Stoner Rock Trio hailing from Genoa in Italy is a sentence I never thought I would be putting together. But there you have it, TEMPLE OF DEIMOS are just that. And as doubtful as I may have been, they have actually surprised me in the most positive way. "Hailing To Saint Reaper" is their third full length album, and the fans have had to wait some eight years before it came to fruition.

The sound they use is very much embedded in the desert sounds of the nineties (mainly KYUSS) mixed with QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE influences. The Italian stoners of TEMPLE OF DEIMOS actually make it work like no other, and there is no escaping the fact that the music as well as the voice are of such as calibre that you can't help it but to enjoy what you get to hear. As usual there is also some criticism. Unfortunately, the production lets it down a bit. I mean, it's okay, but it's also very bland, making the lower and higher sounds down as they are being subdued in exposing themselves. It's all so middle of the road, and "Heading To Saint Reaper" would undoubtedly have sounded much more impressive with a really good sound.

But then again, as this is heavily steeped in the Desert sound, you can't  deny that they are coming quite close to emulating their peers. Sometimes that is being taken very literally, resulting in songs sounding like they were actually first recorded by someone like QOTSA. For the latter just listen to "Deflagration Deal", and it sounds like their peers did when Dave Grohl was with them. It is a flattering move, but also a tad too obvious, if you ask me. "Elvis Aaron Stoner" has the same influences, but they have been used in a lot more subtle way. That is how you really salute your peers.

All together I can only conclude that TEMPLE OF DEIMOS is a very good band with a very distinctive stoner sound who have just released a very pleasant album with this "Hailing To Saint Reaper", and I only hope that the rather disappointing Production isn't going to bite them in the arse. It wouldn't really matter though, as when they're stoned I doubt whether they would actually feel it if they were bitten there. But that is a whole different discussion to be held elsewhere.