The New Orleans pair Caspian Hollywell and RJ Santos make up Twisted Teens, and they are now three for three in 2026. They have revealed their new album, The Holy Cross Tigers, which is set to arrive November 6, through Sub Pop. The record represents their first full-length release with the label, following their public announcement of the signing last month.
The lead single, “When We First Met,” comes with a music video directed by Anthony Simpkins. In it, Twisted Teens strap up for a medieval brawl.
Sub Pop and the New Album
This year Twisted Teens have issued three albums, with The Holy Cross Tigers being their third. The other two were Blame the Clown, put out on Chain Smoking Records in January, and Florida Water Blues, which appeared on Going Underground in July. Together they make up their fourth album to date. The November 6 release will mark their first full-length for Sub Pop, following their signing to the label last month.
Twisted Teens are still on the road promoting their ongoing music output. They have more than a dozen shows remaining as openers for Kurt Vile and the Violators, with a headlining run through Australia set for December.
The Full Tracklist
The collection spans 13 tracks in total, and below is the complete lineup for The Holy Cross Tigers.
| Track Number | Track Title |
|---|---|
| 01 | Stalks |
| 02 | When We First Met |
| 03 | Be an Angel |
| 04 | Blue Rose |
| 05 | I Spend My Time Crying |
| 06 | Blue Flower |
| 07 | I Bring |
| 08 | Look in the Mirror |
| 09 | Lock and Key |
| 10 | Figure It Out |
| 11 | Armed With a Vision |
| 12 | Every Flower |
| 13 | Darker the Night Is the Brighter I See |
The album opens with the brief “Stalks”, then moves through its tracks before ending on the long final title “Darker the Night Is the Brighter I See.”. Between those two, the record holds “When We First Met,” the lead single, now accompanied by a video directed by Anthony Simpkins featuring the duo in a medieval brawl.
A Year of Constant Output
Any band releasing three albums within twelve months is working at a demanding rate. Twisted Teens have issued new material in January, July, and now November, delivering a constant supply of songs across 2026. The trio of releases — Blame the Clown on Chain Smoking Records, Florida Water Blues on Going Underground, and The Holy Cross Tigers on Sub Pop — has come from Hollywell and Santos on three separate labels in the space of one year.
Kurt Vile and the Violators keep up a steady touring pace alongside their recorded work. Before the December Australia headlining run wraps up the year, over a dozen dates with the group still stand between now and then.
The music video for “When We First Met” shows the duo in a medieval setting. The video arrives ahead of the album, giving listeners a taste of what The Holy Cross Tigers will sound like when it lands November 6.
Source: pitchfork.com
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