This '70s-styled Hard Rock act from Oslo, Norway, was founded in 2005 as a trio, and immediately made its mark in the USA, where their single “44” (part o their demo EP 44 Collection) won the Make A Star music contest that same year. Back home in Oslo, the band made an impact on the Underground scene with a slightly different stage gimmick which found the band opening its shows by performing behind a screen, sound-tracking a car chase from the projected movie The Bulitt with their own instrumental “Backstreet Stalker”.Along the way, the band's sound changed from its cinematic Funky '70s Rock beginning to a more black music-based type of Rock 'n' Roll, although the band kept its unique sound, whether the song was a Blues, a Funky tune, or a straight Rock 'n' Roll track! Influences are said to be drawn from sources as diverse as Blues, Soul, Funk, and Caribbean music, but are always dressed up in a Hard '70s Rock sound. In 2007 the band released another demo EP under the title Extended Play. In 2008, the band released the full-length Barbarian Twins – LIVE! Through Barbar Sounds (the band's own music imprint), and later signed a deal with US label D and M Records, with the early 2009 release of the band's very rootsy debut album Won't Bow Down as a result. Getting rather well reception in Norway (where the album was released there through the band's own imprint), Won't Bow Down was promoted by a tour in the US. The full set performances found themselves rewarded by raving reviews, and by an airing through Chicago's WLUW radio channel (to an audience of over 1,000,000 listeners), and the combination obviously helped the band's making a name for itself on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean!Due to life on the road, the band's sound changer to a somewhat harder one, more rooted in Rock 'n' Roll, after the US tour. In 2011, the band again self-released a live album entitled Backstage Spin. An additional guitarist was added to the line-up, and on the drums a new man stepped in (making for a current line-up of the band being Bard Andersson on lead vocals, guitar and occasional keyboards; Sigmund “Ziggy” Espedal on guitar and backing vocals; PK on bass and backing vocals; and from England, Big Bill Lucas on the drums – a later addition came in the form of female backing singer Line Pedersen), bringing in new synergies within the band. By the time the changes had occurred, the band had already recorded part of its second album House Of Ill Fame at Oslo's Sunflower Recording Studios, but due to the personnel changes (which had also brought about the somewhat tougher sound) the guys decided to re-record the material all over again after re-working the original material, as well as recording a couple of new songs to boot! The band was eventually signed to Norwegian label Rapid Records in 2012 (not surprisingly, the album's co-producer Henrik Moy Askildsen, whom also plays on the album, happens to be the label's manager) who released the album in the latter part of the year, promoting it with the first single “Can't Hide Your Love”/”Heads Or Tails” (apparently got a raving response over in Norway). A little surprise came quite in the middle of the recording sessions of the album, when the band was approached by Tracii Guns (legendary founder of both Guns 'n' Roses and LA Guns) with the question of whether BT would be willing to play support to LA Guns on its February/ March 2012 European tour. Of course, that was an offer the Norwegians could not refuse, and as a result they were soon gala-banding all over Europe (15 shows in Germany, the UK, Holland, Poland, Austria and Switzerland), and sharpening anticipations for the band's upcoming album with an increasingly growing fan base. Tracii Guns himself was so impressed, he even went on stage with BT in Amsterdam, to contribute to the band's live version of Led Zeppelin's “Whole Lotta Love”. He was later found stating, “Barbarian Twins is so 1973, I love 1973!”, and adding that BT was one of the most authentic Rock 'n' Roll bands he'd ever heard. Still hot from the tour, the band went back into the studio in March, and finished the album.Which brings us back to the material on the band's second album, which conceptually deals with being on the run, escaping and having trouble dealing with difficulties! The info sheet explains the music as follows (with small alterations for completion's sake): “The music spans from creepy Gospel with a country flavour (album opening title track), via rough Texas Blues with a sing-along chorus (the ensuing “Can't Hide Your Love”), hard, melodic Rock (the following “Heads Or Tails”, and “Free Your Mind” which follows later on in the album), haunting ballads (“Running From The Cold” and album closer “Final Destination), to long guitar jams (“Getaway” and “So Sad You're Gone”)”, but of course that does not make a very clear picture. Also, in the case of the ballads, it didn't say that the album closing “Final Destination” is actually a very calm acoustic track! You know, it turns out some fans of the band have put the finger on the knot when they described Barbarian Twins as “The inevitable encounter between Led Zeppelin and the Rolling Stones”! Indeed, a track such as “Getaway” is só drenched into Led Zeppelin guitar licks, it's almost like they stole 'em. Actually, those riffs sound véry much like one of Led's songs, even if the vocal melody lines are quite different! But the difference is definitely in the lead singer's vocal signature. Sounding like he's still having a soar throat and a head cold, his vocal is so unique that one might need some time getting used to it. Having listened to the album several times by the time I sat down to start this review, I cannot remember why at the first listening of the (very short) album, I first disliked the lead vocals somewhat!For your dose of BT music, surf to (www.) barbariantwins.com (where a player at the bottom of the page will automatically start playing some 7 songs, of which only two are off the new album – in the “video” section, you'll find a threesome of live tracks, including a cover of AC/DC's “Whole Lotta Rosie”). The band also has pages at MySpace (only 4 songs posted, but óne not posted at the band's own site), facebook (one song less than on own website), and RevebNation (one less song than on facebook)...which does not give a lot of néw stuff. For short (30-second) introductions to all of the album's 8 tracks (total length a mere, and somewhat disappointing, 29 ½ minutes), check the album's page on one of the trusted online sales sites (links, as for all of the above, to be found on the band's own website). Quite honestly, I forgot (due to time lacking at the moment of my research on the band) to check the link to SoundCloud...so very possibly, you might some more full-length audio material off the new album there as well!Meanwhile, it's end conclusion time, and I guess I have another album to retro-actively add to my 2012 year-lists with House Of Ill Fame! Yeah, I love 1973 too!