Austin rockers Temple Of Love step into this week’s Meet The Band spotlight. Their debut album is Songs Of Love And Despair. Vocalist Suzy Bravo and guitarist Steve Colca introduce us to teir band.
Chad Bowar: Give us a brief history of Temple Of Love.
Steve Colca: Temple of Love began as a fun side project for Suzy and I after I wrote and recorded all instrumentals for a homemade demo for “Carrion Queen” in 2018. At the time, we were both fully involved in our own bands. Suzy was in Witchcryer (Ripple Music) and I was touring a lot with Destroyer of Light. On a holiday trip to my hometown of Kalamazoo, MI (on Christmas Day), Suzy wrote the lyrics. Later that evening, we re-recorded it with my brother-in-law, Chris Frankhauser, at Raygun Studios. When we released the single, it gained some traction as well as attention from seasoned Texas musicians, including our current drummer, Patrick “Scooch” Pascucci (Duel/Crimson Devils) and previous bassist, Kyle Juett (Mothership). After we recruited Scooch and Patrick, we reached out to Shay McCoy on second guitar.
By 2019, we organically became a 5-piece full band with a full set with a few shows under our belt. We recorded a demo with Grammy award winning song engineer, Anton Pukshansky (Helmet, Santana, D’Angelo); however, bumps by 2020, COVID-19 happened, and you know how the rest goes. In 2021, we recorded a Deep Purple cut, “Getting’ Tighter” with Pukshansky playing the organ for Glory Or Death Records’ tribute compilation, Bow to Your Masters Volume Two. Unfortunately, due to scheduling conflicts and the long traveling situation (Dallas to Austin drives for rehearsal), Kyle could no longer continue with the band in the direction that we were headed and the demand we were requiring to continue as a band. We will always be grateful for Kyle’s participation. We could not have started this crazy journey without him!
By 2023, as Destroyer of Light and Witchcryer were breaking up, we endeavored to record a debut full-length album with sound engineer Roky Moon at the helm at King Electric Recording studio. Unfortunately, in October 2024, we experienced the sudden departure of our bassist and guitarist. Although we were absolutely thrilled with Roky’s production work on this album, due to our ever-evolving sound, we opted to release “Last Call” and “Bury Me Standing” as singles instead of a full length.
In November 2024, in the space of just a couple of weeks’ time, we recruited punk and metal bass priestess Omega Trevino (So Unloved/Kriegblast) and Steve relearned all of the songs to cover both guitar parts instead of finding a replacement on guitar-just in time to embark on a Texas jaunt with NYC-based NWOHM trio, Sanhedrin (Metal Blade). This experience gave us the kickstart we needed to get ourselves back in gear and in the direction of being a 4-piece band. With Omega’s heavy driven metal assault bass sound and Steve’s writing direction, and Suzy’s vocals more aggressive tones, the band started moving more towards a post punk sound.
In 2025, due to time and other commitments, Omega had to step away from bass and we recruited Joseph Maniscalco on bass with who we had a recording project with, Suspiriorum. With that, we were able to raise funding to re-record a few of the songs from the initial recordings of 2024 on half of the album and the second half of the album features all new previously unrecorded material. This album is a culmination of our past, our present, and our future coming full circle.
Describe the songwriting process for Songs Of Love And Despair.
Steve: Ever since the pandemic, writing songs changed a lot for me. For the last two Destroyer of Light records, Panic and Degradation Years, I recorded all of the demos and instrumentations by myself and then I would send it to the guys. And then we rehearsed them and everyone would add their flavor to make it the band’s sound. Same process here. I started writing and recording a lot of the songs back in 2024. I laid down the guitar tracks, laid down bass, and put programmed drums on it. Then, we would go to the practice space and flesh it out. I always try to give the bass and drums total freedom to come up with their own stuff and can use elements of what they liked that I did. Suzy then added her vocal melodies and lyrics. I will say that when I started writing songs for this record, it was definitely freeing and just oozed out of me. That’s always a good feeling.
How did you come to work with producer Stuart Sullivan, and how was the experience?
Steve: Thanks to the Austin Live Music Fund, we were granted the opportunity to record with whoever we wanted. Our drummer Scooch had mentioned that his bass player in Duel, Drew Potter, worked at Wire Recording Studios as Stuart’s assistant. And knowing of all the artists and history that Stuart has done and had, it was kind of no brainer to take this opportunity to go work with him. Stuart has a lot of great stories, he’s fun to work with and has a great work ethic. We were able to hone in everything and get it knocked out in a reasonable amount of time. I’d love to work with him again.
