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!
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