Templer – H.A.C.E. (Album – Hands)

Genre/Influences: Rhythmic-Noise, Industrial, Tribal.
Format: Digital, CD.
Background/Info: “H.A.C.E.” is the second full length by French producer Thomas Chalandon as Templer. The work comes two years after the astonishing debut album “Myths And Consequences”.
Content: “H.A.C.E.” sounds a bit different than its predecessor although moves further exploring ‘hard’ fields of Industrial music. The work remains driven by a kind of Rhythmic-Industrial-legacy which has been mixed with Tribal elements. Some passages are resulting in a transcendental effect which might remind you of This Morn’Omina. There’re parts with chants accentuating the Tribal side of the work but also creating a Ritual touch.
+ + + : This album sounds as a work in progress; an artist moving on to explore new sonic paths by injecting Ritual and Tribal influences to the work. “Galaxy Of Nowhere” is a true masterpiece illustrating the composing skills of the artist. The last track of the album “Kageguchi” is another brilliant cut which sounds however more explicit in Trance. I also enjoy the tracks with chants creating an extra, elevating, dimension. Templer excels in bringing different influences together with a real cohesion.
– – – : I’m not as convinced by the very few Rhythmic-Noise passages which sound less elaborated and achieved then the rest.
Conclusion: Templer confirms the potential illustrated at its debut album but still moves on walking on new sonic paths. This is great and uplifting Industrial music.
Best songs: “Galaxy Of Nowhere”, “Kageguchi”, “Global Interference System”, “Near Distant Future”, “Athos”, “Man Behind The Sun”.
Rate: 8½.
Artist: www.templernoise.com / www.facebook.com/templernoise
Label: www.handsproductions.com / www.facebook.com/hands.official
About Templer
Templer is the solo project of Thomas Chalandon, a Berlin-based French producer also known as one half of Imperial Black Unit and founder of the AreaZ/AREA-Z collective of DJs, producers and promoters. Templer’s debut album, “Myths And Consequences”, was released on Hands in 2021, a fourteen-track work mixing industrial, techno and rhythm’n’noise across nine original tracks and five remixes. “H.A.C.E.” followed on Hands in 2023, Chalandon’s second full-length as Templer.
Support Side-Line
More people read Side-Line than ever, and there is still no paywall and no advertising. Readers pay for it instead - from $5 a month.
Why we ask
Advertising revenues across the media are falling fast. Unlike many news organisations we have not put up a paywall, and we refuse to add annoying advertising, so we need to ask for your help. Side-Line’s independent journalism takes time, money and hard work to produce, and we do it to push the artists we like, who are equally fighting to survive.
Handled by PayPal.

I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.

