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Temples on Mars - Made Of Gold Single Review

24 Oct 2012 // A review by terry666

This is Agent's latest single for an album which has been a long time coming. The album Kingdom of Fear is slated for a 2013 release date. The last single I reviewed of these guys was about a year ago Vondelpark which was an epic 7 minute song.

This song is quite interesting because I think this highlights the role that a producer plays in helping create the sound. The producer of this song and the album which will be released is Paul Matthews from I Am Giant. The single was mastered by Tom Coyne who has worked with the likes of I Am Giant and Karnivool both of which have a similar sound. This single bears a lot of that sound. About 15 seconds into the song you start to see some of his influence with the guitar style and even in the vocals. Although as I say this song seems to be very influenced by Paul and Tom I wouldn’t say that is a bad thing and it still is very original. I think he has obviously provided a bit of cohesive process to their song writing and once again Agent has pulled out a very solid Rock song.

Lyrically "Made of Gold has several meanings but in short it is a tale of someone that casts a golden boy outwards image but really is rotten to the core... and what happens as a consequence" quoted from vocalist and chief lyricist James Donaldson.

My thoughts have always been that Agent is a band that has so much talent that they struggle to contain it. The last single came in at 7 minutes but still remained very controlled. This song is just over 4 minutes and is a very well constructed rock song with some great licks. It has an excellent guitar sound that really pumps along and is very upbeat and will have your head bouncing. This is a band that could cover a lot of genres and could grow a huge fan base.

Agent have been living in London for the last few years honing their craft but on releasing the album next year they are planning to return to NZ to show us their wares. I will be looking forward to hearing the new album and seeing them on tour. Don’t forget us down here in Palmy boys.

 

About Temples on Mars

Temples on Mars is a London based progressive rock band. Originally formed in New Zealand (NZ) under the name Agent, the band relocated to London in 2008. Featuring James Donaldson on vocals and guitar, Daz Carikas on bass, Gerald Gill on guitars, and Dean Gibb on drums, Temples on Mars produces accessible, progressive tinged, rock music.

To date, Temples on Mars have headlined their own NZ tours and UK shows, featured at UK Rock festivals, released two EP’s, plus two full length albums: Expand/Contract which was given 5/5 stars by NZ’s leading music magazine Rip It Up and NZ Musician magazine, making a name for them in their native NZ, and their second album Kingdom of Fear, which created a buzz in the prog-rock scene in the UK and Europe earning the band a 2014 UK progressive music award nomination.

After relocating to London, Temples on Mars quickly became regulars on the live music scene and have shared the stage with numerous UK bands including Skindred, Devil Sold His Soul, Black Peaks, InMe and I Am Giant to name a few. Temples on Mars subsequently teamed up with long time friend and producer Paul Matthews of I Am Giant fame (whose production credits also include OpShop, Blindspott, Stylus and Six60). With Matthews, Temples on Mars began work on their second full length album Kingdom of Fear which was released world wide in December 2013. Kingdom of Fear was mastered by Tom Coyne (Karnivool, Dead Letter Circus, I Am Giant) of Sterling Sound in New York.

Visit the muzic.net.nz Profile for Temples on Mars

Releases

Temples On Mars
Year: 2018
Type: Album
Kingdom Of Fear
Year: 2013
Type: Album
Expand / Contract
Year: 2006
Type: Album
The Pheng Nom Shakedown
Year: 2003
Type: EP

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