Music Existence Because of Music, We Exist
For over two decades, vocalist/guitarist Jesse Kazmer has facilitated various hard rock and metal acts, each part of an ongoing lineage. The Cleveland, Ohio native formed his first band, Puzzle, in 1999, and soon found his footing in the city’s competitive, cutthroat music scene. From the ashes of Puzzle rose Complex (2003-2005), whose DIY ethos involved putting on their own shows and recording and distributing several demos of original material. Following their disbandment, Kazmer morphed their remnants into Paperwerk which then evolved into Vessel Decimal, his first longstanding endeavor. The project spawned three albums, all of which expanded in stylistic expression and ambition, and lasted until 2020. While Covid-19 struck the world in March of that year, Kazmer became even more prolific, launching a total of eight solo stints: Evil Twin, A Pot to Piss In, Heartworm, Contraption, 00101101001, The Woodwork, UltraClown and Devil Stinkbait.
By the summer of 2022, alongside longtime bandmate, keyboardist Al Rossman (Puzzle, Complex, Paperwerk), Kazmer formed his current outfit Temple of the Diagonal. The band has since made the rounds with their debut album, Deviations, released on October 22nd of this year. They have also signed with UK-based metal label Face Ripper Records.
Having been a fan of Complex myself since the age of 12, as well as Kazmer’s subsequent projects over the years, I was pleased to learn of Temple of the Diagonal and their new album. On Friday, Kazmer came on for an interview to discuss the depth of its concept, and its connection to his past music.
Temple of the Diagonal Socials:
