Twiza does not ease listeners into their world. With the single “LiveFaster,” the Gqeberha-based hardcore collective delivers impact first, philosophy second, and satire everywhere in between. The track is a violent burst of speed and intent, designed to evoke the sensation of a live room collision rather than a polished studio artifact. It represents the band’s ethos clearly: music as communal chaos, ritual, and unapologetic noise.
Twiza’s origins are rooted in spontaneity rather than strategy. The project began as a two-piece experiment between Roscoe Nefdt and Braden Steyn, built purely for fun and unfiltered expression. Roscoe handled drums and lead vocals, while Braden took on guitar and vocal duties. What started as an inside joke gradually evolved into a fully realized band, complete with expanded personnel and a mythology that now defines their identity. Guitarists Steven Henderson and Braden Steyn reshaped the riffs with heavier tones and sharper aggression, while drummer Liaan Badenhorst rebuilt the rhythmic backbone, injecting his own character and ferocity into the material. Together, they transformed early compositions into something far more brutal and theatrical.
“LiveFaster” draws from the raw lineage of hardcore punk and metal. Influences like Hatebreed, Dead Kennedys, Blood for Blood, and Sick of It All meet the weight and intensity of bands such as Gojira, Soulfly, Sepultura, Slipknot, Power Trip, and Municipal Waste. These inspirations are not copied; they are absorbed and reinterpreted through Twiza’s relentless pacing and tongue-in-cheek irreverence. The result is music that feels confrontational yet playful, aggressive yet self-aware.
What truly separates Twiza from its peers is the world it has built around the music. The band’s lore revolves around a fictional religion inspired by the South African soft drink Twizza. This mythology, documented in a living scripture called “The Carbonation,” is performed as much as it is written. During live shows, band members don ski masks or balaclavas to symbolize the death of individual ego, reinforcing the idea that anyone can belong within the Carbonation. Audience members are baptized in Twizza, scriptures are recited, and copies of the text are handed out after performances. The experience is part hardcore show, part absurdist ritual, part social commentary.
“LiveFaster” closes with a moment that perfectly captures this balance. After critiques of the snare sound, Liaan Badenhorst recorded a parody voice note in a Donald Trump impersonation, mocking the entire situation. That recording made its way into the track, turning criticism into comedy and cementing the band’s refusal to take themselves too seriously.
Recorded at FiveSidedRecords in Gqeberha, the EP channels the chaos of a live Twiza performance. The vocals were captured using an ASMR-inspired multi-condenser setup, creating an unsettling intimacy that makes the listener feel physically present in the room. It is abrasive, immersive, and intentionally uncomfortable. With events like “Carbonated Christmas” celebrating the release, Twiza is not just releasing music; they are building a movement. “LiveFaster” is a declaration; hardcore can be ruthless, ridiculous, and communal all at once.