Hailing from the East Frisian Island of Spiekeroog, German death metallers Temple of Dread have been kicking around since 2017. After 2019 debut LP, Blood Carving Mantras, the illustrious Holdeneye saw fit to review their sophomore effort, World Sacrifice, in 2020. He commended them for their ferocity and adherence to the olde ways, but he would have liked to see a bit more variation in tempo and songcraft. In the intervening six years, Temple of Dread have grown from a three-piece to a fivesome and have released an additional three albums, all of which we seem to have missed. Did they take Holdeneye’s criticisms to heart, or can we expect another nonstop onslaught of old school death metal?
One thing is certain: these guys still spend most of their time extolling the early works of Death and other early scene heavyweights. Jens Finger shouts and bellows vitriol over the proceedings, lending a thrashy flair to Dreadspawn Dominion. “Artisan of Oblivion” and “Dreadspawn Dominion” see axe men Markus Bünnemeyer and Daniel Maurer setting fire to their fretboards with furious tremolos and technical riffcraft. “Born to Rot” boasts a powerful mid-paced chug, while “Blood Pyre” all but incites a circle pit through Jӧrg Uken’s muscular kit work. Uken is also responsible for production, which, while a little crowded, does allow each instrument to be heard easily. This is comes in clutch on closer “Infernal Eternity,” where Andi Bauer’s bass drips with overpowering malice. Truly a case where less is more, Bauer doesn’t perform any noodly Atheistic wankery, but ensures every note is absolutely menacing.
According to the promo material, Temple of Dread began expanding their sonic palette, as well as experimenting with cinematic elements, beginning with 2023’s Beyond Acheron. Dreadspawn Dominion continues that work. The main riff in “Death March” boasts an evil, blackened edge, bringing a gothic feel to its Nile-esque rituality. “Hybrid Horde Eternal” and “Scorched by Cosmic Fire” both employ synths—courtesy of Uken—to weave a dark, cosmic atmosphere. Potentially to Holdeneye’s delight, with the exception of barn burners like “Rites of Blasphemy” and the title track, much of Dreadspawn Dominion oscillates between fast and mid-paced, repeatedly building and releasing tension in what is objectively a more mature and nuanced compositional style. This is largely successful, except on “Hybrid Horde Eternal,” where Finger’s vocal rigidity or consistency is at odds with its doomy midpoint. Although not terribly common, this isn’t the only instance where Finger’s seemingly narrow range hampers or fails to capitalize on an otherwise poignant moment (“Death March,” “Scorched by Cosmic Fire”).
At just over 40 minutes, Dreadspawn Dominion is right in the pocket for ideal engagement. While I wouldn’t accuse Temple of Dread of bloat, there are a few moments where pacing struggles. The album seems to sag a bit in the middle—“Blood Pyre” and “Scorched by Cosmic Fire,” in particular—and struggles to clinch a solid ending. While “Infernal Eternity” sports a sick, slow gallop and its solo and rhythm section complement each other excellently, nearly its entire back half is devoted to an atmospheric and synth-laden outro that, so late in the album, blunts what could have been a strong ending. Along with “Artisan of Oblivion,” the album closer also suffers from a few riffs that last just a couple measures too long and ultimately fall flat.
Death metal is a hard genre to excel in, especially when idolizing its progenitors. Temple of Dread do an admirable job, and their forays into other genres and atmospherics help to separate them from the rest of the cesspool. While not groundbreaking, Dreadspawn Dominion is a solid record, especially for a band pumping out albums almost yearly. Temple of Dread have the beginnings of a truly killer formula here, but a little more refinement and attention to pacing could pay exponential dividends on future efforts.
Rating: 3.0/5.0
DR: 6 | Format Reviewed: 320 kbps mp3
Label: Testimony Records
Websites: Bandcamp | Facebook | Instagram
Releases Worldwide: August 7th, 2026
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