You only need listen to one song off “From Sand” to know that everyone in Temple Of Lies has a beard. The Leicester-based metal band are so gnarly it’s a fair bet they all became friends at a flannel shirt convention and spend their free time drinking neat whiskey and wrestling Bigfoot for fun. And they’re pretty good song writers too, as this eleven track album is a beer-soaked party from start to finish.
For starters, there’s a swaggering sense of redneck authenticity to the likes of “Rope” and the anthemic “Feed The Greed.” Sure, they might come from a city in the East Midlands but they sound like they grew up in shacks in the Florida swamps. They have a groovy, riff-driven vibe reminiscent of Corrosion Of Conformity crossed with the more aggressive edge of Lamb Of God, albeit in a more upbeat mood. This is not a record for quiet introspection or nurturing bruised emotions, Temple Of Lies want you to drink, mosh and bang your head with them. On the rare occasions they do ease off the throttle meanwhile it’s to venture into a trippy, stoner mood.
The title track is perhaps the most notable quieter moment, a slower and more laidback number that speaks of hours lost watching plumes of smoke twisting lazily up to the ceiling. It’s as dense and filling as a pint of the darkest real ale and Jus Osborn would definitely approve. Admittedly, they do sometimes take it too far. “Pure Alcohol” for instance takes the theme of perpetual intoxication into almost childish levels, but when it’s surrounded by the barnstorming likes of “Crystal” and album highlight “Fire In The Hole” this is easy to forgive. If there’s a problem with “From Sand” it’s that it’s over ever so slightly too soon. It’s begging for one more song at the end, especially as album closer “MoM” is one of the weaker tracks on offer and isn’t the epic flourish of blues laden rock they should have ended on.
A few minor missteps and a poor climax are our only complaints however and eighty percent of the time, “From Sand” is a total riot. Listen to it once and you’ll be humming the chorus to “Fire In The Hole” for hours, listen to it multiple times and it’ll be seared permanently into your subconscious. Like big, meaty riffs and bags of attitude? Temple Of Lies baby, Temple Of Lies!
Released 4th March 2016
This is not a record for quiet introspection or nurturing bruised emotions, Temple Of Lies want you to drink, mosh and bang your head with them. On the rare occasions they do ease off the throttle meanwhile it’s to venture into a trippy, stoner mood.
