With this album, Temple of Void gives listeners a crushing, massive, and bold second album. The band's debut release Of Terror and the Supernatural demonstrated the band's interest in navigating the difficult waters of death- doom by favoring doom. On this album, the band jettisons the doom in favor of a brutal, churning, and daring brand of death metal. Temple of Void has always been good, but this album shows even greater maturity and confidence. It also sounds amazing. Albums like this can sometimes sound muddy, but the mixing draws out each instrument clearly. The vocals, mostly guttural and dark, are especially strong. Even better than the sound, though, are the surprising musical twists. "An Ominous Journey" is a short, but cool, interlude on a Spanish guitar. Some listeners might think it's only a filler track, but it's not. Despite the obvious musical differences, this track maintains the heavy spirit of the rest of the album. And then there's "Graven Desires," a powerful song that has a clean vocal section that is both surprising and perfectly natural. There's also section after section of killer riffing and dual-guitar harmony. Fans of Autopsy, Bolt Thrower, Asphyx, Obituary, Hooded Menace, and others like them will find plenty to enjoy here, but I can't recommend this album solely on the basis of family resemblances. This is the new Temple of Void album—and it marks their best performance yet. Check out "Wretched Banquet," "Deceiver in the Shadows," and "Graven Desires."
Track Listing:
1. The Charnal Unearthing
2. Wretched Banquet
3. A Watery Internment
4. The Hidden Fiend
5. An Ominous Journey
6. The Gift
7. Graven Desires
8. Deceiver in the Shadows
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