Now here is a style that’s right up my alley. Melodic/symphonic metal. TEMPERANCE, hailing from Italy where the best of everything lives, from food to culture and clothing…. Music is no exception. Hermitage – Daruma’s Eyes Pt 2. picks up where they left off with Diamanti is 2021., Expanding the characteristic sound of the band with a new member, professional opera/metal singer and vocal coach Kristin Starkey, the essence of charismatic singer Michele Guaitoli (Visions of Atlantis) and mastermind singer/guitarist Marco Pastorino (Serenity) reaches a higher level. Guest musicians like Arjen Lucassen (Ayreon), Fabienne Erni (Eluveitie, Illumishade), Laura Fella (Faun) and Alessandro Conti (Twilight Force) complement the exciting journey.
Symphonic metal wouldn’t be complete without an underlying concept and the story on behind this album is the finding of a Japanese doll from another era, Daruma. The protagonist Viktor wakes up in a magical village called Hermitage, exploring its secrets track by track. Getting into a fight between the siblings Anningan and Irin, only Viktor’s destiny is the key to their conflict.
I kind of wish I had heard their last album before this one. Anyway, here goes.
Daruma, the first of the 14 tracks begins with an abundance of choral vocals followed by some soaring guitar lines. The vocal work is splendid from all parties, the immediate anthemic qualities, well balanced with in all aspects of symphonic instrumentation. Technically magnificent, catchy and conceptual as expected from a band of this high caliber.
Glorious, continuing the fast-paced magnificence. Beautifully constructed, intrigued by the many layers and depths of vocal styles that come together seamlessly.
A Hero Reborn, goosebumps are an excellent indication of where a band sits on my exceptional radar and this song did just that….an amazing duet midway a highlight on this track and this album.
A Welcome to Hermitage, folk like and upbeat, the stick in your head melody lines and memorable lyrical hooks accompanied by the native tongue are complimented by heavy riffage.
No Return, Faultless to the ears, both Enthralled and Envious of the Exceptional talent hear on the included Operatic Aria.
In Search of Gold, a little more colourful in the vocal department, we hear a slightly different blend of lungs, very soulful at times an easy listen.
Join Me spoken word to tie in the conceptual storytelling of the subject matter followed by some more of the cleverly constructed anthemic hook lines. A track with a lot of movement, the driving guitar riffs, quick and precise footwork keep things going forward.
Trust No one But You Gives us their all, no holding back both melodically and vocally. A well-executed key change toward the latter half of the track.
Darkness is just a Drawing, hauntingly seductive and provocatively addictive.
Into the Void, is darker in timbre, technically more complex than the prior tracks and might I add the bass work really shines through this track, it cuts right through my little 50watt studio monitors. The overall production on this album is really quite spectacular.
Some more of the storytelling, Brand New Start. Followed by that amazingly haunting heartfelt voice that gave me goosebumps earlier on. I love how the music drifts from light to dark, dynamic perfection.
Where we Belong, is the shortest of all the tracks on this album 2.54. A magical little piano ballad, with an awesome little mood change toward the end.
Full of Memories, Enigmatic
The album finally, Cliff, the longest of all the tracks on the album at 7:44 shines a light on some more of that softer reflective side of Temperence’s music but not for long as gets some more of that quick pace from 2:30 minutes on. It’s probably my least favourite track on the album, not that it isn’t well composed, I would have liked to be left with something like Into the Void, it seems to be the one I’d like to hear the most although Cliff does its job as a farewell track completing the concept with final narrative.
Highly recommended for all lovers of Symphonic and Melodic Metal. I’m looking forward to hearing some of their earlier releases as I loved this one a lot.
TIDELESS: Facebook
Release Year: 2023
Label: Napalm Records
Category: Album
Country: USA
Reviewed by GG Baf
