Temple of Venus are back. From their musical magical hat, they get out a promo CD with 8 songs that will be their "after" Endless?, CD we from The Holy Hour appreciated a lot. 
The new songs of this band from Bologna stands out a costant increasing of their capabilities in composing, a renwed approach with more open and shining sounds, a better adapt lyrics/music and an audio result superior in quality to the previuos works. Piero Lonardo & co. are becoming a band always more, tending to belie the people they called them 80's nostalgic and honestly keep on making music from nearly 20 years without losing dignity and coherence in order to obtain that "something more" they rightly deserve. When listening you can take a fascinating trip between past and future, as they are able to give new blood to the dark-wave genre , suggesting as only the founder bands of this movement could have done.
So they're here again, proposing theri music and giving us emotions until somebody will finally promote them as to transform those wonderful “exercises of style" in larger scale music, gratifying their work at last. We are waiting confident.
HIDEAWAY: It's the opening song of this new demo, immediately exhalting the approach to brighter sounds and a costant professional and creative growth . You can hear it by the recordings, by the strumental liasons, even by the more present voice, lead character of a great musical context. Remarkable are the keyboards and the hammering drum in the final.
FIRE IN MY HEART: The band has showed us in their previous works that they're very able with the dreaming and melancholic moods but, when listening to "Fire in my heart", I understand that their skill and sensibility take them to prepare real musical gems which stimulate our intimate and hidden side. This song cannot fail to let us fly high and direct the glance towards horizons distant from all the physical . 
TELL ME EVERYTHING: "Tell me everything" maybe is the best song of the demo, as it contains alle the faces distinctive of the band. Verses, inciso, music and vocals chain themselves perfectly, pouring out a myriad of emotions that surround us in the listening. A real giant steps by the band that really shows great skill in composing and musical texture. Great dark-wave guitars.
DON’T BIND UP MY TIME: The simple complexity of the song make the context of this track pleasnt and melancholic at the same time. The guitaristic liasons and the backing synthetisers are honourably accompanying Piero Lonardo voice, who shows himself a good performer of its lyrics.UNWANTED: Unwanted, electronic and introspective, remind us the sound dear to Martin Gore and his Depeche Mode. Its atmospheres catch the listener and let you fly on the wings of your thoughts, caressed by a prefect musical performance form the band and to the warm and soft voice that gently whispers the lyrics. Good the drum programming and very good the general balance that don't mix up themselves, making the sound clean. These are the Temple of Venus for the great occasions. 
YOUR NEW TOY: This track take the band to the sounds of their first albums where thery rfere more strongly to the punk and new wave. The members of the band have surely enjoyed this sound, celebrating with their willing and perseverance as a capital part of their musical taste.
#26: Hypnotic and suggestive, this song full of typical “dark style” patterns give to the demo the right approach to mostly fit into the band most preferred attitudes. It is a song that estabilish an effective point of return to a more interior and intimate way in making music, as it suddendly set a violent distance to the rest of the CD that reminds me in some way the surprise effect of “Hunter and the Hunted” in a fantastic and lighter context as Simple Minds' “New gold dream” . Remarkable are the effect of the guitar that gives an increaing emotional appeal to the song.
WELCOME TO MY MADNESS: "#26" ideal consecution, the last track act as a finale, resuming and regrouping the lyrical and melodic context offered by the Temple of Venus. The wondeful thing, when using a song like this one to salute the listener, lies in the melancholic musical satisfaction that leave us in the after. - Michele Perrella " 
www.THEHOLYHOUR.IT

Rock-n-roll with a sound of influence from 80's bands like Echo & The Bunnymen and Killing Joke; raw guitar riffs and melancholic vocals. Reminiscient of the college rock scene that R.E.M. and The Church came out of but with all the original hard-edge and punk undertones, evidently these influences have made their way to Italy where Temple of Venus hails from. ToV also has experimental interludes such that one usually only finds in indie rock, "Silent" is a good example of this, experiemental ambient noise backing slow guitar strums and solitary vocals, almost reminds me of Love & Rockets. "Settle Me" gets a bit Joy Division on us and "The Knowledge" almost turns gothic sounding. Sometimes the Italian accent sliding through on the English vocals sounds a bit odd but musically this band has great potential. While being mostly guitar driven there are some keyboards features subtly on the overall project and with some professional guidance and studio time this band could likely produce a very nice album. Being self-released and not electronic oriented I'd say they've done a very nice job. Along with this one I also received a preview of their upcoming fourth release which shows even further improvement. with enough exposure they could possibly gain a similar following as The Bunnymen or Jesus & the Mary Chain for example as this is mostly where they fit in genre-wise, something I've not heard much of in recent years and it's a nice change. (3 stars out of 5)
www.CHAINDLK.ORG (U.S. webzine)

