It's not just the roaring screams, skewed guitar noise, and offbeat-drumming that makes Temple of the Morning Star so daunting and visceral. It's the stuff in between--the ominous melodic intros, demented phone conversations, and disjointed sound bytes--which provides truly essential listening for disgruntled postal employees. Instead of just weaving fanciful tales of darkness and depravity, Today is the Day seem determined to engulf their listeners within the sonic madness, and send them spiraling off into the abyss. In other words, this is homicidal listening at its best. --Jon Wiederhorn