(CD, I Hate, 2022)
‘Epic, slow, cathartic. Mournful, overwhelmingly gloomy, ravishing.’
These are the first words that came to mind while listening for the first time Greek Doom metallers THE TEMPLE’s sophomore full length, “Of Solitude Triumphant”. In hindsight and after having listened to this album, I felt ashamed for letting their debut “Forevermourn” (2016) fall off my radar. On the other hand, stumbling upon bands I’d never heard before is of unique beauty as it keeps expectations and assumptions aside, leaving one to only judge by the cover art or the record label hosting the release. Besides, the unknown is a real gift and can open the door to a future or possibilities that didn’t even exist. Let’s dig deep into I Hate’s offering, right in time before the end-of-the-year album lists have been decided.
Simply put, “Of Solitude Triumphant” is a hell of an album, and I believe walks side by side with the godfathers and masters of all time, CANDLEMASS and SOLITUDE AETURNUS. Mournful, traditional Doom Metal tunes, with abundant lyricism and BATHORY-like guitars, all nicely tighten up by Father Alex’s strong, epic vocals which often refer to Orthodox Church psalms, giving you goosebumps out of through devoutness and epic atmosphere. THE TEMPLE lifts the curtain with a cover to honor the memory of Greek composer Mikis Theodorakis, who passed away in 2021, on his “Axion Esti” oratorio (a poem by Nobel prize-winner poet Odysseas Elytis), that speaks the voice of Greece - the land, the people, the injustice, the resistance, the Wars, the struggles, the doomed future. The slow-paced, mournful imaginable rhythm (no instruments used), solely driven by choral angelic voices, will guide you to THE TEMPLE’s crushing epic Doom. “The Foundations” enters the room right on time to restore the Metal order, with a massive riff, slowly pounding drums and a heavy AF tune, able to make every white lily bloom on a Good Friday. The song (which is the longest one clocking ten minutes) appears as very vocal-centric at first, focusing more on the sad yet catchy vocal melody than its gripping riffs, but somewhere in the middle, it shows its Doomy, epic teeth, and paints the atmosphere with every sad color in THE TEMPLE’s palette. “Reborn In Virtue” continues walking down that path, and makes things more heartbreaking via the chant-like and mournful vocals. The combination of the latter’s vocals and the cry of the guitars underlines the slough of sadness and despair, having an emotional impact. The meaty basslines have the rightful spot in the mix, and forth the epicness and seriousness of the track, completing the rhythm guitars’ role, subtly implementing tons of melancholic melodies.
Every track sounds as like guiding you down to the Purgatory step after step, handing the power over to the ecclesiastic-like vocals / epic guitar combo to pave the way, and each step feels more consuming and gripping than the previous one. This is exactly the case with the one-two punch “Profound Loss” / “A White Flame For The Fear Of Death”; while the slowed down vibes and the harmonic vocals of the former lead you to a Gethsemane-like garden, the lyricness and weeping of the guitars of the latter will sweep you away, without being neck-breaking, speedy or aggressive in the least. And if you manage somehow to survive this, the eerie “Premonitions Of The Final Hour” and the truly epic “The Lord Of Light” are the brute executioner to send you off to the gallows, putting the final nail in the coffin.
It’s not a secret that the Greek scene has given birth to magnificent Doom Metal acts, and THE TEMPLE is, of course, no exception. Their traditional Gloom ‘N Doom is served with the utmost respect to the ancestors of the genre, while maintaining an ID of its own, and is powerful enough to squelch your sunshine. “Of Solitude Triumphant” is an honest, invigorating and as-crushing-as-Doom-can-get album that elevates traditional Doom Metal from classicism to a high Art form. Bravo!
9/10
Links:
www.FaceBook.Com/The.Temple.Doom.Metal
www.Instagram.Com/TheTempleBand
Tracklist:
01. Me To Lichno Tou Astrou (With The Light Of The Star)
02. The Foundations
03. Reborn In Virtue
04. Profound Loss
05. A White Flame For The Fear Of Death
06. Premonitions Of The Final Hour
07. The Lord Of Light
Lineup:
Father Alex - Bass, Vocals
Paul - Drums
Stefanos - Guitars
Felipe - Guitars