Release Date: October 01st 2024. Record Label: Self Released. Format: CD/Digital/Vinyl
Monolithic Evolution - Track Listing:
1.Crucified Dreams 04:36
2.Hex 04:20
3.Strange Light 02:27
4.Toast the Void 03:34
5.Master's Call 03:14
6.Time Is Such A Long Word (When You're High) 03:44
7.Moon Watcher's Dream 01:55
8.Moon Watcher 05:41
9.Cheap Fingers 03:15
10.Anticipation 04:41
11.Nothing Forever 05:39
Members
Eric Hildebrand - Lead vocals
Chad Cote - Bass and backing vocals/ Producer
Cory Richley - Guitar and synthesizer
Andrew Jackson - Drums
Robinson Coulton (2022) - Guitar/ Sound Engineer/ Producer
Review
Monolithic Evolution is the debut album from Desert/Stoner Rockers Temple Smoke who are based in Taiwan. The band are made up of one Canadian, one Brit, and 3 Americans with Temple Smoke solely focused on playing classic Desert, Fuzz and Stoner Rock grooves inspired by the American and Swedish scenes with influences such as Truckfighters, Lowrider, FU MANCHU, Kyuss, Nebula and Monster Magnet. However, Temple Smoke proves on their debut album they’re most definitely doing their own thing with a spiky arrogance to match.
The music is quite sludgy in places with a raw sounding FUZZ atmosphere becoming quite distorted and full of guitar reverb which starts to build within the excellent batch of opening tracks of Crucified Dreams, Hex and Strange Light. Temple Smoke add some gloomy Doom Rock vibes into their lyrics and that comes shining through lead vocalist Eric Hildebrand’s commanding vocal performance.
There’s some epic melodic interplay appearing which results in some damn fine guitar solos along the way. The rhythm section of Andrew Jackson (Drums) and Chad Cote (Bass) have a similar momentum to bands such as Truckfighters and FU MANCHU. Definitely more focused on the Fuzz/Desert Rock aspect which leaves the other other members Cory Richley (Guitar) and Robinson Coulton (Guitar) to focus on creating the heavier Stoner Metal sonic landscape.
Temple Smoke are quite happy to play a Punk Rock style of music which appears with Strange Light with a killer Alt Rock sound merging with the classic Stoner vibe that resonates from every psychedelic angle.
The songs allow Temple Smoke to demonstrate their superb songwriting abilities which are always highly interesting and builds up an excellent creative narrative for the whole album. The musical flow is deeply rooted within the landscape of 1990’s and 2000’s Stoner Rock/Metal but the band still add modern touches of Psych Rock and Sludge Rock sensibilities along the way.
Sometimes there’s a wicked Post-Stoner energy that transforms into a sublime Fuzz Rock style on the later stages on the album on tracks such as Time Is Such A Long Word (When You’re High), Moon Watcher, Anticipation and Nothing Forever. The second half of the album is perhaps the heaviest and most aggressive part of the album as the tracks are on slightly longer which allows Temple Smoke time to further enhance their sound which they do with outstanding results.
Monolithic Evolution is an aggressive and fast-paced adventure that embraces the whole Desert Rock, Fuzz and Stoner Metal with loving affection that provides many outstanding grooves along the way. These guys deserve your full attention as Temple Smoke are making a claim for releasing a genuine Album Of The Year Contender with this record.
Excellent and Highly Recommended.
Words by Steve Howe
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