Templar- Witch Hunt

ARTIST: Templar

ALBUM: Witch Hunt

LABEL: Soundmass

REVIEWER: Matthew J.

DATE: 6-20-07

A gothic rock side project of Australian synthpop band Paradoxx, Templar's debut EP brings together over-the-top glam metal and a campy storyline of a demon-fighting super heroine. Frankly, the combination of pulpy fantasy art, ballsy Sunset Strip-style guitar solos, and clumsily positioned samples is bound to put off more than a few fans. "Cyclops" is campy hair metal aggression despite a solid goth bass line, for example, and "Minstrel" is a painful power ballad with Tolkien-inspired lyrics, like Led Zeppelin by way of Lita Ford. Probably the best of the bunch is the bonus "Black Plague" mix of title track "Witch Hunt," which improves on the vocal production of the original and adds a tempting dance beat, but unless you're a diehard Paradoxx fan, you probably want to avoid this entire CD.

Visit the http://paradoxxmuzic.htmlplanet.com/ for more information about Paradoxx and Templar.