The Temperance Movement (Album) - The Temperance Movement

The Temperance Movement are currently riding one hell of a wave of momentum. A year ago they released their debut EP, “Pride” and since then they have toured extensively, garnering a lot of positive attention along the way. They toured throughout a variety of small underground venues throughout the UK (one of which I was fortunate enough to see) as well as a successful tour of Sweden. Towards the end of the UK tour the band were signed to Earache Records, and once the tour ended they went straight into the studio to record their debut album “The Temperance Movement”. Then within a day of its release the band began touring again! They are onto something big, and they are taking full advantage.

The first few tracks will be very familiar to everyone who bought “Pride” (except with the first two songs switched around) but that is no bad thing because the quality is really high. Things kick off with ‘Only Friend’ which sets the tone really nicely for everything that is to come; well crafted songs with powerful guitar riffs which pay a fitting homage to classic rock. The song really makes its presence felt and strides along with confidence, possessing the type of beat that is easy to feel in your bones. It then leads immediately into ‘Ain’t No Telling’ a faster paced number which really grabs the listener’s attention. There’s something really satisfying about the rapid drum beats that signify the arrival of the chorus, which is delivered with great gusto in the form of Phil Campbell’s snarling vocals over some muscular guitar riffs. It’s the first song that the band wrote together and it showcases not only their musical prowess and chemistry, but also their sheer enjoyment of what they’re doing.

The pace then slows down a bit for the more melodic ‘Pride’ which falls somewhere between blues and country styles. Throughout the course of the album the band show their versatility really strongly; it’s a rock album, but when the band try something different it works, nothing ever seems experimental. ‘Be Lucky’ has a really catchy beat, certainly a song that could get people dancing. Whenever I hear it I’m reminded of Phil Campbell’s dancing during live performances, and I’ll find myself attempting to emulate the same style of movement!

The familiar territory of the “Pride EP” is then interrupted, because no sooner has ‘Be Lucky’ faded out, when the first single ‘Midnight Black’ kicks in. This track has a real sense of urgency about it, as it blasts out of the starting blocks and doesn’t let up until it reaches its end (and then there’s one last burst of energy from the drums). The soulful ‘Chinese Lanterns’ is up next, boasting some really strong lyrics and a great chorus. My only issue with this track is that I prefer the stripped down rendition that the band perform at live shows, and having grown more accustomed to that version, this one can sometimes seem a bit overcrowded.

After that brief quieter interlude, the energy and volume comes right back with the commanding presence of ‘Know For Sure’ which has real swagger to it, as well as containing a powerful “woah-oh-oah” vocal hook which has already solidified itself as a staple of live shows. ‘Morning Riders’ comes next, channelling the sounds of the classic 70s and 80s rock bands from whom The Temperance Movement are influenced.

Things then calm down once more for the softer ‘Lovers and Fighters’ which finally allows for Campbell’s voice to relax. I’ve been a fan of Phil Campbell’s solo material for a long time, and consequently this track is one of my favourites. The slower pace allows for the quality of the arrangement to shine really well, and while it’s relatively simple, it has an understated grandeur to it. The album isn’t done with its high-octane rock numbers though, and ‘Take It Back’ marries the frantic pace of ‘Midnight Black’ with the catchy vocal hooks of ‘Know For Sure’. 

The album then closes out with ‘Smouldering’ and ‘Serenity’ both of which are slower tracks, but no less bursting with energy and liveliness. ‘Smouldering’ has a great musical swell leading into the chorus, and ‘Serenity’ fades out with a lengthy improvisation from all the band members, which shows off that they are a band who are very much about live performances. 

The album is very accessible from the first listen, and blasts along at an effortless pace. The energy that has gone into each recording is matched (and even outdone) by their live performances. The Temperance Movement have arrived, and they’ll hopefully be around for a really long time to come!