Release Date: March 28th 2025. Record Label: Subsound Records. Formats: DD/Vinyl
Tempus Deorum - Tracklisting
L’Ira Del Baccano -. Tempus 25 (Sempiternal Rapture)
Yama - Wish to go under
Yama - The Absolute
Yama - Naraka
L’Ira Del Baccano Members
Alessandro Santori: guitars, loops, synths.
Roberto Maldera: guitars, FX, Slide Guitar, Synths.
Gabriele Montemara: Bass.
Gianluca Giannasso: Drums.
Yama Members
Alex Schenkels: vocals, bluesharp.
Sjoerd Albers: guitar.
Peter Taverne: bass.
Joep Schmitz: drums.
Review
Tempus Deorum is a new split album featuring the talents of Italian Spaced Out Doom Riff Wizards L’IRA DEL BACCANO and Netherlands Doom/Stoner Rockers YAMA. This is YAMA’s first batch of new material in eleven years since the band reformed in 2024. Both bands operate on different ends of the Doom Metal spectrum but are united within their core belief of creating HEAVY GROOVES that have a subtle Space Rock energy to them. Both bands get the perfect opportunity to showcase their musical talents on this epic split release.
Up first is L’IRA DEL BACCANO with their classic track Tempus 25 (Sempiternal Rapture) which is a slightly modified version of the original track Tempus Inane Flago, Requiem Spatiumque Furori which appeared on their classic 2007 Live Album Si Non Sedes Is - Live MMVII which was actually one of the first albums I ever reviewed when I created The Sludgelord blog back in March 2011. So, this track feels like reconnecting with an old friend that you haven’t seen for a very long time.
The song still feels vital and has a modern day sound compared to the original. This is perhaps L’IRA DEL BACCANO’s most famous track with the band playing a spellbinding mix of Psych Rock, Doom Metal, Space Rock and Stoner Metal that’s held together by a cinematic Progressive Rock energy. This version is more stripped back and feels like it’s been built from the ground up with a haunting DRONE aspect which wasn’t heard within the original. The song starts off quietly but slowly transforms into different and heavier DOOMEDELIC passages within its epic nineteen minutes runtime. The instrumental grooves are played to perfection with L’IRA DEL BACCANO once again proving why they’re one of the most essential bands to come out from the Italian Doom/Stoner Metal scene.
Yama are up next with their side of the split record where they offer three new tracks that have a heavier riffier approach compared to L’IRA DEL BACCANO. With flashes of a riff-centric based sound that dives head into a Prog Rock direction compared to their 2014 debut album Ananta. The opening track Wish To Go Under sees Yama have a heavier Progressive Sludge sound with moments of Thrash based energy being played at a thrilling fast pace. The song is quite vivid with flashes of Psychedelic Grooves coming from all corners and angles with Alex Schenkels vocals perfectly leading the HEAVY METAL charge throughout.
The second track from Yama, The Absolute is one built on distorted rhythms and fractured melodies which have a harsh Drone sound slowly emitting from the speakers with the band wisely taking their time in bringing a heavier DOOM/SLUDGE atmosphere which is way heavier than you initially expect. The song can be quite THEATRICAL with Yama using the many ploys of HEAVY METAL dynamics to create the standout track of their batch of songs. The final stages of The Absolute allows Yama to demonstrate a new found style of Progressive Heaviness which results in some splendid instrumental grooves to lose yourself in.
The final track from Yama, Naraka is a stunning Psych/Doom/Stoner Metal based track with the band creating sounds that could have easily fitted on their excellent debut album but this has a more modern sound. As Yama merges Post-Stoner / Post-Doom surroundings with that cinematic sound being applied to a heavier Progressive attitude which ends the song on a triumphant note. I’m hoping that Yama will have more new material to be released in the future, as on this evidence alone, they have sorely been missed.
Tempus Deorum is a must have split-record featuring two great bands that allows them the perfect opportunity to gain a considerable following within their respective genres.
Words by Steve Howe
Thanks to Shake Promotion for the promo.