What will be your strongest memory of the recording of the album?
Steve: As a guitar player, recording guitars is usually fun affair. The first day showing up he’s got a Leslie set up, an old AC30 set up, and then I set up my Music Man RD100. We recorded all guitar tracks through all three set ups and that gave us the option to use different flavors when they were needed. I like the fact that he is a creative thinker and likes to think outside the box when you can go there. He’s willing to work with your vision, but also can help hone it in.
Suzy Bravo: Stuart advised me to eat a bag of salted potato chips and to drink spoonfuls of olive oil, which we had plenty of because three quarters of the band are Italian! So, I followed his advice during my vocal tracking sessions. I also love the story Stuart told me about the microphone I used to record “Devil.” On my final day of tracking, Stuart showed me a Royer 121 studio mic with the serial number “1666” in red on it! The manufacturer never intended that mic to be sold to the public, but he ended up with this mystical microphone after it was mistakenly sold to him. Stuart and I decided that even though that mic was not manufactured for vocal recording purposes, I’d have to record my vocals with it anyway. The vocal effects that came out of that was perfect for the song’s ambience – dirty, gritty, and raw.
What was the biggest challenge in its creation?
Steve: With the band starting in 2019 and then not really releasing any original music until 2024/2025, it was always a battle to try and decide which direction to take the band. You want to make your first impression on the world really count when it is time. It really wasn’t until I became the only guitar player that it really opened the doors that we could do whatever the hell we wanted. All my favorite bands did that, I got to do that with Destroyer of Light, and now we are doing it with this band. Although it was wild to take six years, sometimes patience pays off because I am extremely happy with this record and where the band is today.
How would you characterize its style/sound?
Steve: It’s a little bit goth rock, it’s a little bit post punk, it’s a little bit rock n’ roll, it’s little bit metal. We take pieces of our favorite artists and mold it into our own creation. The best part is when every member brings their own style and makes it different than maybe it was on paper. I feel like you could put our band on most shows cause we translate a broad spectrum.
What lyrical topics do you cover?
Suzy: The first half of the album, the “Love” part of the album were songs mostly written during the early years of our band. In the beginning of the band’s inception, as mentioned earlier, I was still fully active with Witchcryer, so most of my writing for that band was socio-political commentary and with it being a metal doom band, I was able to express the anger, fury, and tormented part of me that came out in those lyrics. But I wanted my approach to be different for Temple of Love.
I took this project on with an idea that I wanted this to be a tribute to my love for Steve and a return to singing songs to convey that part of me. For instance, the first song that I wrote lyrics for, “Carrion Queen,” was inspired by my moonstone wedding ring created by Bloodmilk Jewels from the maker’s “Belonging” line of jewelry. I started the lyrics with “Belong…”, then the words and stanzas began to organically flow into “You belong to your queen, to me. You belong to the earth and sea….” The song pretty much wrote itself, actually! So, that side of the album is thematically centered on feelings of desire, ecstasy, passion, with a pure unadulterated sexual vibe.
Now the second half of the album, the “Despair” side; now that’s a whole other story. The second half of the album was written post COVID-19 and during our current state of politically malevolent times, so I couldn’t help but harken back to my socio-political themes that I normally did with Witchcryer’s music. The beginning of that side of the album, the instrumental, “Paradise Lost,” the title obviously inspired by John Milton’s poem about the fall of man and the rebellion of Satan. History has it that this poem was written during a tumultuous time in England during a time when the country was experiencing a Civil War. Sound familiar? The following track, “Devil,” is a song about our shadow selves and when we are at our worst; that is, when we let anger, fear, jealousy, and greed get the better of us. When you look into the mirror and don’t recognize the person you see reflected back at you and you forget your values and who you are. The song is also about the demonization of women or those who identify as women, especially black and brown women and especially women who do not ascribe to a Christian-based faith and choose alternative lifestyles and not breeding children into the world. This song is for the demonization of us…and then the demonization of each other…no one is innocent.
Then there’s “Joke’s on You” which follows the same idea about the fall of the self-righteous and close-minded. Steve wrote “Save Yourself,” so he’ll have to explain the lyrics he wrote for that banger. The final song, “If We Could Fly” ends the album on a more positive note. I always try ending all of my albums for all of my bands with the feeling of hope. The song acknowledges that we are living in dark and extremely tumultuous times, but there can still be hope and can still get out shit together, unite, learn to just love, rise above the B.S., and find our own kind of utopia. Hope is everything.
What are your goals and expectations for the album?
