A brand new entry into the global metal dungeon is England’s SUPERTHRILL TEMPLE. While most new acts are content to fake their way through the Nu-Metal formula, these guys do something different. By wearing their chosen idols on their collective sleeve, the band revel in the unholiest of all influences, classic 70’s BLACK SABBATH, throw in a touch of BLACK LABEL SOCIETY and you’ve got a good idea of what’s in store.

While Dio evolved SABBATH more into melody, these guys do it “old school”. Doomy and riffy, it’s impossible not to draw comparisons to the original boys from Birmingham. Even the vocals harkens back to vintage Ozzy: less whiney but with similar inflection and phrasing, Mark Whiteside competently conveys his aggression over a gloomy wall of metal sludge. Remember how Iommi gave us light and dark shades? We have that here too (check out the prog-y organ passage “Zero 1:33” or the beautiful interludes offsetting “Martian Attack.”) As a whole, it works in a retro-way, and actually sounds quite refreshing in this era of corporate Cookie Monster fake rebellion. Quite sincere and enjoyable if not completely original.

SUPERTHRILL TEMPLE goes to show there is nothing new, only forgotten. All in all, “Choose Your Idol” is a very promising debut. Expect to hear good things from them in the future.

Check out their website to hear samples and watch for their New York City gigs coming this October.