The well-used, Biffy Clyro, comparison is lazy and unfair. ÔÇÿGreat DivideÔÇÖ cements Twin AtlanticÔÇÖs own independent place within the Scottish rock spectrum, as well as on a more global scale and it is absolutely brilliant.