Temple of the Morning Star

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
It's not just the roaring screams, skewed guitar noise, and offbeat-drumming that makes Temple of the Morning Star so daunting and visceral. It's the stuff in between--the ominous melodic intros, demented phone conversations, and disjointed sound bytes--which provides truly essential listening for disgruntled postal employees. Instead of just weaving fanciful tales of darkness and depravity, Today is the Day seem determined to engulf their listeners within the sonic madness, and send them spiraling off into the abyss. In other words, this is homicidal listening at its best. --Jon Wiederhorn --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

Tracks:

Temple of the Morning Star [Acoustic]
Man Who Loves to Hurt Himself
Blindspot
High as the Sky
Miracle
Kill Yourself
Mankind
Pinnacle
Crutch
Root of All Evil
Satan Is Alive
Rabid Lassie
Friend for Life
My Life with You
I See You
Hermaphrodite
Temple of the Morning Star
Sabbath Bloody Sabbath [*]

Customer Reviews:

Unsung Masterpiece.......2007-06-23

I liked this album when it first came out-saw them a few times live-pretty intense-okay, nice and all but recently, for a cross-country trip, I loaded this(and Sadness Will Prevail-also another amazing album) into the i-pod and was completely blown away!! So intense! So ahead of it's time! simply stunning!

Pivotal Album.......2007-03-17

Marking TDITD's emergence as a force to be reckoned with, Temple Of The Morning Star also seems to have been an album born of Steve Austen's life trials. The liner notes to this reissue are compelling reading, and inspirational. Hats off to anyone who can muster the courage and wherewithall to make music, or art of any form, in EXACTLY the way they personally see it, without lowering to common denominators, and with the determination and hope that others will eventually enjoy your labors. The struggle to make your art accessible to others, even in this day and age, is what separates the "artists" from the legends. Having been a clear influence and sounding board for commercially successful bands such as Mastadon and Lamb of God, Today Is The Day deserves and often gets kudos from many people in the tight-knit little circle of musicians who resist the whole hardcore-numetal-thrash-grind-whatever tags imposed by label-obsessed media conglomerates. Austin and Co. are the real deal, and when you hear the music on any album prior to, including, and following Temple, you hear the passions of people who think a little differently from most. And that's why we love them.

The Evil that Exists In All of Us.......2006-10-22

Not alot gives me hope, but the fact that Mastodon are becoming metal legends does reveal a bit of optimism in my otherwise dreary outlook. Alot of more abrasive acts have recieved unlikely courtships from the mainstream...Opeth is an international sensation, Dimmu Borgir pulled off a mainstage gig at Ozzfest '04, and Lamb of God are being heralded as the "Saviours of American Metal" by bullhorn toters from coast to coast. But these success stories, in my metallic opinion, were all semi-logical. Mastodon's both critical and fan adoration is surprising because they have emerged from that crushingly heavy corner of extreme metal that leaves little room for sentimentality or linear song patterns...they are extreme; rooted in doom, death, and grind. But doom, death, and grind acts don't get signed to Warner Brothers and become Pitchfork Media favorites...Mastodon had to possess something else. Mastodon are where they are, if you ask me, because their stellar rhythm section is still adhering to that cerebral eerieness that they picked up when they were ordained as ministers of darkness under the heavy hand of THE REVEREND STEVE AUSTIN, mastermind of Today is the Day and the only musician I can think of who genuinely invokes pure earthbound evil.

Granted, Kelliher and Dailor of Mastodon were picked up by Austin for the Today is the Day album following "Temple of the Morningstar". But it is on this prior album that the misanthropic aesthetic of future TITD endeavors were solidified. It opens with it's namesake track, a flowing accoustic piece that is akin to a hymn beginning this evil sermon. The listener is indoctrinated by the repeated passage, "I can't be what you want me to be...I am DEAD". And with that the thesis statement is made; welcome to the Temple, prepare for the ritual ablutions and the living sacrifices. Prepare yourself for audio-terrorism.

Uber-explicit Satan references or gorey subject matter are staples of evil metal music. And while "Temple of the Morning Star" has traces of each it presents them in such a matter of fact and realist manner that it relegates the Satan and gore imagery of black and death metal to mere novelty. One cannot experience the evil inherent in Steve Austin in the detached manner that they might Cannibal Corpse or even, what the heck, Mayhem. No no...this is the evil that the evening news scratches the surface of; this is the evil that makes us lock our doors at night; this is the evil that exists in all of us. Steve Austin, with Today is the Day, brings painfully close the thoughts which we are all capable of making but from which we hide.