Steve: Originally, we were hoping we could find a label for it, but with the way everything is backed up on time, we just decided to rip the band aid and get it out there. The goal is to get some traction and interest from new fans and people in the industry that want to help us take the reach further. It’d be great to play on some festivals, get over to Europe, get an opportunity to open up for a bigger band. We are just happy to say Temple of Love is here and we are ready to go.
What has been your most memorable Temple Of Love live show?
Steve: So far, I have to say La Semana Alegre festival in San Antonio. We got to open up for the legends, Legs Diamond. It’s a cool festival and vibe. It was honor to be included in that.
What are your upcoming show/tour plans?
Steve: We have two record release shows. One in San Antonio at Hi-Tones on 11/7, and one in Austin at the Lost Well on 11/8. I am also working on our first 10-day run ever as a band for next year in the South/Southeast in late winter/early spring. I hope to get a couple more lined up throughout the year. New records to sell, time to play some shows.
What are some of your non-musical interests and hobbies?
Steve: I like to cook Italian food, grill BBQ, and try different gins from all over. My favorites are the Irish and Scottish gins. I do plan on doing my own gin at some point. I love watching Detroit Lions football, Astros/Tigers baseball, and hanging out with friends. Other than playing guitar, that’s pretty much me. (laughs) Love being at home with my wife and cat!
Suzy: I have a home studio where I craft artisan herbal candles, and I am a metalsmith jeweler. I recently received an associate’s degree as a bench jeweler. Before COVID-19, I was always busy selling at pop-ups, witches’ markets in Austin, craft markets in San Antonio, and running an ETSY shop to sell my metal jewelry and candles; however, like most people, I had to stop selling at markets and had to quarantine while working as a full-time essential worker at Meals On Wheels when COVID-19 hit us. It wore down on my mental health, so I started a victory garden and I firmly believed that gardening, putting my hands in the soil, and spending time outside in the sun saved my life.
Gardening turned into a full-on obsession for me. I started working on a landscape design certification, worked at a local native garden center, and now I travel around the world to tour and work on regenerative farms- on occasion. I’m in the process of looking at graduate programs that integrate studies in food sustainability with regenerative farming. Other than that, I have a home studio where I craft artisan herbal candles and continue designing metal jewelry. I’m also a cat lady obsessed with my cat/daughter, Fulci and I’ve been a pure lover of horror movies since I was a child. I love watching British gardening shows and Downton Abby with Steve. There’s nothing as hilarious as watching a British drama series or gardening shows with Steve’s commentary.
What’s the best thing you binge-watched recently?
Steve: I mean, it’s October, so it’s binge watching all the horror movies. The Exorcist, The Exorcist III, Nightmare on Elm Street franchise. Gotta wait a little longer for the Halloween franchise and Night of the Demons.
Suzy: As Steve says, we’ve been doing Halloween hardcore at home this month and watching Joe Bob Briggs when his specials come on. Other than that, I start my day with Gilmore Girls, and I end it with Gardener’s World. Monty Don is the shit!
What’s currently in your musical heavy rotation?
Steve: I’ve been trying to keep up with new music as much as I can and not fall in my old man ruts of listening to 90s grunge all the time. The new Goya, Messa, Deftones, Paradise Lost records have been in a recent, constant rotation.
Suzy: I’ve been revisiting my absolute love of Concrete Blonde and am exploring Johnette Napolitano’s work since then. She is such an inspiration musically and in life. I’ve been listening to the new Division Men’s (El Paso) self-released album Hymns and Fiery Dances, Mean Mistreater’s Do or Die, and all of Sharon Van Etten’s catalogue.
Anything else you’d like to mention or promote?
Steve: Songs of Love and Despair drops on 11/7. Give it a listen! Thank you for your support!
Suzy: Steve and I are also in a Plasmatics/Wendy O Williams tribute band called Tits Out that I started back in 2022. It’s a fun band and a riot! We’ve done a few Texas shows with Sammy (Acid Bath) and Ben from Goatwhore with their Celtic Frost tribute band, Morbid Tales a couple of Halloween weekends ago and have performed a few special sets with original guitarist/Plasmatics co-founder, Richie Stotts. We’re working on doing more shows with Richie in the future, so if you’re a fan of the Plasmatics or WOW, keep an eye out for us! It’s an experience you’ll never forget! We chainsaw guitars in half, sledgehammer gourds-among many other things, and Steve wears a tu-tu! Ta-tas and tu-tus, what else do you need in life?!
(interview published November 8, 2025)
Listen To Temple Of Love – “If Sighs Could Kill”
