Album Review: Bloody Head - The Temple Pillars Dissolve Into the Clouds
Reviewed by Dan Barnes
Nottingham’s Bloody Head could never be accused of being formulaic and not giving serious consideration to their art. For The Temple Pillars Dissolve Into the Clouds is something of a throwback record to a time when the very creation process itself gave music a palpable presence.
There are so many ideas at play here that it is difficult to suggest there is a singular, over-arching sound to the album. At a push, you would probably say that it was the heavy, sludgey riffs of Homeopathic Mountains and Psychick Warfare that were the most predominant across the record; the former taking a doom-laden intro and mixing in some punk attitude along with the dissonant guitar howls. Whereas, among the thick, treacly riffs of Pyschick Warfare, behind the faint whiff of something earthy, there lies a classic heavy metal influence just waiting to be discovered.
Even the opener, This Could Be Paradise, descends into crashing waves of low doom with a series of heavy, heavy hits, but not before setting itself up as an exploration into the psychedelic with some very Doors-like moments.
Nothing feels off-limits on the album as Bloody Head appear to have shaken off any creative shackles so that Glory Holes’ dissent noise seems to be thrown at you from all angles and as it splinters into a feedback loop it plays out like the end of days. Similarly, The Process of Forever features an irresistible chorus that is surprisingly catchy.
Discordia and The World is as Old As You Are placate the primal need for punk, leaving just the closing St Elsewhere and the Altar of Coincidence which continues the grungy sound of The Process of Forever and adds The Doors influence to give the sensation of journeying through a vast landscape.
It is this notion of a journey that is the heart of The Temple Pillars Dissolve into Clouds and Bloody Head have written a record that is guaranteed to lead you to new discoveries every time you choose to take it.
