Album Review: Temperance - Diamanti

It's hard for a band to stand out from the crowd, especially in genres like power metal that are inherently a bit more conservative. Temperance is one of those bands that has managed to do exactly that, from the very first moment I heard them, because of the genius decision they made to have three lead singers who bob and weave their voices throughout the songs. As good as any of them are on their own, the moments when they sing together are what make Temperance not only stand out, but stand apart. More than any of those bands that layer massive choirs, Temperance's approach sounds huge without softening the melodies too much. I absolutely love their vocal blending.

With both "Of Jupiters And Moons" and "Viridian" in their discography, Temperance has a track record of wonderful hyper-pop power metal that gives a different flavor to the same approach Amaranthe has mastered. At their best, their music is addictive, both in sticky melody and beautiful sound.

Storming out of the gates, "Pure Life Unfolds" does everything I love about Temperance. It's a rousing number that gets the blood flowing and fists pumping, with a fast-paced chorus melody that sticks like crazy. Writing that kind of metal isn't easy at all, but Temperance has a knack for making it look that way. But it's proven not to be easy, because the next song is "Breaking The Rules Of Heavy Metal", which drags things down for me. Not only does it not, in fact, break any of the rules of heavy metal, but it continues the long-running trend of songs about metal being hackneyed and embarrassing. If you're playing metal, we already know you like metal. You don't need to also write lyrics to tell us you love what you're doing. It just sounds so forced. Or maybe it's just because I find 'metal culture' to be insufferable.

The band gives each song its own identity, with the title track being sung half in their native Italian, and "Litany Of The Northern Lights" bringing some folk instrumentation into the mix. They're little things that make a big difference when you're listening to these songs as an album, because the diversity is key to making sure the hour goes by without blending into lost time. You wouldn't be able to lose focus during the title track anyway, as it boasts one of the bands biggest and best hooks ever, but I think you know what I mean.

I should also note the mix done by Jacob Hansen, who gives the album enough room for all three voices to breathe. When they sing together, rather than sounding like a wash of vocals under a heavier compression, you can hear each voice clearly, and how they interact as their vocal chords fall in and our of sync. I absolutely love that aspect of Temperance's sound, and it's essential to get it this right.

Despite the differences in the metal elements they bring to the table, Temperance is often compared to Amaranthe, for the obvious reasons. The biggest difference between them is that Temperance's music sounds classier and more charming than Amaranthe. While that band hits you over the head with their hyper-pop, using metal to pound the songs into your head, Temperance uses metal as a weight to keep their fluffy melodies from wafting away on the breeze.

Like always, Temperance has delivered a wonderful album of effervescent power metal and fantastic vocals. They continue to hone their approach, rarely missing the mark, and making this hour of music almost flawless. Do I miss some of the drama "Of Jupiters And Moons" had? Sure, but there's plenty to admire from the band's more focused and polished approach now. In a year that power metal did little to impress me, Temperance is once again the highlight. "Diamanti" is indeed a gem.