TEMPLES ON MARS are an alternative progressive rock band from London (UK), featuring James Donaldson (guitar/vocals), Gerald Gill (guitar), Daz Carikas (bass), and Dean Gibb (drums).

 The band return with their second full-length album, The Last Ship — a sonically expansive and emotionally charged release that marks a bold evolution in their sound. Building on the foundations of their critically acclaimed self-titled debut, Temples on Mars, and the darker, electronic-leaning textures of the Parallels V.1 EP, the new album pushes the band’s creative boundaries further than ever before.

Recorded over several years between studios in London and Los Angeles, The Last Ship spans ten tracks and captures a band fully confident in their identity. The result is a dynamic fusion of crushing heaviness, warm electronic elements, and hook-driven songwriting — a sound the band distills into five words: accessible, heavy, atmospheric, warm, hooks.

 From the anthemic urgency of “Sleepwalking Into Extinction” to the soaring introspection of “Daydreamer” — both of which reached the Radioscope Top 40 Rock Charts in Donaldson’s native New Zealand — and the grungy, existential weight of third single “Smile”, the album balances immediacy with depth. Lyrically, The Last Ship poses a central question to the listener: what would you do if you only had one day left to use?

 The album was recorded with longtime collaborator Paul Matthews (with guitars and vocals tracked in London), mixed and co-produced by Daz Carikas and James Donaldson, and mastered by Grammy Award-winner Ted Jensen at Sterling Sound in Nashville. Drums were recorded both in Los Angeles with Josh Freese (Foo Fighters, A Perfect Circle, Nine Inch Nails) and in London with Dean Gibb.

 Temples on Mars have previously earned acclaim through appearances at Download UK, Radar Festival, Euroblast, and Planet Rock Winter’s End, alongside a headline tour of South Africa and multiple international support slots. With The Last Ship, the band further cement their place on the global rock stage — seamlessly blending progressive ambition with arena-ready hooks and immersive atmospheric depth.