On Doomed Lovers, Twin Temple's occultic aesthetic goes widescreen

Far from being contradictory bedfellows, those two elements feel like a natural fit, since both thrive on ideas of forbidden pleasures and adolescent rebellion. On Doomed Lovers, though, married duo Alexandra and Zachary James seem less interested in raising hell than in breaking hearts, exploring a loose concept of ill-fated romance in all its tropes, this time with a 37-piece orchestra in tow.

Doomed Lovers' tracklisting reads like a tawdry procession of schlocky B-movie titles. Songs like "Possessed", "I Want Blood", and "Love You to Death" map out an increasingly unhealthy parade from desire to obsession, whereas “Haunt Me” and “There’s Something In The Walls” focus on the supernatural in the bedroom, where, frankly, the Jameses make it feel right at home.

Aided by Shooter Jennings’ grand production, recorded at Hollywood’s Sunset Sound, Doomed Lovers' songs are stacked with an authentic, vintage feel. But by the time the closing pair of“Monster” and “Nothing Matters” arrive, the honeymoon takes a particularly nasty musical turn, soaked in death and satanic doo-wop vibes.

Twin Temple’s true appeal lies in their straight-faced delivery. Alexandra’s vocals are evocative of 1950s girl-group pop, while Zachary’s guitar melodies and twanging licks give the duo's dark melodramas a romantic sweep, and the contrasts are delicious.

There is of course a danger that all this theatricality could collapse under the weight of its own reverence, and with the best will in the world, listening to Doomed Lovers does sometimes feel like sitting through a tribute or parody. That's almost inevitable, given the iconic sounds they choose to reference, however genuine their intent.

You can’t really argue with Twin Temple’s sincerity though. For all the blood, brimstone, and black magic, Doomed Lovers is ultimately an album about a far more conventional affliction: that of loving somebody so much that you temporarily lose your mind.

The devil may have all the best tunes, as the saying goes, but Twin Temple are making a persuasive bid for the best breakup songs. Beneath the vintage glamour and the infernal pageantry, the most frightening thing could be a human heart that refuses to let go.