Horns of Hattin

As a rule, American rockers who try to sound British miss the mark — instead of sounding like they're really British, they sound like Americans who are trying to sound British. That doesn't necessarily mean that they're untalented, only that they don't divorce themselves from their American heritage or their United States addresses. The Templars, however, are one American band that gets it right. Just as Teena Marie and Mary Ann Redmond are white soul singers who really do sound black, the Templars are an American punk band with an extremely British approach. Formed in 1990, the Templars didn't perform in Europe until 1997, but you'd never know that listening to The Horns of Hattin. These guys sound they live and breathe early British punk, Oi! bands, and British pub rock; anyone who still cannot get enough of the Clash, Sham 69, the Damned, and the Sex Pistols will have no problem getting into infectious offerings like "Demagogue," "Shift the Blame," and "Video Age." The Templars list a Long Island address on the CD's back cover, but they sure sound like they're right out of London, Manchester, or Liverpool. And the trio plays British-style punk with plenty of passion; on The Horns of Hattin, their performances are as confident as they are inspired. Someone who sees this CD's front cover without knowing what the Templars sound like might assume that their focus is heavy metal; the artwork looks like something one would see on a metal album. But make no mistake: the Templars are very much a British-style punk band, and The Horns of Hattin is a rewarding example of how effective they can be.