The Temperance Movement - White Bear (Album Review)
Monday, 18 January 2016
Written by Simon Ramsay
Let's not mince words. 'White Bear' is the sound of hot-shot rockers the Temperance Movement looking ‘the difficult second album' up and down before smashing it to smithereens in a frenzied orgy of flying baseball bats. They have returned with supersized confidence, ambition and swagger and, if rock ‘n' roll really was in mortal peril, this would be its elixir.
It's likely the band are still covered in bruises from repeatedly pinching themselves over the last two years. Not only was their 2013 debut met with huge acclaim, it also hit number 12 on the UK album chart and led to Mick Jagger hand-picking them to open for the Rolling Stones at a number of stadium shows.
There was no chance of them returning under the radar, but if they were feeling added pressure it doesn't show. 'White Bear' - recorded during quick fire sessions between gigs – has the blood of a live band coursing through its veins, with the immediacy and chemistry that blossomed on the road harnessed to propel their sound forwards.
Tougher, tighter and harder - save for sombre confessional I Hope I'm Not Losing My Mind - there's a shift from loose limbed southern grooves and folk to explosive firecrackers and earth-rattling stompers, which are driven on by clobbering blues riffs, screaming slide guitars and the infectious fizz of bassist Nick Fyffe and drummer Damon Wilson.
Three Bulleits’ perky glam strut swiftly escalates into a storm of swirling hooks, while Phil Campbell spits out Modern Massacre Johnny Rotten-style and the title track pays off its tortured introspection with enough punch to floor Tyson Fury.
It may take time to adjust to the Temperance Movement 2.0, but this is the same band spreading their wings and refining their identity, helped by production values that boost the sonics to arena rock levels and add a contemporary kick to a mighty wall of instrumental textures.
Pleasant Peace I Feel is practically orchestral, slowly unfurling from trippy bass, sweet arpeggios and touches of Hendrix's cosmic psychedelica into an almighty surge of catharsis. Oh Lorraine is even better, its shamanic Stone Roses chorus, percussive chatter and bottom heavy trance moves tailor-made for indiedancefloor territory.
The icing on the cake is Campbell, a scorched vocalist who may be the missing link between Little Richard and Rod Stewart. There's an emotive gospel power to his delivery and, from the joyful healing glow of Get Yourself Free to Magnify's redemptive call to arms, the verses often find him wrestling demons and testifying to life's murky complexities before each soaring chorus offers a profound release.
The title 'White Bear' comes from a psychological study about controlling unwanted thoughts. Participants were explicitly instructed not to think about a white bear, and subsequently ended up thinking about it even more. With that in mind, you definitely shouldn't think about this record. You shouldn't contemplate raving about it to your friends. And under no circumstances should you consider falling in love with this band and hailing them as one of the finest British rock acts of their generation.
The Temperance Movement Upcoming Tour Dates are as follows:
Tue January 19 2016 - ABERDEEN Beach Ballroom
Wed January 20 2016 - GLASGOW Barrowland
Thu January 21 2016 - NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE O2 Academy Newcastle
Fri January 22 2016 - LEEDS Beckett University Union
Sun January 24 2016 - MANCHESTER Academy 2
Mon January 25 2016 - BIRMINGHAM O2 Institute
Tue January 26 2016 - CARDIFF University Y Plas
Wed January 27 2016 - LONDON O2 Forum Kentish Town
Click here to compare & buy The Temperance Movement Tickets at Stereoboard.com.
We don't run any advertising! Our editorial content is solely funded by lovely people like yourself using Stereoboard's listings when buying tickets for live events. To keep supporting us, next time you're looking for concert, festival, sport or theatre tickets, please search for "Stereoboard". It costs you nothing, you may find a better price than the usual outlets, and save yourself from waiting in an endless queue on Friday mornings as we list ALL available sellers!
.jpg)
.jpg)
![Bad Omens Detail 26-Track 'Concrete Jungle [The OST]' Project, Share New Track The Drain](http://cdn1.stereoboard.com/images/artistimages/50/tn_bad-omens.jpg)
