TEMPLE GUARD – Morbid Sacrament

vote
7.0

• Bands:
  TEMPLE GUARD
• Duration: 00:20:00
• Available from: 03/09/2024

With their new EP “Morbid Sacrament”, Temple Guard further consolidate their position in the (underground) panorama of the most corrosive and traditionalist metalcore. Consisting of five tracks, the mini presents us with a new dive into certain roots of the fusion between metal and late 90's hardcore, with sounds and atmospheres that this time too are especially reminiscent of seminal bands such as Integrity, Day Of Suffering and Arkangel.
From the beginning, the EP presents itself as an apocalyptic fresco, in line with the now usual concept of the English band, where dystopian visions and a rigid militant veganism merge to create a sound world where no glimmer of hope seems to exist for the future of humanity.
What distinguishes “Morbid Sacrament” from the debut “Spear of the Revenant” is the insertion, on an already particularly metallic substrate, of black metal influences that emerge through tremolo riffs and an even more tense atmosphere than before detectable on onset. This 'blackened' vein not only gives a further touch of intensity and venom, but in certain cases also leads to greater richness in terms of the structure of the tracks, with clearer register changes and, in general, a freer approach both on the rhythmic front than on the guitar front.
The brevity of the EP also works in favor of the band in this circumstance, which manages to concentrate its ideas in compact and effective episodes, avoiding drops in tension. Each track is a well-calibrated explosion, in which the usual aggression is not lacking, but where there is greater attention to dynamics and atmospheres.
For those who appreciated “Spear of the Revenant”, “Morbid Sacrament” represents all in all a natural evolution: the black metal influence does not distort Temple Guard's sound, but enriches it and makes it more biting, offering an experience of 'even more immersive and dark listening. Despite the clearly recognizable influences, the group tries here to maintain its own identity and at the same time to shuffle the cards, opening up new possible developments, which could lead towards an even more distinct style. We are waiting for a full-length to definitively evaluate the potential of the lineup.