When, young, you have grown up listening to the scratches of "heavy" vynils as the Cure's "Pornography" , The Sound's "Propaganda" , The Banshees' "A Kiss In The Dreamhouse", in the end (when you start making your own music) it's impossible to omit those keys that for whole nights were kidnapping you from reality. I don't see ENDLESS?, Temple of Venus' 3rd CD, as the last clone of somenthing that "has already happened" and "everybody has tried to copy" but, instead, as a sane letting flow by everything has been assimilated by your heart, all along these years, by that musical alchemy that filled up the ears of those boys.
Since the beginning of the opening track, "Abstinence", I want to see who can't find the guitaristic influences from "A Kiss in The Dreamhouse": go on, who's the first !!? The spontaneousness and the sincerity that emerge from ENDLESS? tracks are, as the cd title suggests, "without end". A dive into the eighties so sincere as the one offered by the Temple Of Venus is a sort of extraordinay. I swear!!
It has rarely happened to me to face with such a precise reading of the eighties, so genuine and succesfully. If you don't know, it is impossible to imagine that you are not in front of an english band; Temple Of Venus' heart is midway between the Manchester of Joy Division and Factory and the Liverpool which gave birth to Echo & The Bunnymen first and Stone Roses after. The rhythm section is excellent and, together with Piero Lonardo's voice, succeed in counterpoint, always in a delicious way, the psichedelic roaring of the guitar... 
Who knows.... If The Sound, The Associates or the Modern English would be still alive today (it seems Modern English really are!), maybe they would have released a record like this ENDLESS?. 
A records dedicated (and suggested) to everyone who has NEVER forgot the innerer and sincere side of the eighties.
ASCENSION MAGAZINE (Italian dark-gothic fanzine)

This band from Bologna, active from several years in the italian gothic scene, has released their 3rd issue. The CD must be applauded at least for the coherence with which the band has been tied to the glorious 80's sound. However, they deserve to be appreciated for the fairly original attitude they keep proposing this style in the third millenium. The sound in fact is heartbeating and sincere, without falling in a sort of plagiarize in which sometimes many other bands - famous or not - has run into. I am not completely convinced by the singer's quality, so much distant from the goals reached by a Peter Murphy or a Ian Curtis: we did not expect that, but the interesting obscure instrumental architectures maybe deserved warmer and more involving interpretations. Very beatiful is "Silent" with its anxious moods evoked by its sonic texture, neverthless involving is "Before" with its style “à la” Joy Division. ”In my arms” instead, remind me vibrating emotions from the Danse Society. In the end, it seems that the great lesson of the 80's has not only be assimilated, but completely metabolized by this band, which represent it in fairly original ways and well played, however.
VER SACRUM.COM (Italian dark-gothic website)

Temple of Venus has existed for several years, but they have only produced three CD's (including this one). Three records that represent an ever matured and circumstanced path. A path made of dark music and twilights. A path that derives from the unforgotten Joy Division, but also to their following derivation, New Order. Temple of Venus do not cut a poor figure if compared to that names that rage in today's world of "gothic", on the contrary, they succed in involving the listener in several moments of their "Endless?". A few games of light and a lot of darkness wind the fourteen tracks of the CD. It's no use to mark out a song instead of another. You have to listen to the Temple of Venus .
Laud to their perseverance and artistic coherence during all these years.
MUSICPLUS.NET (Italian music webzine)

If you are into the Cult, The Cure, or just 80s and 90s rock, Temple Of Venus may be just the ticket you are looking for. Guitar work reminiscent of early U2, and vocals that range from Jim Morrison to Michael Hutchence. The overall style is pure retro electric pop that has been all but lost over the course of time. Based in Bologna, Italy it was a nice surprise to find all songs done in English, and lyrics that are fresh via Peter Gabriel.
The energy is contagious as TOV spread the retro rock message with a modern rock twist. The CD, along with it's retro feel also adds some experimental sounds in the mix. A CD that will bring back some fond memories of that time in music's past, if you weren't old enough to know much music of that timeframe, I recommend you check out Temple Of Venus' 3rd CD offering with some catchy hooks and a definite Brit Rock sound that is bound to please.
A complete CD which pays homage to the genre. A well put together arrangement that takes a bold stance, as some have argued that time in music has drifted into seclusion. Upon first listen, I recognized the sound, after a couple more listens, the CD just grew on me more and more. Musically a great listen, off key vocals that are few but noticeable just the same. The sensible and stripped down recording gives off a strange familiarity where you find yourself in the local pub/bar band and Temple Of Venus on the stage giving their all to entertain. The songs are well crafted, and draw you back often to take another listen.
There are some great tracks, and some not as great, but they all fit together like a musical jig saw puzzle. Some of the tunes that are among the best. "Abstinence" , "Sister Maniac" and "Could I Lie" lead the race. Some other tracks are still good and with some polishing and slicker production Temple Of Venus etch their place in the music industry. A good standing CD that is sure to grow a larger fan base and better recognition. ( 4 Stars out of 6 )
www.RIKKREVUES.COM (U.S. webzine)   

A rainy day, a room, a dim light, a sound. I jump from my armchair, open the door and the postman delivers me a package, I open it frantically and in my hands appears a CD………… ”Endless?” by Temple of Venus.After a rush towards the PC, I insert the CD into the player and at last ………the music. Immediately a feeling of pleasure and then thoughts, memories, anger, melancholy and tears. This CD was transmitting me emotions and it was a lot of time (really a lot.....) that it didn't happen to me anymore!That music, together with the outside weather, my state of mind and my musical tastes, was taking me some decade backward when, hidden into the stairs of my house, I used to listen from my trusted walkman the music of Joy Division, The Cure and Siouxsie & the Banshees while wondering about my existence, about my future, about my role in the society and, when finding no answers, I kept on hiding in those sounds, in those songs which, even if terribly sad and dark, make me hope and keepin' on.
I've never stopped to love punk, dark and new wave and this band is able to savantly mix up their essences to obtain a strong and melodrammatical cocktail to really astonish all the lovers of those genres.
Listening to Temple of Venus is like to receive, all together, all the sensations and the emotions that used to give us in the past great bands like Joy Division and The Cure above all, The Smiths, Suede and Morrissey, with a musical, lyric and vocal naturalness of its own, as it is an exclusiveness of this band. I have to admit that, yes, I have been feeling good while listening to ENDLESS? and I have been delightfully surprised to learn that there is still someone making music with the heart and the soul, knowing how to give emotions. In the meanwhile I realized that it had stopped to rain........
Some words about the songs: Abstinence: Is a wonderful song with rhythm and melancholy that opens the CD of T.O.V. Piero Lonardo's voice is showing up, binded in appropriate high notes that imbue the songs with a drammatic theatricality (I shivered at the line "I will never catch my breath again"). Wastelands: Tease and strong atmospheres in the track two. Alex Duluoz' guitar work is impressive and elevated, supported with a harsh drumming (Alfredo Ottavi) well jamming with the bold and secure singing del vocalist, that once more show himself as the leadre of the band. Silent: Its hypnotic prayer-like mood are able to amaze also for the beauty of the lyrics, that exhalt the intensity and the thickness of the song. Before: A little wink to punk music and to the hit singles of The Cure and The Smiths. This is the perfect song to abandon oneself to an unleashed pogo; Very good keyboards. Piero Lonardo between Suede and Morrissey. Settle me: In the air are floating the spirit and the pop/wave guitarism from 80's style ( see "Lonely in your nightmare" by Duran Duran or "In between days" by The Cure). The crescendo ending guarantee emotions. The knowledge: From this song shine without veil how much "Cold" by The Cure has surely influenced the band. The choral interpretation is wonderful and epic, able to make it pulse faster even the heart of the most quiet audience. That trap of yours: The atmospheres and the sounds of this track are warm and melancholic. I heard it so well proposed only by Siouxsie Sioux' voice in the 2nd and 3rd song of the album "Tinderbox". After: The very beautiful lyrics of this song are caressed by the whispering and inspired voice of the singer. Listening to it, I revived emotions that only "Scar" and "Seeing out the angel" from Simple Minds (Real to real cacophony - Sons and fascination) gave me before, but the song has an identity of its own which don't fear any comparison; a candidate as my next "soulscreamer" song. In my arms: I found astonishing Piero's interpretation - in a playing/talking-style - and the incredible similarity with the high pitches, reminding to Robert Smith's. I enjoyed the lyrics, the excursions from minor to major chords in the refrain and Alex' backing vocals. Sister maniac: The softness and sweetness in the verses and the roughness in the refrain make Sister maniac an epic song, perfectly in style. Nobody's pawn: If you could, you would never let this song end, which penetrate in the innermost and raise the spirit. Could I lie?: Admirable are the arrangements of the guitars and the drumming which pervade Could I lie?, next possible hit of this CD. All around: The rhythm beat slow, the soft and warm voice accompany this dark march enlightened only by guitar phrases that clear up the whole blackness that the soul of the composer want to scream. Passion me: A melancholic song I suggest to listen sitting in front of the sea, watching the endlessness. This neverending interrogative, just like the title of this album, which is waiting for us, inexorable, and which maybe one day will share with our loved ones.
In the meanwhile, Passion Me ends with that touch of anger that preludes to the future in the music of the Temple of Venus - Michele Perrella
www.THEHOLYHOUR.IT (Italian music website)

