Release Date: 27 February 2026
Song Count: 10
Duration: 38 minutes, 40 seconds
Rating: 7.9/10
Description:
Song Count: 10
Duration: 38 minutes, 40 seconds
Rating: 7.9/10
Description:
Here we have an album that I have wanted to review for a long time now: the final album from a trilogy of albums made by a French synthwave musician, Carpenter Brut. This series of his follows a story set in a science-fiction world, with the characters overcoming hurdles and resisting an evil force tyrannically ruling the fictional city of Midwichopolis. This particular addition takes a bit of a different stylistic turn compared to its predecessors, however; unlike the abundance of collaborating artists bringing the futuristic tale to life in Leather Teeth and Leather Terror, Leather Temple is notably entirely instrumental, with absolutely no vocal deliveries bar for a single sampled line, making the feel of the listen all the more unique at this last narrative stage.
The clean, flexible production of synthwave meets the rough edge of metal influences throughout the tracks as consistent and smooth tracks vibrant with energy and action storm into one's ears. In spite of having an outlined structure to further the specific intent of the work along, the focus seems more laid on the general atmosphere being induced that leads the whole picture to act as a conceptual soundtrack straight out of a sci-fi thriller film. The synths and sawtooth sounds bringing in a particular sense of retro-futurism that often proves difficult to replicate, along with the bass, guitars and powerful drums adding that sort of grit into the mix, all creates a series of songs one could imagine speeding on a road late at night to.
Having only heard the titular track as a single prior to the release, the bar for Leather Temple's complete output was set quite high relatively early on - that said, after witnessing the full experience, it shows easy to say that said bar was thoroughly matched here. Consisting of many unique tracks that feel highly coherent yet swim afloat in terms of recognisability, the album proves to be a highly enjoyable listen, especially to those fond of both synth music and metal that can appreciate the way the appealing elements of both musical leaning are channelled in here. A well-crafted album from someone in the scene who appears to have found a successful niche for himself through his particular way of using the perks of electronic music and his inspirations to the fullest.