Review: Temptress ‘hear’

One of the few regrets I have when I once worked in Texas was that I didn’t go to any shows and hear any type of live music, well, apart from walking into a bar in Corpus Christi, seeing a load of people line dancing to a country band, and promptly walking back out again.

Now, this was back in 1999 – many of the bands I enjoy now were still in high school or younger – but the scene, unbeknownst to me, would have been thriving in the bustling bars of Austin and the suburbs of Dallas.

And it’s from Dallas that Temptress have emerged with an explosive album of unrelenting and cacophonous sounds, that you simply must ‘hear’. Consisting of Andi Cuba (drums/vocals), Kelsey Wilson (guitar/vocals) and Christian Wright (bass/vocals), their range of scintillating melodies is displayed on instrumental opener Into which creates a narrative all of its own. It flows and blends impressively into Narrows, where not only do the vocals pierce your soul, but the bass line pounds away repeatedly on your senses.

If you are a fan of doom, drone, grunge and post-rock, then this is one band that you will enjoy as they manage to capture all of that and more across the eight songs. Edge punches above its weight, and with the higher-pitched, delicate female vocal delivery, it changes the song’s direction completely, without losing any of its presence. Following this, These Walls has a sparkling opening, before settling down with powerful riffs and chords aplenty, as the band exude confidence in their playing ability. And rightly so in my opinion!

If you are a fan of doom, drone, grunge and post-rock, then this is one band that you will enjoy as they manage to capture all of that and more…

The consistency continues with Now Or Never,with the vocal range getting a good workout, but cumulatively, it all adds to their unique sound. My mind keeps drifting to Sonic Youth as a comparison, as the trio are calm and reassuring with bursts of volatile riffs detonating all over the place. Be Still is that quintessential slow burner of a song, building bridges as they go along and raising them to the ground after they cross.

That slow release of gentle waves rears its head again with Downfall. It’s a textured song, with layers of simple notes, and a melancholy vocal performance which draws the listener in as it’s more heartfelt. However, they are there to remind you that this trio can still rock and when it comes to life, it sets a fervent tempo alongside the conflicting groove. The final track, Out Of, has an atmospheric and sombre sound, dipping its toes more into the post-rock world, with a heavy emphasis on Wright’s bombastic bass sound. It offers further insight into the world of Temptress and how they can go from a crushing sound to a delicate delivery, which will impress many listeners.

Label: Blues Funeral Recordings
Band Links: Official | Facebook | Bandcamp | Spotify | Instagram

Scribed by: Matthew Williams