Templars / Castillo

***The TEMPLARS' have long established their practice of releasing split 7"s with some of their favorite bands. Thus, it should surprise no one and excite everyone that "Lords Of The Sword" have returned to form with their first split 7” in a decade, this time with the current reigning champs of LA Oi!, CASTILLO.

This is the Templars’ first foray back into the land of splits since 2015, and also features the band’s first new material since 2017’s Deus Vult LP. Ever reliable, “Let It Burn” sees the band as fierce now as they’ve always been and earns an immediate position in their still growing canon.

Not to be outdone, Castillo offer up one of their signature earworms in “Where I Belong”, a three and a half minute stomper that demands immediate replay. If you’ve happened to miss the band’s rising star through the LA smog in recent years, this song should have you clamoring for their back catalogue.

Few bands stick around long enough to become contemporaries with the groups they’ve influenced, and even fewer can still match their acolytes blow for blow three decades into a career, but the Templars / Castillo split is an evenly matched punch-up that proves you’re only as old as you feel.

First pressing of 777 copies.