Carpenter Brut - Leather Temple (2026)

Opening with the expansive “Axis”, the band sets a very lively vibe with soaring vocal arrangements, intricate bass guitar lines, and very engaging tempo changes. Things get heavier with the powerful “Languish”, a song that features Chaney Crabb of Entheos on guest vocals. The band’s ability to switch from full on Prog mode into heavier territories is perfectly showcased in the magical “Sirens”, a very engaging song full of technical wizardry and engaging melodies.

Opening with a dramatic overture, the release sets a very cinematic opening that quickly shapes into the catchy futuristic vibes of “Major Threat”, a complete banger that sets the mood for a very lively release. Masterfully crafting an aural journey, the listener will be quickly immersed in this release as tracks like “Leather Temple”, and “She Rules the Ruins” blast their way around dramatic synth arrangements and masterful tempo changes.

As one of the most epic tracks in this release, “Start Your Engines” gives that euphoria that one used to get when playing video games in the 80/90’s thanks to its video game-esque aesthetics and progression. With its post-apocalyptic vibes, this release delivers crafty songs like “Neon Requiem”, our favorite “The Misfits The Rebels”, and the panic-inducing “Speed or Perish”. Perfectly bringing up-tempo passages alongside darker and more atmospheric parts, Carpenter Brut is a master of futuristic atmospherics.

Being not only exclusively a Metalhead, we have been to festivals like WGT and M’era Luna where outfits like Carpenter Brut create impressive ambiance and while some of those artists have managed to cross over a bit into Metal, this French outfit has managed to climb up the ranks quite quickly with epic songs, just like the excellent tracks in “Leather Temple”. Always with imposing stage presence and a very high-octane energy, we can’t wait to hear songs from this release live during the band’s upcoming North American tour in 2025.

Rating: 95/100