Grond's latest release, The Temple, is a long-awaited return for fans of their unique blend of death metal and cosmic horror. With a decade-long gap between albums, the anticipation was palpable, and the band did not disappoint. The Temple is a muscular, tentacled behemoth that pays homage to the classic Bolt Thrower-meets-Autopsy sound while infusing it with a Lovecraftian twist. The album's production is beefy, with a focus on muscular riffs and a nasty bass tone that will scrunch up any listener's face in grotesque relief. The use of a Temple of Void-like doom/death shroud adds an ominous atmosphere, creating a vastness of scale and stature that was absent in their previous work, Worship the Kraken. The album's simplicity is a strength, with reliable parts and pieces of the death metal arsenal ensuring maximum impact in their songwriting. The high-fantasy horror theme, frightful guitar pyrotechnics, and beefy production help set The Temple apart from contemporary examples of the style, making it a highly engaging 48-minute listen. However, the album's length is a double-edged sword. While it may be a grower, with many traits and nuances that make it a joy to return to, some areas could still use a trim. The title track, at six and a half minutes, is a prime example of this, with a first half that could be shortened for greater impact. Despite this, The Temple is a rare kind of classically informed, doom-tinged, mid-paced death metal that grows with every spin. It might not be a groundbreaking album, but it competes well in its field and pairs very nicely with other Lovecraft-inspired death metal from the likes of Sulphur Aeon and Corpsessed. In my opinion, The Temple is a must-listen for fans of the genre, and it was well worth the ten-year wait. So, if you're a fan of old-school death metal with a Lovecraftian twist, choose your vessel and enter The Temple!
