Do you like your metal delivered hard and fast? This is the album for you.
Temperance released an unbelievably powerful metal symphonic album this year in March. Diamanti. It is the kind of album that will take you by force and show you how powerful and fast metal can be. This is your group and your album if you like fast, but melodic metal. Metal with a story and direction, full of emotion, with a spirit of exploration, and heart gripping thunder.
Temperance is from Milan, Italy, and the band has released two albums before Diamanti. Their debut album was Viridian, 2020; and the sophomore albums is titled: Melodies of Green and Blue, 2021.
The band is made up of Alessia Scolletti, on vocals; Michele Guaitoli, on vocals and piano; Marco Pastorino, on guitar and vocals; Luca Negro, on bass; and Alfonso Mocerino, on drums. The band is part of the multiple artists that make up the Napalm Records label, which is a catalog of some of the best metal and heavy metal music on Earth.
I became interested in this modern melodic/symphonic metal band when I discovered the voice of one of its leaders, Michele Guaitoli; who is also a lead vocalist and leader of the symphonic metal band Visions of Atlantis. (They also have a great album out, released by Napalm Records this year, “Pirates”. Check that one out as well).
But this album is full of music and stories that thrill. The opener, “Pure Life Unfolds”, pounds onto the stage with a drum salute and advancing keyboards; as bass, and aggressive guitars and thundering sounds reach out to greet you. Guaitoli sings, “A night without the Moon. A light that faded in the dark. There was no end… Surrounded by those voices. They whispered hopes. They screamed my thoughts”. Just imagine that, for a minute. Scary thoughts, huh? Then, the bonuses are added in. Marco Pastorino, who is the lead guitarist, sings the angry lyrics, “Promise me you will stay until the end of this life. I’ll be waiting for you”. And if it wasn’t enough to have two great male vocalists, the band adds, Alessia Scolletti; who sings, “The rain was still out there. But burning hearts can warm a night. “Let go your fears. Forget yourself and breathe life!” Yes, most bands are happy enough to find one great vocalist. This band has three. A melodic male lead, and an aggressive male vocalist, topped off with a female vocalist who can also sing aggressive. (More on that later). The chorus will raise you to your feet, singing along with the band. An energetic, live show, kick off song, that should get fans across the world on their feet, singing along. Off to an impressive start.
Then, they offer you a song which Darth Vader would welcome as an entrance song. “Breaking the Rules of Heavy Metal”, does just that! Power drums, bass, and lead electric guitar, surrounded by special effects. Enough anger to warm the heart of the transformed Anakin Skywalker. The three vocalists sing, “raise the flag. Live the dream! Sing an ode to the seven seas!” A pirate like anthem that will rival Visions of Atlantis’ “Legion of the Seas”. (Not as melodic and memorable, but as powerful). If there is any doubt left, that this band can play white hot metal, it evacuated the scene with this powerhouse. This band is a metal powerhouse! One of the best tracks on the album. “Staying up all night. Then moving on. Metal is for all. We’re a union!” Indeed.
The title track, “Diamanti” is the best track on the album. Guaitoli sings, “I remember I used to believe we were here just passing by. (Scolletti perfectly sings, the ‘by’, and ‘why’, later – highlighting them perfectly). I gave up to a life without purpose and love. I woke up every night in tears and I always wondered why. Then a voice in my head put an end to my cries…”Close your eyes, pretend the light’s off now. No matter where you are, they’ll soon reveal their name”. They then sing the refrains in Italian. The English translation is here: “Wake me up when diamonds will light up the dark. The more I believe it, the less they’ll fall apart. Far beyond the horizon they’ll shine like the sun. A million of voices will rise to sing as one. They’re defying gravity, against all the odds, facing all of our fears. It’s a new reality, believe it or not: now their message is clear”. A perfect anthem to raise this album and claim its title. All vocalists work so well together and the thundering metal being played around them does not distract from their vocal power or lyrical visions. The album is perfectly mastered to balance the music well with these great vocalists.
Not slowing down any, they deliver “Black is My Heart”. This time Scolletti opens the singing, “A bitter kiss goodbye, before the end. To all the fools like me, ‘cause we’re aware”. She has a warm and powerful voice. The two male vocals join in to support with their own voices on the choruses. The symphonic keyboards, bass, lead electric guitar is pumping out a solid rhythm. But it is the drums, from Alfonso Mocerino, that are a constant reminder who is in control of the real rhythm. Scolletti lifts her voice powerfully and aggressively on the lyrics, “I kept running in this circle. I drown in regret!” Then, Marco Pastorino provides an excellent guitar solo, before Guaitoli sings solemnly, “Black is my heart. And now I can see. Whatever we’ve done. How fragile we are. Our own misery”. But Scolletti finishes this one well, “I won’t fall apart. Enlightening my darkened heart. Once and for all”.
“Litany of the Northern Lights” is my second favorite song on the album. Scolletti opens this one with beautiful and poetic lyrics, “Once there was a peculiar man. Who was destined to be a lonely wanderer? Northern son, a boat-builder he was.
