London’s Temples on Mars have spent the past few years building something ambitious, and it is coming to a head. The alternative prog four-piece, vocalist and guitarist James Donaldson, bassist and synth player Darren “Daz” Carikas, guitarist Gerald Gill and drummer Dean Gibb, are gearing up for their first appearance at Bloodstock off the back of their most assured record yet.
That record, The Last Ship, builds on their self-titled debut and the darker electronics of Parallels V.1, and it arrives with a serious drum pedigree. Josh Freese (Foo Fighters, A Perfect Circle, Nine Inch Nails) features on several tracks, and there is even a cameo from a snare borrowed off Danny Carey of Tool. Then there is the matter of the band’s newly built London studio burning to the ground. We caught up with vocalist James Donaldson for On The Radar to talk heavy sets, honest songwriting and one very dramatic fire.
First things first, introduce yourselves and the band to our readers. Who are Temples on Mars?
Hello! We are Temples on Mars from London. James Donaldson (vocals/guitar), Darren Carikas (bass/synth), Gerald Gill (guitar) and Dean Gibb (drums).
Bloodstock leans heavier than a lot of the bills you’ve played. How do you see your alternative prog sound landing with that crowd, and what are you most looking forward to?
We are playing one of our heavier sets, so hopefully that goes down well with the Bloodstock crowd. Everyone in our band are big fans of heavy music, so we are really looking forward not only to playing but also to checking out some of the huge bands that we are fans of, and other bands that are new to us.
The Last Ship builds on the self-titled debut and the darker electronics of Parallels V.1. Where do you feel this album takes the biggest leap forward?
I think we grew in the songwriting department and we really know who we are now as a band, and where we want to go in the future. On the earlier releases we were still figuring ourselves out in one way or another.
Josh Freese plays drums on several tracks. How did that come together, and what did he bring to the table?
This was Daz’s hook up and we realise that these kind of opportunities don’t come along very often, so we just went for it. Working with Josh was great. He brought some new drum ideas and, aside from being an amazing drummer, he was great to deal with and just a great all-round guy. He once sent us an email for one of the tracks asking if it was ok if he played a snare on the recording that he borrowed from Danny Carey (Tool). So we had Josh and also Danny Carey’s snare on the record! Guest slot next album Danny?
There’s a question running under the whole record: what would you do if you only had one day left to live? What’s your own honest answer?
My absolute honest answer would be to just spend time with my family and friends and do the simple things that I love the most one last time.
‘Sleepwalking into Extinction’ and ‘Daydreamer’ both broke into the Radioscope Top 40 in New Zealand. James, what did that recognition back home mean to you?
Top 40 is not our main motivation, but it was nice to be in that spot for once, so we’ll take it. We are a bunch of dudes that acknowledge the wins, but most of the time we are thinking about what’s next and how we can go bigger!
You made a deliberate choice to tune lower and push the electronic textures. Was there any worry about losing the accessibility?
The music industry is so diverse these days, and many bands that are not necessarily accessible are killing it with large dedicated fan bases. We never really factor accessibility into the writing process, we just write music that makes us feel something. The key for us is being ourselves and finding those like-minded fans.
Fans put you alongside Muse, Deftones, Karnivool and A Perfect Circle. Are any of those genuine touchstones for you, or do the comparisons ever feel limiting?
There is always some pressure for bands to say “for fans of” or “sounds like”, which I guess helps the listener in some way not to waste their time, but that does instantly pigeonhole you a bit. We do love all those bands and there are elements of all of them in our songs, because that’s what we grew up on. We are very much focused on the Temples on Mars sound and we never write with any other bands in mind per se.
Best tour or studio story you’ve got: something funny, something emotional, or something dramatic.
Well… we spent a year building our own studio and rehearsal space in a leased unit in an old London warehouse, which we completed in April 2026. By June 2026 the whole building burned down, along with our studio. It burned for four days: 25 fire engines, 150 firefighters, and it made the news! It was dramatic, emotional and also funny all at the same time, because if you don’t laugh you will cry.
Is there anything else you’d like to tell our readers about?
Check us out and give us a follow if you like it 🙏 ps Danny don’t forget the guest slot!
Keep Temples on Mars on your radar at RAMzine.
