ALBUM REVIEW: Fuel For My Soul – Last Temptation
Is it possible for a band to record an album in a week and have it stand up to scrutiny? This is something hard rockers LAST TEMPTATION hope to be the case with their new record Fuel For My Soul. Following on from their eponymous 2019 debut, LAST TEMPTATION offer 11 tracks of pure hard rock across 48 minutes. In a step up from their last record, guitarist Peter Scheithauer (KILLING MACHINE/BELLADONNA) had to embrace melodies within his guitar parts. With new recruits Julien Rimaire (bass) and Vince Brisach (drums) the exclusively European line-up set to work on Fuel For My Soul.
“We often think we’re doing well” Butcho Vukovic exclaims in opener Ashes And Fire. Constructed on a bed of thick, groove-inspired riffs, Vukovic exposes our fear of being forgotten to time. A spattering of vocal harmonies laces the verses as we lend ourselves to the swagger of this existential crisis. Fans and casual listeners looking for evidence of the band upping their game from the last album will find it in spades as a dirty solo sweeps through the slower bridge leading into one last round of the anthemic chorus.
Fuel For My Soul is an all-encompassing look at how our society operates. Believe’s low and fast groove forces our attention toward the idea of our self-destruction. While its verses pack that much needed punch, momentum shifts at the opportune moment into the wrong direction – possibly an allegory for the message they’re trying to convey. Later, Carousel Of Hell also falls prey to pacing issues. Again speaking to the way in which humanity operates, the track is an attack on how we are ruled by fear. “We stand against each other again” Vukovic claims in a song which feels flat and cliché. A spiralling solo attempts to save the song’s ailing pace but comes a little too late. Even then, we find ourselves eyeing the run-time for a clue of when the track will end.
An altogether different beast which hunts LAST TEMPTATION is the threat of predictability. With bass, drums, and guitars all recorded live, it gives the record the warm quality many bands have been aiming for. Considering the album was recorded in a week however, the band leave themselves open for stagnation. Finding a formula which is successful for a band is difficult of course. With Stronger Than Fate, the title track, and Free Strong And Loud all following the same structure in quick succession, the novelty wears off quickly. Our attention begins to wane as a result. The title track is a strange animal in itself. Speaking about how music is a universal language which unites us all in the face of whatever adversity comes, no one would be wrong in anticipating a bright, merry song. What we are met with however is a grunge-inspired melancholy. We’re encouraged to “feel the vibration” but the brooding nature of the track leaves our vibration running low.
A redeeming feature of Fuel For My Soul is the six-minute mini-epic I Don’t Wanna Be Your God. Written from the deity’s perspective, the track is full of resignation. Frustrated by mankind’s decisions during the aeons of their existence “I don’t wanna be your god” is raw and desperate. A more calculated intro leads into structured world building within chunky riffs and scalding melodies. “I’m on my knees and begging you please” breeds a vocal close to growling – a very welcome change. The anthemic chorus makes us take heed as we fully praise the band’s ability to tell a story.
To discredit LAST TEMPTATION would be underhanded. They have come on a lot since their debut record but they are still a band very much finding out what works for them. At times, such as with In The Mirror, the tools they utilise feel included for the sake of inclusion. The solo is technically great but seems to be something to fill the time which comes at its detriment. On the other hand, the string skipping nestled within the second verse is a nice touch but one which really has to be listened out for. In a track about needing to embrace the opportunities which arise, LAST TEMPTATION should take some of their own advice.
Making and recording an album is incredibly difficult. There are a lot of moving parts both technically and musically. Albums and EPs rightly take time. LAST TEMPTATION do themselves a disservice in recording this in a single week. Truth be told there are many redeeming factors to this record and a lot they should take on board moving forward into the process of album three. With a little refinement and brewing time, LAST TEMPTATION can only move forward from here.
Rating: 5/10
Fuel For My Soul is out now via Crusader Records.
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