Evil Twin drops new full-length LP

Based in Brooklyn, Evil Twin is a trio that formed in the aftermath of isolation, coming together as the world began to reopen, with its members stepping out of the scattered remnants of previous bands and into something new. What started among musicians connected through Northwestern University in Illinois quickly bloomed into an exciting new project, shifting from basement spaces to New York stages with a highly original sound.

Evil Twin is built from three distinct creative voices; Peter McGee leads on vocals and guitar, joined by Claire Stevens on guitars and vocals and Riina Dougherty on bass and backing vocals, with Thomas Kikuchi contributing drums, synths and percussion during the band’s earlier phase. Each member brings their own musical dialect, taking cues from jazz, blues, classical and even pop punk.

Together, those influences don’t clash so much as they coalesce and expand, forming something unique and unpredictable, where psychedelic guitar textures meet classical phrasing and groove-driven rhythms keep everything moving. Capturing their sound in the studio, towards the end of 2022 they unveiled their sound with the debut single “Soul Surfarr” and have since shared an impressive catalogue across multiple singles and EPs.

Each release has added another facet to their expanding identity, gradually building toward a bigger statement. That arrives in the form of their debut full-length album titled Upside Down, We’re Flying, a ten-track outing that feels like the most complete version of Evil Twin thus far.

The album leans heavily into texture and atmosphere, with fuzzed-out guitars, melodic hooks and pop-leaning vocals sitting alongside more experimental flourishes. Opening track “Frost on the Lillies” kicks off the release with a contrasting blend of dreamy atmosphere and driving energy, built on layers of guitar effects and rolling drums capped by laid back vocal delivery resulting in an engaging musical experience that pairs alternative aesthetic with pop appeal.

“California (She’s So Royal)” pivots into something brighter, packed with hooks and propelled by energetic drums and walls of fuzzy guitar, it captures a sense of momentum before opening out into a more expansive instrumental section. It’s a superb display of the band’s creativity and performance talent as well as their knack for filtering their catchy writing through more experimental arrangements. “In Flames” taps into a heavier mood, driven by rustling drums and pulsing bass notes before swelling with crunchy guitar chords and lofty lead notes to form an engrossing sonic voyage that’s mesmeric and energising in equal measure.

Other highlights include tracks like “Red Thread” which pairs punchy drums with clean instrumentation cut with bursts of distortion to cast an intricate indie scene that glides with mellow vocal leads and slick ebb and flow throughout. “Aren’t You Lucky” and “C74” lean into reflection, exploring themes of connection, uncertainty and emotional tension. The arrangements open up here, giving space for subtle details to come through like the delicate interplay of overlapping vocals and shifting rhythms on the latter.

Closing the album with “Eta Carinae,” by the end the band has moved through a wide spectrum of sound and feeling. Beginning as a sparse piano-led piece before gradually building into an anthemic rock sound, it brings everything together in a way that feels at once expansive and truly personal. With Upside Down, We’re Flying, Evil Twin presents an incredible body of work that confirms their status as must watch band and we can’t wait to see what they’ve got in store for the rest of 2026 and beyond.

Listen to Upside Down, We’re Flying below