The Templars are an Oi! band formed in Long Island, New York in April 1991. The band's musical influences include Oi!, punk rock, glam rock and rock and roll. They have tended to purposely use low-quality recording techniques (their Acre Studios is a garage).

The band recognizes Perry Hardy as their full-time bassist and Chris White as full-time guitarist, even though they do not play on the albums (with the exception of Hardy on two albums). The band currently uses a lineup of four musicians for concerts, with a second guitar player, but still usually records as only a two-piece (with Carl Fritscher playing all bass and guitar parts, as well as vocals with Phil Rigaud on drums).

The band's name comes from an ancient order of Christian militants called the Knights Templar. Their focus on Middle Ages history is largely informed by Carl Fritscher (singer/guitarist) and Phil Rigaud's (drummer) studies and interests. A Templars album cover was displayed in a History Channel documentary about the Knights Templar. The narrator states that the legacy of the medieval organization has influenced varied aspects of modern society, including as film, literature and "hardcore punk music."

Partial discography

Albums

The Return of Jacques DeMolay - 1994 - Dim Records

Phase II - 1997 - Dim Records Germany/Vulture Rock

Omne Datum Optimum - 1999 - GMM Records

Horns of Hattin - 2001 - GMM Records

Outremer 2005 - GMM Records

Deus Vult - 2017 - Pirate Press RecordsThere is also a compilation LP of their earliest recorded material entitled "'Pure Brickwall

Recordings' 6/92-8/92 and demos early 1993. First 4 track tapes!" which is labeled as being released by Vulture Rock and When Typhoid Courtney Drops, a possible subsidiary of Vulture Rock.

Split 12"s

Super Yobs Showdown (split with Red Alert) - 1994 - Vulture Rock

split with The Glory Stompers - 1996 - Knockout Records

7"s

The Poor Knights of Acre - 1993 - Sonic Aggression

Clockwork Orange Horrorshow (double 7") - 1995 - Vulture Rock

La noche de las gaviotas(sic) (aka Night of the Seagulls) - 1997 - Headache Records

Milites Templi - 2000 - TKO/Templecombe

The French Connection - 2004 - Bords de Seine

Out of the Darkness - 2008 - TKO/Templecombe

EPs

Beauséant (mini CD)- 1994 - Dim Records

1118-1312 (CD/10") - 1997 - Do A Runner/Go-Kart

I.S.P. Connection (with Stomper 98 and Vortex) - DSS/Cargo

Split 7"s

Powerfist (split with Oxblood) - 1994 - Vulture Rock

split with 90 Proof - 1996 - 90 Proof Records

split with Bottom of the Barrel - 1997 - Oink! Records

split with Lower Class Brats - 1997 - TKO Records

split with Wodnes Thegnas - Haunted Town Records

split with Gundog - 1999 - New Blood

Ivano + The Templars - 1999 - Durango 95/Pinhead Generation

We Stick Together (split with Stomper 98) -1999 - DSS Records

split with P38 -2000 - Disagree Records

split with Devilskins - 2001 - Oi!Strike

Battle for the Airwaves Vol 2 (split with Workin Stiffs, The Bodies, The Wretched Ones) - 200? -Radio Records

split with Crashed Out - 2005 - TKO/Templecombe

split with The New Chords - 2010 - Randale Records

split with The Cliche's - 2011 - Randale/Templecombe

Compilation Appearances

Anti-Disco League - Templecombe/TKO

Oi! It's a World Invasion! Vol. 1 - Step 1/Bronco Bullfrog

Oi! This is Dynamite! - Step 1/Bronco Bullfrog

Step on a Crack - Sound Views/Go-Kart

Oi! It's a World Invasion! Vol. 2 - Step 1/Bronco Bullfrog

Oi! The Gathering - Sta-Prest

Backstreets of American Oi! - Sta-Prest

Oi Against Racism - Havin' A Laugh

Super Yobs Showdown Vol. 1 - Vulture Rock

US of Oi Vol. 2 - GMM

Urban Soldiers: Tribute to the Oppressed - DSS/Longshot

Angry Punk For Urban Skunx - 45 Revolutions

Skins N Pinz - GMM

Skins N Pinz Vol. 2 - GMMMany exclusive tracks on 7"s or compilations have been later compiled on CD (such as Milites Templi) and certain releases have been reissued on different labels and/or formats (such as Clockwork Orange Horrorshow).

External links

The Templars on Myspace

Interview - in Under the Volcano fanzine

SPQR - Phil Rigaud's skinhead reggae DJ night

Hammersmith NYC - Carl Fritscher's clothing company

Waterloo Services - Phil Rigaud's T-shirt company