Saturnalia Temple – Paradigm Call

Releasedate: 01 March 2024
Label: Listenable Records

Intro

Psychedelic stoner doom band Saturnalia Temple is back with the brand new album “Paradigm Call”. The fans waited four years for this album after “Gravity”, released in 2020 right before the world turned upside down. For “Paradigm Call”, mastermind Tommie Eriksson joined forces with the Åhman brothers, whom some fans will know from the Swedish metal scene (In Solitude, PÅGÅ).

Review

“Paradigm Call” features the essence of Saturnalia Temple sound; the psychedelia, the sinister magic, and the buzz-y stoner riffs. However, the atmosphere feels different this time, and not in a negative way. We see the band focusing more on the “repetitive buzz” (as I’d like to call it). This is not a new element in the Saturnalia Temple sound but this is more prominent in “Paradigm Call”, making it way more ritualistic and spiritual. As always, Tommie’s vocals, which consist of only growls this time (unlike “Gravity”, which featured clean vocals as well), take us to the psychedelic journey.

Another surprising element is the style, as it feel more like a free flow this time. There are no connections or passages between songs but each song has a different atmosphere to it. While listening to “Paradigm Call”, I could feel the band letting that creativity flow and seeing where the journey goes without the necessity of making the album one ‘full’ release and connecting each song. The arrangements are well-done in this sense, making it flow with different pieces fitting together in the end.

Saturnalia Temple once again proves how they take psychedelia and doom to the next level with “Paradigm Call”. It feels different, spiritual and dark, just the way the fans of this genre will like it. The band recently played in Brussels to promote this upcoming album, the exact same city they played in 2020 right before the world shut down. Talking about full circle! Speaking of live shows, they are one of the bands you absolutely have to see live and experience, in particular if you are a fan of this genre. Get “Paradigm Call” and go see them live to feel the magic.

Personal highlights: Revel in Dissinence, Among the Ruins

Line up:

• Tommie Eriksson – guitars, vocals
• Pelle Åhman – drums
• Gottfrid Åhman – bass

Links:

Bandcamp