Imagine to go back in time, we are not in 2003 anymore but in the early 80's , on the radio and in the charts roars The Cure's Pornography or the mighty Joy Division. New-wave and the Dark music are among the styles that crowd the underground and more, influencing the lifestyle of many people. A bunch of guys from Bologna, active since 1984, has stood with the heart and with the musical selection of these years, they are called Temple of Venus. Their first love were Joy division and we can state it even before listening to the record, by the name they chose: Temple of Venus, as old rumours say it was the first name Joy D. were about to choose before re-naming themselves New Order.
Now these 4 people - after some line-up changes it occurred in the meanwhile - have released their 3rd, recent work “Endless?”. A really good one in its genre, we're talking about New-wave, with a particular love for the psichedelia, good arrangement, very good cure for the melodies and the lyrics.This does not means that it lacks of naturlaness and originality; on the contrary, the songs run fast in the CD player: regular rhythms, obscure atmospheres, melancholic and sometimes suffering, with particular underlining for the alienation from the social and from the reality, with a vintage style that never annoys.
Very good songs I said, played well likewise, as Temple of Venus own a good technique, the bass player-singer Piero Lonardo owns an intriguing voice well moduled with a strong emotional power. Often you can lay to the sound exalting the significant better than the meaning of every single word, you can dream trapped in a nightmare as obscure as agreeable.
The experience and concord of the band come out to this records; if in any point the Temple of Venus would introduce in their future works some innovative factor, they would be more enjoyable for a larger public and it would let them do that "quality leap" - even though it would mean for them to abandon their musical coherence that seems to be indispensable in their project - but that, from an objective standpoint, the band deserve.
Good work guys, and a very good recording quality. What can I say more... a must-have for the lovers of the genre..
www.INDIEZONE.IT  (Italian music webzine)

So... let's jump backward in time,.. in the 80's between new wave and..new romantics, why not…this is the right place for a band like Temple of Venus, among the big names of those days with “Endless?”, which reminds to the alert listener the works from The Cure or treasures like The Cult's “Love” . An undoubtedly good work of his kind, with well cured arrangements, sometimes really sophisticated, without any lack of naturalness , a touch of psichedelia wisely mixed with the rights sounds and moods, involving , disquieting, sometimes perfectly coherent with the stylistic choice.
Endless? songs have been played in a state-of-the-art way and from the entire work it leak out all the band's experience, the concord and the passion for a kind of music which... stand in the heart.
Only a cue... maybe, a little giving in this extreme coherence, an attempt to add some innovative factor - I am sure will not cost any real effort to the band, will let Temple of Venus fly higher and higher, letting them have all the visibility they deserve with theirs potentiality. (Marked 8 guitars
www.SONICBANDS.IT  (Italian music webzine)

