Artist: Temple Of The Beast
Country: USA
Label: Iron Bonehead Productions
Formats: 12″ EP / CD EP
Year: 2024
Admittedly, I have missed the self-titled demo that Temple Of The Beast had released two years ago, but in my own defence, I can argue that it only privately appeared in 25 copies, so easy to miss. But with this 12” EP (also released on CD), I can make up for the damage a bit. Because on paper this should be right up my alley, Iron Bonehead Productions, the label on duty, describes the EP as follows: “oft-lumbering ritualism that slithers its way into hammering primitivism, recalling the earliest works of Samael, Mystifier, Demoncy, and Drawing Down the Moon-era Beherit but exuding its own strange, ethereal identity”. So I am all ears…
Yet, if you are really sitting down to be treated to actual ancient Black Metal, you might be a bit disappointed with ‘Geminian Acana’. For sure there are many similarities with the bands that Iron Bonehead Productions put forward, but I wouldn’t exactly say Temple Of The Beast is on the same page, both in terms of musical direction and general captivation. Something that in principle is not and need not be a shame, much of what may be lacking is made up for by the spirit with which this EP is delivered.
Contrary to the music of many of the occult/ancient Black Metal bands, what we are presented with on this 30-minute EP is quite a bit more one-dimensional. The lonely soul behind Temple Of The Beast, DarkWvlf (normally identified by the pseudonym Blackthorn, known from Thornspawn), is mostly pummelling on in the same pace and repeating the same riffs over and over again. Subsequently, with each of them sounding quite alike, the five songs are hard to tell apart. Upside of that matter is that the EP exudes quite a cohesive atmosphere. Having said that, the one most distinguishing difference is that in the tail-end of the EP there is a more distinctly doomy vibe, even creeping up close to Stoner/Doom-like territories where usually Electric Wizard and consorts hold sway.
Against the backdrop of some flat-footed and even a little ungainly music contrasts DarkWvlf’s roaring caveman-like vocals, which not only gives the music a certain Death Metal edge but more importantly does bring back a sense of primal metal. With this, the circle seems round for Temple Of The Beast after all. It also proves once again that solid music doesn’t necessarily have to be ground-breaking or even above-average to still carry enough entertainment value.
