When a band releases an eponymous album, two things are clear: first, they mean business, and second, they are extremely confident in the sound they developed to represent who they are as a band. Conversely, this is also the reason why self-titled albums are so far and few between. Finnish hard rock outfit TEMPLE BALLS seem to have found and solidified their sonic identity these last few years and are gearing up for the release of their fifth studio album in their career. “Temple Balls” will be out on February 13th, 2026, via Frontiers Records.
“Temple Balls” is pedal-to-the-metal hard rock fueled by heavy and meaty riffs, a thundering rhythm section, and soaring vocals that coalesce to make this album one hefty and bold affair that is filled to the brim with driving and anthemic songs. It smoothly continues the Finnish rockers’ evolution towards a more refined sound, building on the energy and intensity of their previous albums, most especially “Avalanche” (2023). Add to that Jona Tee’s crisp production, which makes the eleven songs sound bigger, bolder, and generally larger than life, and you get a melodic hard rock album of the highest caliber.
First single released, “There Will Be Blood,” feels like a microcosm of the whole album as it perfectly encapsulates both the expanse of the sound design as well as the grounding melodies and high-energy guitar work. It’s a catchy number when it comes to the vocal melody, while the well-used melodic hook pretty much doubles as the song’s chorus. Up next, up-tempo “Soul Survivor” is the album’s party song, flowing with a wild energy boosted by a crunchy riff and a fun vocal melody in the chorus that will tear down the walls when played live. Though in reality it’s more of a bittersweet memento, being the band’s first release since the untimely passing of guitarist Niko Vuorela on October 30, 2025, after a three-year battle with cancer.
But since the show must go on no matter the circumstances, the band went ahead with the promo of their upcoming album by releasing “Tokyo Love” as their third single, another high-energy, dynamic, and engaging track that rides high on a very catchy melody and punchy riffs capped off by a blazing solo while the vocals easily soar above the instrumentals in what could be Arde Teronen’s best vocal moment on this album. The rest of the tracks pretty much follow suits each enhancing the album’s good vibes in its own way while keeping the momentum set by the high-octane opening track, “Flashback Dynamite,” going at a steady pace. In this respect, the second track, “Lethal Force,” is such an intense number with some hooky melodies and impressive guitar work that begs to be played as loud as possible, as it offers ample space for singing-along and practicing air guitar. Speaking of, the guitars on this album are absolutely stellar, delivering a waterfall of heavy, gritty, and punchy riffs and melodic leads.
Elsewhere on the album, “We Are the Night” starts with an almost country-like riff, thundering drums, and pounding bass, only to ebb and flow between mellow verses and a big chorus section with the drums making their presence felt before a saxophone comes in and steals the spotlight for a solo moment alongside the rest of the instrumentals. I really appreciate it when bands incorporate other instruments to give their songs a slightly different flavor. By contrast, “Hellbound” feels more straightforward with punchy guitars, high-octane vocals, a power rhythm section that moves everything along at a speedy pace, while the guitar solo is a real showstopper. The feel-good vibes are amplified by “The Path Within,” another hard-rocking track whose soaring vocals are complemented by the hefty, chugging guitars while the drums and bass create a solid headbanging rhythm. Up next, the chorus of “Stronger than Fire” is both catchy and rousing, carried forth by a dynamic mix of thumping bass, meaty riffs, and big-sounding drums, capped off by yet another excellent solo moment (I told you the guitars on this album are stellar!!). The final stretch of the album doesn’t let the quality drop, not even by an inch, as both “Chasing the Madness” and “Living in a Nightmare” deliver on all accounts, from big choruses, potent rhythms, flowing melodies, and grooving passages.
All-in-all, what a tour de force this album has turned out to be, no wonder it’s a self-titled one as this is TEMPLE BALLS in all its glorious intensity, animated energy, and melodic hard rock. Everyone has brought their A-game to the studio for this one, and late guitarist Niko Vuorela would be extremely proud of the end-result. “Temple Balls” is massive and dynamic, powered by punchy riffs, towering vocals, melodic hooks, and the insatiable intensity of eleven arena-ready hard rock anthems. It’s an album that demands to be listened to on high volume on your best speakers, and played even louder on the stage.
Written by Andrea Crow
Tracklist
- Flashback Dynamite
- Lethal Force
- Tokyo Love
- There Will Be Blood
- We Are the Night
- Hellbound
- Soul Survivor
- The Path Within
- Stronger Than Fire
- Chasing the Madness
- Living in a Nightmare
Lineup
Arde Teronen – Vocals
Jimi Välikangas – Bass
Jiri Paavonaho – Guitar
Niko Vuorela (RIP) – Guitar
Antti Hissa – Drums
Label
Frontiers Records
