Genre/Influences: Industrial, Rhythmic-Noise.

Format: Digital, CD.

Background/Info: Thomas Chalandon is a French musician based in Berlin and still involved with Imperial Black Unit while running the label AreaZ. After a few EP’s under the Templər moniker, he now joined with the label, Hands to unleash the debut album of his solo-project.

Content: Listening to this album sounds a bit like the sound of a true sonic earthquake. The sound is driven by heavy, furious Industrial & Rhythmic-Noise drum patterns. It has something old-school like and yet perfectly adapted into a modern and even refreshing edit. This heavy and bombast rhythmic has been mixed with monstrous sound blasts and dark atmospheres, which are fitting with the obscure themes Chalandon deals with. Two songs feature vocals by guests Incendie and Lapse Of Reason (side-project from the other half of Imperial Black Unit). The last part of the work features 5 remixes of “A True Terror Corporation” (the song featuring Incendie) by Esplendor Geométrico, Test Dept, Orphx, Geistform and Harsh Mentor.

+ + + : Templər’s debut album sounds as a real tour de force! This artist fully succeeded in adapting retro-Industrial elements into a modern version. It somewhere reminds me of the Esplendor Geometrico so it’s not a coincidence this band has created a remix. But the difference with the Spanish duo is that this production sounds more high-tech. There’s a kind of unpolished approach and yet it’s a powerful, top-notch production. I enjoyed the constant power of the tracks, excelling at “I Shared A Whiskey With A Ghost”, “The Inner Flame” and “Under Pressure”. Among the remixes I’ve to mention great jobs done by Esplendor Geometrico and Orphx, but still Test Dept injecting some of their own old-school Industrial elements in the remix.

– – – : “A True Terror Corporation” is not exactly my favorite song from the album so I was a bit wondered this song has been exposed to remixers. And I honestly prefer most of the remixes instead of the original edit.

Conclusion: Templər has accomplished a true masterpiece, which will appeal for lovers of heavy Industrial music driven by infernal rhythms.

Best songs: “I Shared A Whiskey With A Ghost”,  “The Inner Flame”, “Under Pressure”, “Camera Silens”, “Road To Jouniek”, “A True Corporation feat. Incendie – Esplendor Geometrico Remix”, “A True Corporation feat. Incendie – Orphx Remix”.

Rate: 8½.

Artist: www.facebook.com/templernoise

Label: www.handsproductions.com / www.facebook.com/hands.official