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The departure of vocalist Alessia Scolletti in 2023 could have slowed the momentum that Italian symphonic power metal band Temperance had gradually built over the years since the band’s inception in 2013. Still, it paved the way for American vocalist Kristin Starkey (Jeez, referring to her simply as a “vocalist” is selling her talents short) to join the band. And since the arrival of the Twilight Force vocalist, Temperance have ramped up the quality and produced some of their best material, with Starkey’s debut, Hermitage – Daruma’s Eyes Pt 2, impressing at every turn.
Arcani is not a traditional concept album, but does have a theme running through it. Inspired by the Tarot, each of the 13 new songs follows a different card of the Major Arcana (a set of 22 foundational cards in a standard 78-card tarot deck, numbered from 0 (The Fool) to 21 (The World).
Temperance’s USP has always been the three lead vocalists that they boast of, and from the off, Arcani highlights the dynamics to be found between Starkey and fellow vocalists Michele Guaitoli and founding member Marco Pastorino.
Opening track, “The Fool”, is built around some gorgeous, hooky guitar melodies from Pastorino and brings a galloping feel to the party. Starkey handles most of the early lead vocals as well as combining with the others on the gang-vocals chorus, before handing over the reins to Guaitoli (Visions of Atlantis), who in turn passes the mic to Pastorino. There is clear chemistry between the three, especially contralto Starkey and Guaitoli, who handle the majority of the lead vocals throughout the album. If anyone unfamiliar with Temperance was looking for an entry-level example of what to expect, then this is a perfect place to start.
Guaitoli and Pastorino take centre stage on “The Magician: Into the Fire” with Starkey’s unmistakable voice providing back-up. “Death: Right Before We Die” has all three back on the pitcher’s mound and is a stunning example of the variety to be found within Arcari. Lighter than normal Temperance fare, there is a great vibe here even though it deals with a brush with death. Mid-tempo and hugely melodic, lose some of the riffs and drums, and you have a huge 80s pop hit. But why would you want to lose the riffs and drums? Insanely catchy, and you might just find yourself humming those melodies for days on end.
“The Moon: The Man of Moonlight” is another lighter moment with some 80s love going down, and a keys feel along the same line as Dio’s “Rainbow in the Dark”. Those vocal harmonies are to die for.
“The Tower: Lean Into Fear” is all Starkey. Hard rock rather than power or symphonic metal, the riff-laden gem is glorious from start to finish. Starkey goes with more of a traditional hard rock style rather than the huge operatic vocals that she is famous for (they can be found on the uplifting “The Chariot: Alla Ricerca dell’America”); the results are the same, though: stunning, and likely to cause some serious headbanging. It has to make the cut on the upcoming live shows with Kamelot, as should “The Devil: Sin, Sin, Sin”, if only for those infectious vocal hooks.
“Justice: Shame & Glory” is equally infectious. “Wheel of Fortune: Come and Call Me” has an electronic pulse running throughout in an Amaranthe-like feel, although not as cheesy, and is played at a thrilling pace with drummer Marco Sacchetto playing out of his skin, as he does on the bombastic “The Hanged Man: Petrichor”.
Symphonic metal is reeling from the shock departure of Floor Jansen from Nightwish, but there is no reason to sound the death knell for the genre just yet, as acts like Temperance, Kamelot, Beyond The Black, Seven Spires, and Secret Rule have consistently proven that there is more to the genre than the big three of Nightwish, Epica, and Within Temptation. How long, though, before Kristin Starkey’s name is touted as a potential replacement for Floor?
Three years on from Hermitage – Daruma’s Eyes Pt 2, Arcani not only matches its predecessor; it blows it out of the water.
Available now via Napalm Records.
Review: Dave
Photo Credit: Alex Verona
TEMPERANCE Live 2026/27
KAMFEST
31.10.26 NL – Tilburg / O13 (KAMELOT, Blackbriar, EXIT EDEN, TEMPERANCE)
Supporting KAMELOT’s Dark Asylum World Tour, Europe Pt. 1
w/ EXIT EDEN
01.11.26 UK – London / O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire
03.11.26 UK – Manchester / O2 Ritz Manchester
05.11.26 DE – Oberhausen / Turbinenhalle
06.11.26 CH – Pratteln / Z7 Konzertfabrik
07.11.26 FR – Lyon / La Rayonne
08.11.26 DE – Stuttgart / LKA
10.11.26 PL – Krakow / Klub Studio
11.11.26 PL – Warsaw / Progresja
13.11.26 HR – Zagreb / Boogaloo
14.11.26 HU – Budapest / Barba Negra Red Stage
15.11.26 RS – Belgrade / Hangar
17.11.26 IT – Trezzo sull’Adda / Live Club
18.11.26 IT – Padova / Hall
20.11.26 FR – Toulouse / Metronum
21.11.26 ES – Barcelona / Razzmatazz 1
22.11.26 ES – Madrid / Sala La Riviera
02.04.27 AU – Vienna / Szene
04.04.27 AU – Graz / Explosiv
09/10.04.27 DK – Roskilde / Epic Fest
