When the CD by a band called Shaolin Temple of Boom dropped onto my door mat to review, my heart dropped. It is without doubt one of the worst band names I have come across; something not mitigated by sleeve notes which helpfully translate it as meaning ‘kung fu of music.’ I shit you not. It is quite a surprise therefore when "The Equinox" starts up and what comes out of my stereo is a bona fide, rollickingly good rock album. Credit for this has to go to David Alvarez who appears to be the sole driving force behind Shaolin Temple of Boom. Alvarez not only sings, plays guitar and keyboard, but also takes responsibility for writing, arranging and producing all eight tracks on this album.

He immediately shows his intent with opener ‘After The Fall’ which begins with a blast of synthesiser before a pounding drum beat, gruff vocals and crunchy guitars which take this song down a street named ‘Mosh.’ It is probably the heaviest track on the album and I imagine that it would be absolutely superlative in a live venue. However, it is on the next two tracks that Alvarez really shows his talents. 'Relentless Fixation' is all heavy bass, screeching guitars and roaring shouts until a gloriously melodic chorus, not totally dissimilar to a prime Stone Temple Pilots, breaks in. 'Random Series of Events' shines just as brightly with its jangly guitars and another great melody. It is on this song that Alvarez shows another side to his vocal range with some notes from the upper range.


'I Would Destroy,' further demonstrates the breadth of his talents on this powerful, piano-led ballad and is a trick repeated to equally good affect on 'Always Everything' later on in the album. 'Last Day of the Sun' also blends heavy guitars and synthesisers to good effect before building into another winning chorus.

While this album may not be heavy enough for some metal heads, for anyone else who likes their guitars loud but is not adverse to a catchy chorus and decipherable vocals, "The Equinox" comes highly recommended. There is clearly a great deal of talent residing within Alvarez, and while the odds may be stacked against him in an era where rock and metal appear to be withering on the vine in terms of commercial success, he deserves a chance to break into the big-time.

Whether he can achieve that with such a dubious band name is another matter mind you.