Mind Conflict is an international duo (Ivan Izmer — Vocals/Guitars/Bass, Stefan Andreev- Drums) with members in Portugal and the Middle East. Temple of God is their debut and they are influenced by old-school death metal and 90s metallic hardcore with lyrics about the shitty state of the world today. I don’t know much else about this project.
What I DO know is that Temple of God is a fucking kick in the teeth and their influences are well represented with an album that absolutely destroys with a simple, pummeling, mid-paced bludgeoning from start to finish.
For fans of the current Bolt Thrower worshipping trend such as Frozen Soul, Creeping Death, Extermination Order, Just Before Dawn, this year’s Domination Campaign release, etc, as well as latter Grave, this is a fucking must-have as it delivers 9 massive tracks of mostly lumbering, mid-paced heft, with a crushing guitar tone and super cavernous vocals.
It’s simple, no-frills, chugging death metal at its finest, with a few blast beats thrown in for good measure (“Unforced Sacrifice”), but man do they deliver some burly, chunky goodness with every song (except the short, somber instrumental “Storm Laden Skies”).
Every song on Mind Conflict brings it. From the opener “Shadows of Dying World” which imbues classic “World Eater” era Bolt Thrower, through thunderous “Mob Mentality”, doomier “Dance of Swords”, hammering grooves of “Digital Nightmares” to closer “Age of Retribution”, which starts with a slow-burning, doom /death styled plod before exploding into a furious death metal number and back.
A fine, fine debut, and as I said earlier, a must-have for the Frozen Soul crowd and one of 2024s earlier surprise top-notch releases.
