Yama and L'Ira del Baccano Release "Tempus Deorum", an Album Hatched from a Heavy Underground Friendship
I first heard of doomy heavy rockers Yama by way of their 2014 album Annata, instantly falling in love with the sheer weight and raw delivery of this Oriental-themed release, especially the juggernaut of a song Hollow. Since then, this Dutch band has been on a hiatus of sorts, but the group came back in a big way this Spring with the release of Tempus Deorum, their split album with Roman instrumental stoner/doom outfit L'Ira del Baccano (released on March 28, 2025, via Subsound Records).
Yama
L'Ira del Baccano
First and foremost, you should know that Tempus Deorum isn't a collaboration that was hastily cobbled together. In fact, this heavy psych/progressive album sprouted roots a decade ago at the time of this writing when a friendship developed between the bands in 2015. Fast forward to 2025, and these seasoned heavy underground groups came together to create Tempus Deorum ("Time of the Gods"), with each band providing a very unique but complimentary contribution, a true yin and yang partnership.
Yama/L'Ira del Baccano - Tempus Deorum
Tempus Deorum cover art by Michele Carnielli
Track Listing:
- Tempus 25 (Sempiternal Rapture) - L'Ira del Baccano
- Wish to go under - Yama
- The Absolute - Yama
- Naraka - Yama
Instrumental artisans of the progressive stoner/doom style, L'Ira del Baccano supplies opening track Tempus 25 (Sempiternal Rapture) to the album. While it is the only song from the band here, it's a substantial contribution with a run time of just under nineteen minutes.
Tempus 25 was my first experience hearing L'Ira del Baccano and, based on their intriguing description of their sound, I wasn't sure what to expect (in a good way): "L'Ira del Baccano melt doom and stoner rock influences such as Black Sabbath, Kyuss, and Monster Magnet; the psychedelia of Pink Floyd and Hawkwind; the heavy-prog vibes of early Rush; modern bands like Motorpsycho, Elder, Monolord, and the Italian progressive heritage."
As it turns out, this is an incredibly accurate description of a sound that ultimately becomes cosmic in nature. Tempus 25 unfurls slowly but naturally, starting with delicate spacey tones, moving into more apprehensive post-rock moods, and culminating in a crushing, metal-infused collapse. Taken together, these movements represent a mesmeric but gripping journey, filled with equal parts awe and fear. Considering the Latin word "tempus" refers to time and "sempiternal" is a never-ending duration, it's probably more accurate to say that this song illustrates the concept of time existing in a vacuum.
Yama makes it very clear from their first track Wish to go under that they've not only retained but have enhanced their brilliant expressiveness and scene setting abilities. Along with the unfettered vocal delivery, ornate guitar work, and a traditional heavy metal influence, these elements allow the band to create the most vivid sonic landscapes. On The Absolute, Yama brings the doom like never before, as heard in the delightfully pressing weight of the track's riffage and buzz. This is mixed with just as much kaleidoscopic psychedelia as the song unfolds, ensuring it maintains fluid movement in spite of its sinister undercurrent. Finally, Nakara takes this heft and mixes it a more melodic vocal and a strong traditional doom and heavy metal influence. These styles move about in an intricate dance on what I'd consider to be Yama's most sophisticated offering to the album; Nakara is a song that's coldly futuristic yet warm in its pockets of vintage tones, very likely my favorite track on Tempus Deorum.
Overall, Yama seems to be giving a few more nods to the older variations of doom and traditional heavy metal than they did on their full-length debut. This is a tapestry of alternatively viscous and crisp sounds interwoven with ribbons of heavy psych, and maybe even a thread or two of steely, modern post metal. The dosages of each of these influences are re-measured for each song Yama provides here, adding a lot of variety within the three tracks. Of course, this also aids considerably in Yama's already impressive skill set when it comes to captivating mise-en-scène.
Final Thoughts
To say Tempus Deorum is a worthwhile listen would be a gross understatement. In spite of only having four tracks, there's essentially an entire album's worth of material here that, if you're like me, will accomplish two things: First, you'll be introduced to the mind-bending, spaced-out, but heavy-in-all-the-right-places tones of L'Ira del Baccano. Secondly, Tempus Deorum will prove that, in spite of a six-year break, Yama is stronger than ever, continuing to build upon their expressive and immersive signature sound in a big way. More than anything, this album makes me incredibly excited to see what the future hold for both of these amazing bands!
More About Yama
Yama Is:
Alex Schenkels: Vocals, Bluesharp
Sjoerd Albers: Guitar
Peter Taverne: Bass
Joep Schmitz: Drums
You can follow Yama and listen to their music at the following links:
More About L'Ira del Baccano
L'Ira del Baccano Is:
Alessandro Santori: Guitars, Loops, Synths
Roberto Maldera: Guitars, FX, Slide Guitar, Synths
Gabriele Montemara: Bass
Gianluca Giannasso: Drums
You can follow L'Ira del Baccano and listen to their music at the following links:
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