The Earth Embraces Us All

They are highly productive, the musicians of Temperance. Third album in three years. That is not too often nowadays. One year ago I was able to review the previous “Limitless”, shortly afterwards the sympathetic musicians stood up to questioning in an interview. Earlier this year they were on tour with Luca Turilli’s Rhapsody. And now, as I said, the third album “The Earth Embraces Us All” is waiting in the wings. I was curious if Temperance could maintain the high level of the previous albums.

The opening track “A Thousand Places” starts with banging guitars and punchy drums, which are backed by strings, in between a quiet e-piano part. One thing is here already clear: The instrumentation is more varied than in the previous albums, the keyboard/synth sounds were reduced. Then Chiara sings a duet with Marco, who certainly contributes more than just backing vocals here. Varied in melodies and tempos the song is created quite fascinating progressive. “At The Edge Of Space” starts with bombastic choirs before the guitars come up badass. There is a catchy chorus. “Unspoken Words” sounds at times like a Celtic folk song, but is otherwise an easy-going rock song with poppy flip side. Here Chiara and Marco also sing a duet.
In “Empty Lines” the trademarks of previous albums sound through, fast choruses, driving double bass and frantic sounding keyboard and synth parts. In “Maschere” Chiara sings in her native language. If I am not mistaken, this is the first song with Italian lyrics. With “Haze” Temperance go back to their roots, frantic double bass, fast vocals leave the singer barely time to breathe, instead of synths here is an electric piano playing in the background.

“Fragments Of Life” sounds almost anthemic, here you can hear again beautiful duet vocals and in the second half of a quiet piano melody backed by strings. In “Revolution”, the quiescence passes again, driving drums and frantic synths dominate. Chiara undertakes here short trips in higher pitches. At the beginning of “Advice From A Caterpillar” again strings are to hear before double bass and keyboards, which are mostly withdrawn significantly during the song, drive forth. Later, a quiet part begins, in which Chiara and Marco sing together, accompanied by the e-piano. This song is marked by various tempo and melody changes. Towards the end there is a sax solo, which gives this part a jazzy flip side.

With “Change The Rhyme”, there is another very melodic resting place on the album. At the end with “The Restless Ride” is a true epic heard, that is initiated by piano sounds, which then develops first into a sprightly rock song. Later there are also numerous melodic and rhythmic changes, with e-piano parts, stamping rock smashers and epic by choruses carried sounds. Almost a “mini-album” in the album.

Coming back to the question about the level. The answer is “Yes”. Temperance impressively not only maintained the level, but delivered a work that surpasses the first two albums by far. Although very diverse musical influences are heard “The Earth Embraces Us All” sounds as a unified whole. The vocals of Chiara Tricarico and Marco Pastorino are outstanding and extremely varied, the synths were fortunately reduced and the instrumentation designed more variable. Although the album is ostensibly not a concept album, it has a central theme to all the songs. A little I’m reminded of “Endless Forms Most Beautiful” of Nightwish but to me the musical realization is significantly better precipitated by the Italians. On the further development of the band one can certainly be curious

Official Audio-video for “Revolution” (in Germany blocked unfortunately by Youtube):

Lineup:
Chiara Tricarico – Vocals
Marco Pastorino – Lead Guitar, Backing Vocals
Luca Negro – Bass
Giulio Capone – Drums

Label: Scarlet Records
Out: 16.09.2016
Duration: 01:02:16

Track List:

• A Thousand Places
• At The Edge Of Space
• Unspoken Words
• Empty Lines
• Maschere
• Haze
• Fragments Of Life
• Revolution
• Advice From A Caterpillar
• Change The Rhyme
• The Restless Ride

Release date: 16-09-2016
Reviewer: Rainer Kerber
Score: 8