Endless?, 3rd CD from Temple of Venus, a band who walks the underground scene since the far 1984, will make happy all the 80's-new-wave fans . It is a 14 tracks officially released album . The records is opened by “Abstinence”, already appeared in the “Mostra i Muscoli della Musica” compilation issued by Dischi Acqued8 with a different arrangement (I personally prefer this new version); going on listening, the record allow us diving in the Joy Division and early Cure mood . Piero Lonardo warm voice works good: he h.as the right tune for this kind of music ; moreover his bass lines are simple but effective . Alex Duluoz on the guitars makes a wise use of his effects and shows a good touch in making solos . I guess Alfredo Ottavi on the drums has to be fed with "bread and Cure" ; in effect, many tempos he chose don't fail to recall the "three imaginary boys" . Over the opening track, stand out in a special manner: the ethereal “Silent” (Alex, are you a flanger fan too?); “That trap of yours”, a songs which tempo reminds me Cure's “Plastic Passion”; “Before”, with a very pretty guitar riff ; “Settle me”, with an interesting bass intro and “Sister maniac”. 
A really good test for a band who should deserve more visibility . 
www.BOOZE.IT (Italian music webzine)

Temple of Venus have now set their greatest work, wandering with skill through the late 70's new-wave and the first 80's.
ROCKERILLA (Italian music monthly magazine)

Very good songs and well cured arrangements, who testify T.o.V. skill in composing.
ROCKSOUND (Italian music monthly magazine)

Ideal tribute to Ian Curtis and Joy Division "18 May 1980" define the kind of music that the band can play better and which represent themselves greatly. The tracks of this CD are small inside hors-d'oeuvre faithfully written by the soul and transformed in music with the heart. If you think that they have been recorded and mixed in a week-end, the resulting delta from creativity and professionality takes gret value.
L.E.D. – The gloomy and pompous beginning flows in a aggressive maestoso rock that involves the listener immediately and that address it towards the style and the following of the CD. The mastership and the naturalness when showing its musical thread intersect itself with a surprisingly vocal interpretation worthy of the most famous singers of this genre. This first track, despite its catchy tune, is not a commercial one and preludes in a very good way to the rest of this CD. RED – The quiet and silence inside are characteristic of the track two. Well inspired, musically talking, the guitar arpeggios and a soft and well played solo stand out over the rest. I WANT MORE – Great track, great music, great lyrics, a lot of inspiration and self confidence of their musical means make “I want more” one of the songs I prefer among all T.O.V. production. It really takes a lot of skill in composing and playing to create a song so involving. BLACKHEART – 18th May 1980 ends with this rockish song with guessed bass twists that weaves well in the costant guitar arpeggio until it flows in a final where a choral exibithion of instrumental savoir-faire ends a very good CD.
www.THEHOLYHOUR.IT (Italian music website)

Temple of Venus hide inside their secrets rooms small and precious gems, able to amaze with their delicacy everyone willing to look for them.
MUCCHIO SELVAGGIO (Italian music monthly magazine)

Moreover, in spite of the actual trend, they sing in english, considered by them more fit to their sound. The good results and especially the effectiveness of the vocals - always up to in pointing out a sound wandering from the neo-psychedelic Echo & The Bunnymen and the dark-wave veins from The Cure and The Sound - testify the goodness of their ideas, in spite of silly nationalisms. MARKED 7/10.
FARE MUSICA (Italian music & instruments monthly magazine)

Listening to the Temple of Venus has been like diving into the english new wave atmospheres from some year ago, especially Psychedelic Furs, The Smiths, The Cure and Simple Minds.
EQUILIBRIO PRECARIO (Italian music fanzine)

Zig'd'Bomb is a good example of new wave with a dark tint, as it went in the 80's . It is an 'out-of-fashion' proposal, yet able to inspire intense passions thanks to a sequence of intriguing crescendos.
RARO ! (Italian music & collectors monthly magazine)

I Temple of Venus reach a modern sound, devoid of easy comparison, who surely recall - among the british new-wave - the one more similar to the new bands rather than the ones from the 80's..... It is just as Lonardo & Co. had passed by all the troubles without giving it up, but trying instead to update their style in order to avoid to remain statical.
MARBLE MOON (Italian music fanzine)