Strong and deep his desire to change the world. Can one man ride the waves and the winds? Just for pleasing the gods and their majesty? To hit the road to redeem your own sins. Would have meant joining them for eternity”. Ah yes, a wonderful story! Each of the vocalists has their opportunity to sing on this classic story. Just sit back and enjoy it, along with the galloping and grinding metal music supporting. From the nation of adventurous explorers and navigators, this song is a perfect match. Perfect music and a great story to enjoy.
“You Only Live Once”. Well of course. The perfect song for any band that believes in living each day as if it were the last. Advice we should all appreciate and heed. Guaitoli sings, “Somewhere, something wonderful, is waiting to be known. Look up at the stars. Don’t look down at your feet. Your heart is beating too fast. Time is slowing down, only when you get scared. And moves your dreams from your mind. There’s a world to discover. You are your only limit. You can be anything. What you think, you become. What you feel, you attract. Make a move, you only live once!” I also love the lyrics later: “Be proud of who you are. Don’t let one bad day take you away from where you are. The past can’t be changed.
But the future starts now, it’s in your hands. Train your mind to see the good.
Breathe, let go and remember you are not alone. Leave your demons behind.
Let yourself face the feelings you try to hide”. Wow! Positive messages that we all need to hear, and be reminded of daily. Pop this track on every day, or especially when you are down.
“I the Loneliness”, is full of more outstanding, life – lifting lyrics, “I used to be another man. And my life seemed not unfair. I couldn’t hear the hurricane breaking ground. It’s getting dark over me. I got endless questions still. I’m searching for answers even you didn’t know. You’ll stop love from breathing if you quell the wind. Washing away all your fears. When you cease your crying cause you have no tears. You’ll understand”. Wow! I really like this band. All of these great lyrics set to emotional metal music.
“Codebreaker”, is another great story and fun song from the album. Good lyrics, “I’m trapped inside a machine. That controls all the universe. And every step that I take. Is a creation inside my brain. It seems like everyone else. Is made of numbers and complex codes. And that the Earth that we walk. Is just another formula”. Scolletti fills this one with some great screams and aggressive vocals.
“The Night Before the End”, is also full of great lyrics. With three great vocalists you knew they had to write some powerful lyrics. Scolletti sings, “Loneliness it’s the state of mind we’ll have to face. For the only thing that will remain. Is the dust that will be blown away by the wind tonight? Compromise. There is just no way to compromise. There is only one road to walk. And fears must be all left behind us. Breathe in and focus as this is our final goodbye. Just cherish this moment of peace before joining the light!” Later, Pastorino provides some powerful aggressive vocals. They sing some of the best lyrics on the album towards the end, “Mercy for the sins we hide. For we’re yours and you’re divine. May this endless sleep define not this flesh, but our next life”.
“Fairy Tales for the Stars”, is a beautiful love song, for the world. They sing, “A fairy tale for the stars. A lullaby for better days to come. To give them hope, to feel their light. From below, from the depths of my heart. Longing for your magic shine. Cherishing your blinding life. I wanna be with you. I’m waiting for a sign to raise and hold you. Maybe you’re just out of sight. Or maybe I am just not right. But I’ll find a way, just a crazy way to fly and touch you. I might be a fool, but I’ll find a way to share my love with you”.
We are almost done, but “Let’s Get Started Now”! Scolletti opens this song with a spirited countdown, and fire in her voice. “Oh, after ages spent too far from what is mine. I’m ready to get back in the game . To reach a new beginning so. Let’s get started, let’s get started now! Though it seemed to be like waiting for forever. Like I’ve been doing nothing at all. The journey isn’t over. Let’s get started, let’s get started!” This would be another wonderful and obvious show starter. Just try to sit still through any of this album.
Are they really gonna end this album, like the Genesis’ classic, “And Then There Were Three”? No, this is not “Follow You, Follow Me”. It is simply “Follow Me”. Another, this time closing, song to wrap the album and deliver a look into the future. They sing, “Let’s fly through the clouds to discover a world. Where there are no rules and no limits! Let’s read all the winds and let’s ride all the waves. ‘Cause there we will find our freedom!” Yes, indeed. A great closer that makes me want to definitely follow them.
I really am so happy I found this band. They are full of life and spirit and want to lift everyone they come in contact with, up. There is enough negative and hateful metal out in the world. This music and album is a breath of fresh air. I have been lucky lately, finding bands like Visions of Atlantis, Edge of Paradise, Phantom Elite, and now Temperance. They all write inspiring lyrics and try to lift their listeners up with stories of adventure and words of wisdom. By the way, all of these bands are touring together in Europe this year, so you can see them together if you buy your tickets soon.
Keep up the great work Temperance. I will…Follow You!
Track List
- Pure Life Unfolds – 5:06
- Breaking the Rules of Heavy Metal – 4:43
- Diamanti – 4:32
- Black is My Heart – 4:06
- Litany of the Northern Lights – 3:33
- You Only Live Once – 4:56
- I the Loneliness – 4:22
- Codebreaker – 4:49
- The Night Before the End – 7:08
- Fairy Tales for the Stars – 4:27
- Let’s Get Started – 4:13
- Follow Me – 6:12
Diamanti was mixed and mastered by Jacob Hansen (Volbeat , Epica , Amaranthe), with the cover artwork once again created by Yann Souetre (Ayreon).
Links:
https://www.temperanceband.com/