Album
Type: Album
Date
Released:
February 23rd
2015
Label:
Listenable
Records/The Ajna Offensive
To
The Other– Track Listing
1.INTRO 01:19
2.ZAZEL SORATH 06:07
3.TO THE OTHER 08:51
4.SNOW OF REASON
08:01
5.MARCH OF
GHA'AGSHEBLAH 05:23
6.BLACK SEA OF POWER
07:33
7.CROWNED WITH SEVEN
05:31
8.VOID 05:16
Members
Tommie - Vocals,
Guitar, Drums
Peter - Bass. Tim
Call (live/studio drums US)
Kennet Granholm
(live drums EU/RU)
Review:
Saturnalia
Temple returns with their eagerly awaited 2nd album - To The Other.
If you're a fan of Saturnalia Temple's music then you know what to
expect. Bleak and desolate Doom/Stoner Metal music with hints of
violent distorted Occult Rock to standout from the crowd. To The
Other is full of heavy pounding riffs that capture the very essence
of a band playing their own style of Doom/Stoner Metal.
Opening
track - Intro + ZazelSorath - starts with an ambient drone passage
with epic chants opening the bleak atmosphere before the album
explodes into life with a heavy pounding bass guitar being played
like there's no tomorrow. When a familiar Stoner based riff appears
you can tell this album is going to be one very complex and dark
ride. The vocals are from the Doom Metal world as lead vocalist
adapts a more doom and gloom style of delivery. Match it with the
heavy pounding Bass Guitar and you have one very unsettling affair
that may put off less adventurous Stoner Rock/Metal fans. It sets up
the scene for the rest of the album.
Saturnalia
Temple venture into darker occult rock based environments with a
warped psychedelic rock starting to take over especially on 2nd track
- To The Other. To The Other is one of the albums standout tracks as
the band adapts a more experimental feel to their music. The vocals
are very hard to understand at times as it sounds lead vocalist once
again proving he has a unique vocal delivery of his own. The music is
firmly rooted within distorted Desert/Stoner Metal riffs with ambient
based drones and noises providing a cold and thrilling affair. This
album is a multi-layered sonic experience where nothing as it seems
as Saturnalia Temple play tricks with your mind. So if you're not a
fan of complex and progressive albums it maybe best to turn away now
as the band are only warming up.
Up
next is the epic 3rd track - Snow Of Reason - that starts with a
heavy pounding drum beat with hints of distorted guitar worship that
is largely influenced by the Doom/Stoner Metal scene but still
maintaining a trippy and original experience of its very own. The
instrumental work on the album is heavy and experimental through out
as the band don't rely on gimmicks. This is a band that lives,
breathe and bath in distorted and down-tempo psychedelia. Saturnalia
Temple has been compared to a trippier and doomier version of Kyuss
in the past. That's not really a fair comparison as they're two
completely different bands. Sure they both play Stoner Metal. But
that's where the comparisons end. Saturnalia Temple's style of Stoner
Metal is more disturbing and ventures into darker realms.
The
albums other tracks - March Of Gha’agshebalh, CrownedWithSeven and
Void - turn the burgeoning Occult Rock world on its head and give it
a much needed violent satanic makeover. The band oozes confidence as
this hard-rocking duo don't hold back with their tales of doom and
gloom though crossed with the legendary Californian Desert
atmosphere. To The Other works on so many levels that one listen of
this great album is never enough. You're bound to miss different
sounds and noises within your first few listens. Truth be told, I
did. It took me about 4 or 5 listens to fully understand the album as
Saturnalia Temple will leave you frustrated and angry at times but
when you fully understand this album, you will be left in a state of
awe and wonder.
Maybe
I'm looking too much into this album but I always admire bands that
go the extra mile in creating something different for people to
experience. Saturnalia Temple has created something similar with To
The Other. It's a rich, complex and highly rewarding experience.
Saturnalia Temple has created something special here. To The Other is
a must-have album. Be prepared to be blown away.
Excellent
and Highly Recommended.
Thanks
to Suspicious Activities PR for the promo. To The Other is available
to buy via Listenable Records and The Ajna Offensive on CD/DD/Vinyl now.
Words
by Steve Howe
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