Although music is totally subjective, there are times when the generic reproduction of the same formulaic style and songs can become a little depressing. Nowhere is that more evident than in the world of thrash metal, where we often see bands repeatedly reproducing the same, tired styles, be it replicas of the old Bay Area sound or the more visceral Germanic thrash of Kreator and the other of the Teutonic quartet. It’s therefore a blast of fresh air when a band throws in a curved ball which sets the tongues wagging, piques the interest, and generally provides a new style to consider.
The perfect introduction then to London quintet Tempashot, whose credentials sit firmly in the thrash genre, but who have chosen to expand, challenge, and provoke on their debut album Certified Dangerous. Formed in 2020 as a side project of State of Anxiety, Tempashot has been the definition of patience, providing a gentle drip feed of singles and lives shows as they crafted and honed their art. Alumni of the Moshin the Roof On series of compilations, Tempashot is now ready to unleash Certified Dangerous and I fully expect this album to feature highly at the end of 2023.
What makes Tempashot different I hear you ask. Well, their style combines rapid fire lyrics delivered over a high energy tempo, thick, heavy riffs and a sharpness that avoids much of the bloated style around today. “Innocent Until” kicks off with an undoubted Metallica influenced thrash flavour, nothing special until vocalist Luke Alexander opens with the first salvo of vocals, a staccato burst of words that flow at 100mph. Behind him, there’s some searing hot lead guitarwork as well as the sturdy drumming of Isaac Ambrose who anchors everything that is good with this album. It’s a strong, powerful opening song, clocking in at over six minutes and containing some delightful melodic ages that never loose the intensity that the band generate, with plenty of opportunity for the band to flex their thrash muscles with an extended workout that sees Simon Ellis (also shredder with Helgrind) do some real fretwork damage.
After the title track, we get one that most will be familiar with from its inclusion on MTRO: “Gunning for Gate Keepers”. It’s a catchy, groove-ridden song that sees Alexander’s words flow at high speed, whilst the overall cohesion of the band is something to behold as the song bursts along. An earworm that leaves you humming the riff for days, it’s one of the standout tracks here. It goes a bit nu-metal on “No Way Home”, with some serious lyrical content served up with a Linkin Park vibe that gives way to a Metallica feel. The change of tempo is welcome after the initial pulsating pace, and “No Way Home” allows time to catch breath. I’ll it this doesn’t do a huge amount for me, but I appreciate the variation, the influences are evident here and the homage isn’t overblown. The second half of the track drops the shoulder and ups the speed, salvaging it to some extent.
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There’s further variation on the album. “Horrorshot” draws deep from the Megadeth catalogue, a dip into the future of life control, and with it a middle finger to authority. It’s anthemic, probably the most anthemic on the album. The combination of slower, riff heavy segments contrasting with the faster, powerful energy and the switch in vocal styles brings further credibility. “The Witch” sees the band immerse themselves in the Metallica epic, a seven-minute plus song that grabs you by the throat with an irresistible riff and blistering pace. It’s fine stuff from start to finish.
Whilst Tempashot do the longer songs well, they are also adept at delivering the shorter, more instant track. Catch the glow of “Afterburner” complete with the aviation commentary, the slight oriental touch to the punchy “Social Cesspit” and the explosive “Parasite” that concludes the album, and you should see what I mean. The tracks race along, bringing with them an urge to thrash it up in the pit. Of course, Alexander’s impressive delivery isn’t going to work for everyone, and I can see that if you aren’t a fan of his hip-hop style, you are probably going to be challenged by this. However, as we roll into 2023, it’s great to see something different brought to the table. If you like it, I think you’ll love it. If not, then at the very least you should be able to appreciate the dynamic change in direction that Tempashot are bringing to the UK scene. With a slot for the Acid Reign UK tour coming soon, expect to see a lot more of these boys over the coming months.
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Certified Dangerous is out on January 27th
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