The Biscuit Merchant – Tempora

Metalcatto

Sometimes a project crawls out of the pit and dares to challenge us—the filthy snobs who sit around eating chips while we laugh and judge the hard work of real artists. The Biscuit Merchant might have the least intimidating name in Metal (are you a scout selling cookies?), but this Prog/Death Metal project comes swinging with all sorts of quirky moves. Also, the creator of Tempora came recommended by a friend (Am I in Trouble?), and remember: connections are more important than talent or hard work. Sorry, kids! So let’s get into it.

Tempora is exactly what any Prog/Death Metal fan could ask for. I could confidently compare it to acts like Piah Mater, early Leprous, or even Wilderun (minus the folk elements). It leans more into angry, MeloDeath-style accessible riffs rather than drowning us in pure melancholy. But don’t panic—there’s plenty of shred here to keep your awe levels satisfied. We even get an instrumental track where the cookie dealer pulls out all the tricks. It’s like a well-balanced sampler of what this musician can do, without turning it into a wankfest.

This doesn’t happen often, but I actually like the production on this album. It’s clean, but not overproduced or overly loud. It finds a nice middle ground that serves this style beautifully. I’m not even going to complain about the dynamic range for once. There are lots of proggy arrangements scattered throughout, but the tracks don’t feel bloated or dragged out. That’s where the MeloDeath influence comes in—it helps tighten the ideas and keep things moving. And can we just acknowledge how solid the guitar solos are here? They add emotional weight rather than just serving as technical flexes. It would’ve been easy to go full shred-for-shred’s-sake, but the project shows restraint and taste.

Now, do I have any issues? Of course—I’m not here to massage egos. Still, Tempora leaves me with very little to complain about. If anything, I’d like to see the project lean more into its proggy tendencies and pull back just a bit on the MeloDeath elements. But honestly, that’s a minor adjustment I’d reserve for a future album. The final track even hints at a more Dream Theater–esque approach, which was both exciting and a bit disruptive to the album’s tone. Still, it didn’t ruin the experience—just made me curious about what else this project could explore.

I expected that, with a name like this, I’d be clowning on the band harder than Black Metal clowns on fashion or Power Metal disrespects good taste. But no—The Biscuit Merchant is a hidden gem that any fan of Prog or Death Metal could easily get into. It’s complex and quirky, yet never pretentious. Somehow, it manages to create an emotional atmosphere that could work on your saddest or happiest day. That kind of flexibility is rare and deserves praise. Talking about snacks this much has made me hungry, though—see you next time!

You’ve got a small project and no friends in high places? Check the deal below!

Label: Independent

Release date: June 13, 2025

Website: https://thebiscuitmerchant.bandcamp.com/album/tempora

Country: USA

Score: 4.0/5.0