Review Summary: TTM do exactly what Rival Sons did one year before, raised our eye brow
2013 was a year that saw a number of notable releases in rock music. Somewhere between an 'earth rocker', 'a raven which refused to sing' and three 'winery' dogs there was a 'movement' which went totally unnoticed. The British quartet named as The Temperance Movement released their self-titled debut album one year after their EP "Pride". Containing all five songs of the EP, the album was warmly received by critics and audiences. As evidence you can check the sold-out appearances around UK venues and the award for Best New Band received from Classic Rock magazine.
In terms of the album's sound, songs are divided between mid-tempo blues rock and southern style ballads. The soulful vocals of Phil Campbell and the simplistic riffs by the guitar duet of Potashnick and Sayer make the opening track "Only Friend" a modern classic rock song with an aura from the 1970s. The pair of "Know For Sure" and "Ain't No Telling" is nothing more than a duet of two outstanding; swing-type blues songs that will grow a positive feeling and attitude, making you to want something more.
This positiveness is matched -if not surpassed- in "Midnight Black" and "Take It Back". The former is a straightforward, uplifting rocker with much vibe and distorted riffs capable of getting you in party mood in seconds, while the latter is a similar flammable track with a concert sing-along chorus. The track that highlights the cohesion of the whole album is "Morning Riders", a three-and-a-half minute extravaganza that contains chunky riffs and brings out the best of each individual. Apart from being one of the finest moments, "Be Lucky" will win many listeners because of it is simplification, grooviness, and the catchiest chorus of the whole album.
As previously mentioned there is a ballad side to the album and is also a damn good one. Whether you pick to listen the Skynyrd-type "Serenity", its close friend "Smouldering" or the chilled-laid back "Chinese Lanterns" you will not be disappointed. The softness and the melodic guitar playing are spot-on ingredients to balance perfectly the adventurous songs already mentioned. "Lovers and Fighters" is an emotional song, capable to touch the not-so-sensitive personalities with its harmonic sound created by the acoustic guitar and the feather-like hits on the snare drum.
Just as many did before, The Temperance Movement start their career with an impressive debut album. A revelation of genuine rock n roll, a thing not so common in these days, this band comes to the foreground to refresh our memories and revive our passion and spirit towards this monolithic genre called ‘classic rock’.
