EP Review: El Moono – Temple Corrupted (Lockjaw Records)

Anarchic heavy UK alt-rock foursome El Moono return with their thumping new EP ‘Temple Corrupted’, released on the 4th February 2022 via Lockjaw Records.

A band unafraid to experiment sonically, El Moono tracked their EP in an ancient church, with Adele’s piano featuring on the record. Temple Corrupted is a concept EP, focused on depression/anxiety, and how societal corruption affects individual mental health.

The hunt is on and it’s a wild one. The intro of The Wild Hunt has a real cinematic feel to it and speaks of dangers coming from dark places. Something that is realised as it flows into Final Execution and El Moono let loose with an array of eclectic ideas. A track that switches from grungy rock with melodic undertones to intense post-hardcore and sludge-tinged heaviness in an instant. There’s a sense of chaos to this track even though El Moono are in total control of their actions.

Something that is even harder to believe upon hearing the mood-altering explosivity of Requiem. A track that has a desperation to it that makes for an uncomfortable listen. Something that also exists in the following Forced to Smile. However, a peppier tempo makes this one standout in different ways. At least until El Moono decide to drag things down to deep and heavy depths.

Continuing to amaze with their wild range of ideas, Miseria transitions from intriguing melody to a violent expulsion of sludgy savagery. El Moono are spitting up blood on this one and it pushes the limits of just how heavy they can get while seemingly doing so from a calm and focused state.

The penultimate track, Splitting the Atom is an intermission that features a simple piano melody but does offer a nice chance to catch the breath. Important too, as the finale of White Gold is not just grand beyond the scope of normal imagination but it’s also the longest track on the EP at nearly 6-minutes. A track that leans towards post, has amazing melody and commanding clean vocals but also delves into darkness as it goes on.

An incredible finale on an incredible EP. It’s something many will be listening to over and over again throughout 2022. Each time, likely finding some new layer or nuance that they hadn’t noticed before. Such is the implausible depth of this release.

El Moono – Temple Corrupted Full Track Listing:

1. The Wild Hunt
2. Final Execution
3. Requiem
4. Forced To Smile
5. Miseria
6. Splitting the Atom
7. White Gold

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