Do you remember Descending? Who had released “Enter Annihilation” (2008) and “New Death Celebrity” (2011) and got lost in time? Temor is the new act of their guitarist Theo, joined by the band’s other guitarist Constantine (ex-Mystic Prophecy, ex-Nightfall, ex-Nightrage), and this here is their debut album. Are they musically related to each other? Not much, although both bands are in the broader field of melodic extreme metal.
A unique and special element that exists in the group’s sound is the use of halldorophone. What is that you will tell me. A rare instrument (literally, there are only six of them) that slightly resembles a cello and was created by Icelandic Halldór Úlfarsson. In fact, Konstantinos Chinis of Temor is one of the world’s first performers of it. Extra information, Icelandic composer Hildur Guðnadóttir has used it as a guest on albums by drone metallers Sunn O)))) as well as for the soundtrack of the movie Joker, that massive garbage that some people insist on describing it as a masterpiece, for which it won an Oscar.
As for the record now, “My Sorrow’s Rage” is a very good album, in which there are different influences and approaches that blend nicely together. For example, in the first three songs the band plays melodic black metal at high speeds. Then they continue into mid-tempo melodic death metal, which reminded me more of Nightrage and less of Killswitch Engage (without the breakdowns). Very nice riffs and melodies that stick in your mind with personal favorites “Rampage Of Hate” and “Rotting Love”. As for the halldorophone, it has a very special and unique sound, almost eerie I would say. It gives the compositions an unprecedented aesthetic and I can say that the band was justified with this unusual choice.
Also, the production is at a high level with the mixing and mastering done by Psychon of Septicflesh. First attempt highly satisfying then and hopefully the band will continue in the same pattern. I hope that it will be released in physical form at some point to take its place in our collection as it deserves. The fans of melodic extreme sound give it a listen, you will find something you will like.
P.S.: They recorded and shot a video of an excellent acoustic medley with Metallica songs. Check it out.
