Review by Arek on January 1, 2022.

The debut album of The Temple was released by the Canadian Profound Lore Records. The album features 6 pieces of meaty, but solidly rotten and sulphated death / black metal. What kind of band is this you ask? Well, The Temple is a duo from New Zealand and if I add that it consists of former Ulcerate drummer and current Ulcerate bassist and vocalist, their current drummer recorded, mixed and mastered this album, then you have probably already guessed what kind of filth we will be dealing with.

Those who are familiar with the work of Ulcerate, I probably don't need to encourage to check this publishing anymore. To the rest I declare that communing with such music will be a real ear-feast for all fans of death, black metal, and even sludge. The album is so oppressive and gloomy that suicidal visions knock themselves into one's head, and the upped, destructive bass crushes the last living neurons. Why was The Temple created you will ask, since Ulcerate had already trodden these paths enough by releasing 6 albums? Well, The Temple plunged into depths that Ulcerate would rather not want to hit. In Ulcerate, the darkness is made up of guitars and vocals so now imagine the same darkness has been dropped down and darkened by bass lines. Will you risk going down to such a dark and reeking of death crypt? Try it, the only thing you risk is your life. What does it matter in these sick times? If you survive and come out alive, this album can become a veritable vaccine for this abnormal era.

The Temple offers us a fairly simple music. Virtually no solos. An ocean of low tones. Over 41 minutes of sluggish darkness, constantly torn apart by cannonades of drums. Boredom? Oh no, simple, hard and heavy doesn't have to be boring. If you just delve into this bog of rot and you think that it is already absorbing you, it is these musical jolts and rushes that will tear you out of this torpor. Be careful, this dose of gallows darkness may have narcotic properties. You'll be rather reluctant to leave it but if you do, you'll return with sick pleasure.

Are you fed up with the present world? Me too, which is why The Temple can be the perfect antidote. However, this could only be a one-way trip for some. It helped me but you need to face it yourself.

Rating 9.3 out of 10