Explicit images of true sexual carnage; self-mutilation; self-hate; the desire for death; feelings of immense lonliness and alienation...this is the mantra espoused from the "Temple of the Morning Star". Lyrics hardly ever make me quiver beneath the blankets, but the shrieks of "Why hold back? Kill yourself, take the blade, do it clean" in "Kill Yourself" produce goosebumps on my metal-worn skin. Same goes for the unrepeatable (on Amazon) imagery produced on "Pinnacle" and "Hermaphrodite". Here we have Austin taking that quiet and unacknowledged voice in all of us that acknowledges evil and amplifying it to a point where we cannot ignore it.

The sound? Well, I have never been comfortable classifying TITD as a heavy metal band. To me they are audio-terror, a disturbance of one's inner-peace, an experiment in the effect sound can have on the equilibrium of the listener. Steve Austin uses negative aesthetics as his canvas. The drums, bass, and guitar are all metal; but they take a backseat to the overall picture which is one of pure unease -- guiding this flaming chariot are Steve Austin's tortured and mutilated vocals: the most powerful instrument on the record.

Now Mastodon is very much a metal band...but I feel they owe the composition of their sound more to Today is the Day than anyone. Even Kellier and Dailor's previous band Lethargy is not as close to their current sound as TITD is. This is because The Reverend Steve Austin reveals to those who are attentive what they might have thought impossible. The ability to use human psychology and play upon the emotions of the audience to truly define heavy. Go back and listen Mastodon's first recording the "Lifesblood" EP. The samples, the build-ups, the claustrophobia and fullness of the entire experience...it is almost like listening to a Today is the Day album from the same era.

So Satan bless Relapse Records for re-releasing this remastered version of this religiously required recording. The liner notes are a necessary counterpart to complete the verses "Temple of the Morning Star". Suddenly that realness of Steve Austin is, well, realer. With Today is the Day Austin brings the introvert into extroverted form. It is pure nihilism looking outward and not hesitating to reflect what it sees and feels in a brutally honest way. But what is truly horror-inducing about "Temple of the Morning Star" is that this is not the voice of a hermit staring disdainfully through his blinds and casting aspersions onto the world. Rather this is the voice of that nihilistic hermit that dwells in a realm of your soul that you'd rather forget was there. But we all possess it. The grand triumph of this album is that it makes the listener admit that evil dwells within each and every one of us. By suppressing that evil the "evils" of this world are allowed to permeate.

Steve Austin, you are what Maynard James Keenan wishes he could be.

Average customer rating:

True Darkness and Depravity. (4.5 Stars)
Death Requiem
My #$@ bl**ds for you... Sincerly.
The Today is the Day Album
ohmyf#@kinggodthisisheavy

Temple of the Morning Star
Today Is The Day
Manufacturer: Relapse
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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In the Eyes of God
Kiss the Pig
Fixation on a Coworker
Panopticon
No Heroes

ASIN: B000001134
Release Date: 1997-09-23

Tracks:

Temple Of The Morning Star (Acoustic)
The Man Who Loves To Hurt Himself
Blindspot
High As The Sky
Miracle
Kill Yourself
Mankind
Pinnacle
Crutch
Root Of All Evil
Satan Is Alive
Rabid Lassie
Friend For Life
My Life With You
I See You
Hermaphrodite
Temple Of The Morning Star

Amazon.com

It's not just the roaring screams, skewed guitar noise, and offbeat-drumming that makes Temple of the Morning Star so daunting and visceral. It's the stuff in between--the ominous melodic intros, demented phone conversations, and disjointed sound bytes--which provides truly essential listening for disgruntled postal employees. Instead of just weaving fanciful tales of darkness and depravity, Today is the Day seem determined to engulf their listeners within the sonic madness, and send them spiraling off into the abyss. In other words, this is homicidal listening at its best. --Jon Wiederhorn

Customer Reviews:

True Darkness and Depravity. (4.5 Stars).......2006-02-04

TODAY IS THE DAY - Temple of the Morning Star.
-
Seldom do I hear an album that is this conceptually unpleasant, or evil... (Or for that matter this appealing) Steve Austin and crew have derived an Evil, terrorizing masterpiece. Now when I talk about evil and unpleasant I don't mean silly gore lyrics like Cannibal Corpse or "Satan is my Hero" crap... TITD is one of the few bands that I actually believe to be evil. (Not only believe but feel...) The pure hatred and emotion put into this album is beyond the sounds of anything I have ever heard in my life... The Acoustic version of the title track "Temple of the Morning Star" literally gives me chills when I listen to it. Or take "The Man who Loves to Hurt Himself" which starts off with Willie Nelson on the Radio (I think its called `Good Hearted Woman") and a sample repeating "you are free to do what we tell you" then goes into a noisy grinding guitar assault.
Truth is I really do enjoy this album... As unnerving, dark, and unpleasant as this album is it is an amazing piece of art.
I won't attempt to describe this album in much more detail just remember I warned you... This music is not for the weak of heart. Truthfully the religious right have been wasting their time trying to ban Marilyn Manson from America - If TITD ever hit the mainstream (Which I highly doubt) they would likely cause a large uprising and much more controversy than modern shock rockers... The thing is I really don't think this is for shock (I get the impression this is how he really feels... and I'm not sure if that makes it better or worse)
Favorite Tracks: Temple of the Morning Star (Acoustic), The Man who loves to Hurt Himself, Pinnacle, and Kill Yourself.
-4.5 Stars

Death Requiem.......2005-07-15

This album has a lot more than what people type below or above. It has a lot more to offer than hellish sounds and "devilish" inspirations. People see TITD as a satanic band. In my thoughts, not even close to being satanic. Their melodies and the lyircs and the ways they progress this music is FAR better than what someone might call "satanic music." This is Metal, Grindcore, mixed with a bit of speed metal at it's best! With the jolting sounds of Pinnacle and Kill Yourself meet the shoegazey sound of, let's say, Hermaphodite. There's more than one kind of music mixed with this incredible album. It's more than what anyone would or will try to put in words. If you're into Dilinger's Escape Plan or X-Cutioners, step up in the level of Grindcore and listen to this band. They will turn your head and make you wanna turn the sound up! Every song is better than the last. The intro is spine chilling and it goes into the second song which totally catches you off guard. Who would put a country song on a grindcore album? TODAY IS THE DAY! Of course, and it's not Willie Nelson. This is defitinely the album to get to upgrade your music collection.

My #$@ bl**ds for you... Sincerly........2005-04-11

Wow, when i first heard about titd i was blown away at how talented and disturbing this band truly is and wow what a f*cking vocals! Dont let today is the day's "temple of the morning star" slip from your collection because its a classic album.

The Today is the Day Album.......2004-06-07

This is their full realization of what they have been going for. The previous albums built up to this, and the subsequent albums meandered and eventually lost focus, but it all came together here.
A concept album from beginning to end, this includes everything from the trademark weird/offensive lyrics, to the stacatto metal riffing, the heaviness of Black Sabbath, the fuzzy production, the movie samples, and plenty more. Everything that Today is the Day seems to always strive for, but it comes together perfectly on this release. It's a journey that spends more than an hour taking you through their twisted, dark world.
It might take a while to grow on you, but it's worth it.
Highly Reccomended.

ohmyf#@kinggodthisisheavy.......2003-10-03

Simply the best album they have done so far. And this is hard for me to say, being that 'sadness will prevail', 'in the eyes of god', 'willpower', & the self -titled album are in my 20 most played metal albums. You HAVE to play this as LOUD AS POSSIBLE to really appreciate it, and don't miss them if they come to your town to play. Really, they are one of the best heavy bands out there today.

Average customer rating:

Temple of the Morning Star
Today Is the Day
Manufacturer: 3d
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000HD1AY0
Release Date: 2006-11-06

Tracks:

Temple of the Morning Star [Acoustic]
Man Who Loves to Hurt Himself
Blindspot
High as the Sky
Miracle
Kill Yourself
Mankind
Pinnacle
Crutch
Root of All Evil
Satan Is Alive
Rabid Lassie
Friend for Life
My Life with You
I See You
Hermaphrodite
Temple of the Morning Star
Sabbath Bloody Sabbath [*]

Music:

Music

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Intimate Worship

Clementi: Sonate, Duetti & Capricci, Vol. 8

Gene Watson [Karaoke]

El Unico

Electriclarryland

Flecha [Import]

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