Review HEAVY TEMPLE ‘Garden of Heathens’

High Priestess Nighthawk, together with Lord Paisley and Baron Lycan recorded a new album. The trio, also known as Heavy Temple, started their journey into the world of riff-n’-based rock in 2012 and what they delivered in the beginning was a couple of EPs and a few singles. ‘Lupi Amoris’ was the debut album which hit the shelves in 2021 and the sophomore album ‘Garden of Heathens’ will be the next chapter of this exciting adventure.

‘Garden of Heathens’ features a total of eight songs and what fans can expect is furious blend of doom and psychedelia. Having the heavy riffs, inspired by bands like Black Sabbath (‘House of Warship’), in their repertoire as well as the psychedelic sounds of the 70s (Divine Indiscretion’), the trio offers a colorful musical trip. While being a riff-driven band, Heavy Temple also can rely on the excellent vocals of founder High Priestess Nighthawk. It is a very expressive way of singing, vocals that catch you attention immediately.

‘Garden of Heathens’ is also a very versatile album. Although being rooted in the above-mentioned genres, the trio manages to write and record songs that have a common red thread and at the same time offer the full spectrum within this widely put framework. In addition, each of the songs has a lot to offer. Take ‘Snake Oil (and Other remedies)’ as an example. There is the hypnotic beat and the desert rock heat that characterizes the tune. Yet we are facing a song with a nearly 9-minute running time and there is no single moment of boredom included. One just follows the band on this jam-like expedition through the universe of heavy rock.

Thrilling is also the final chapter of this album. Pure metal blasts out of the speakers with ‘Psychomanteum’. It is a fast-past metal track that entails a very solid groove and metallic power that, at a certain moment, reminds even of Slayer. Wow.

To sum up: Garden of Heathens’ is a great longplayer. The hypnotic heaviness, combined with psychedelic gloom and heavy intensity are soul catching elements of an universal voyage.