ALBUM REVIEW: Leather Temple – Carptenter Brut
French synthwave connoisseur CARPENTER BRUT returns with another fine addition to his discography with the third instalment of the Leather trilogy, Leather Temple. A synth soaked soundtrack packed with enormous sounds wouldn’t feel amiss from a neon soaked sci-fi film. Whilst a little repetitive, the combination of metal and synths washes over you as you immerse yourself into the world CARPENTER BRUT has created as it shakes you to your very core.
A Phantom Of The Opera-esque opening greets us in grandiose manner by announcing the arrival of Leather Temple for the album opener, Ouverture (Deus Ex Machina). It’s bombastic, it’s sinister and sets the cinematic tone perfectly for what is to come by throwing us into the sci-fi landscape CARPTENTER BRUT has created here. Major Threat follows by slowly building up as what is the first of many synths begin to wash over us setting the tone of a futuristic steam-punk landscape that is surely awash with neon soaked lighting. It has a great pace to it with a driving beat that helps you picture a rain soaked city and its seedy underbelly. The bombardment of sound is incredibly impressive as the synths combine with the guitars to make an incredible sound. The titular track, Leather Temple doesn’t back down either with its Bladerunner 2049 aesthetic it has established. It switches between bombast and a more lowkey tone perfectly by allowing some of the smoothest bass lines you’ve ever heard to have their own moment in the midst of the maelstrom of sound that is on offer.
She Rules The Ruins continues the pace of the record with another theatrical opening as it evolves into a tinkering synth that does sound before going full throttle into a terrific combination of heavy metal and euro-style synthwave that makes you want to let loose in the best way possible. Even when it reverts to a more low key tone, you’re kept on the edge of your seat in anticipation of having your socks blown clean off once again. Start Your Engines dances in with its cascading synths before another driving riff picks up the pace alongside it for what does feel like a Eurovision song but the fun nature of it overrides all negative thought the Eurovision comparison has over this song. However, it is the weakest of the tracks so far as it doesn’t quite have that umph that previous tracks had. Whilst the same applies to Neon Requiem, you do forgive it for the fun tone of the synth and the even sexier sounding saxophone that plays throughout despite these tracks running out of steam quickly. Leather Terror sees itself back on form with Iron Sanctuary, with another cavalcade of incredible synthesisers on show and intense sounding horns. At times it does feel like the love child of VANGELIS and HANS ZIMMER with the cinematic scope showing no bounds.
The back end of the album starts to show a repetitive nature. The Misfits/The Rebels and Speed Or Perish feel hard to distinguish between a few tracks as they walks a similar beat to those that came earlier on in the record. The guitar riffs are still good though with a few djenty moments that bring out the stank face which is always fun. The End Complete brings about the finale of the album, defying expectations in a way. After being used to an all out assault on the senses, this track plays the album out on a softer note. It has a hopeful sound to it that makes you feel like a brighter tomorrow is coming, helping you imagine the rain has stopped in this dystopian world and the sun has finally come out. There are still some sinister undertones to it that don’t feel quite right, as if there is some uncanny valley voodoo happening. The cinematic score rears its head one final time as it sets up the satisfying finale. However, it doesn’t truly feel like an end and leaves enough room to feel like another sequel could be on its way.
Leather Temple does indeed stick to the landing and even its tracks that aren’t as strong as others don’t really detract from the quality, they’re just not as fun. The best way to experience Leather Temple would be to let the music wash over you in a dark room playing it as loud as you can on your headphones or if your neighbours don’t mind, a stereo system. This soundtrack is a full on assault of all senses that rattles your soul as it shrouds you in the world CARPENTER BRUT has created. The thought of seeing this live too is an absolutely wonderful notion, hopefully there isn’t too long to wait to see him back in the UK after his show at Bloodstock later this year.
Rating: 8/10
Leather Temple is out now via No Quarter Prod/Virgin Records.
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