Heavy Temple - Garden Of Heathens

2024-04-08 07:00:35

It was a little late bloomer, this “Lupi Amoris”, with that Heavy Temple her breakthrough almost three years ago. After several strong EPs, the US trio led by frontwoman High Priestess Nighthawk had finally found their oppressive, roaring doom sound, which was subsequently toured extensively. The concert tours through Europe and the USA brought with them all sorts of new impressions that, among other things, had an impact on the sound. „Garden Of Heathens“ is worlds broader and incorporates all sorts of fresh rock and metal influences, which repeatedly – and with increasing enthusiasm – submit to the big riff.

The opening “Extreme Indifference To Life” forms the interface to its predecessor, remains true to doomy sounds and yet sounds bigger, more massive and more engaging in every respect. This is due, among other things, to a magnificent singer whose appearance appears incredibly confident and self-confident. You can’t go wrong with the extremely oppressive, pleasantly grueling arrangement either – powerful, riff-heavy, dragging in the best sense of the word. The short, compact “Hiraeth” that follows significantly increases the beat rate, plays with stoner riffing and is dedicated to more classic rock and metal areas. Occult undertones and brisk muscle flexing know how to entertain.

In general, this second album is full of small and large beauties, with the epic “Snake Oil (And Other Remedies)” certainly playing a special role. Heavy Temple spend almost nine minutes here, skinning themselves repeatedly and finding audible joy in it. The increasing distortion and distortion of the guitars, the brisk rhythm section, plus the undisputed boss in the ring – the track gets bigger and crazier with every minute. Especially the increasing psychedelic rock forces that are gradually gaining the upper hand offer very high entertainment value. Here the trio audibly grows beyond itself – a real musical feast from the first to the last second.

Heavy Temple receives the well-dosed further development incredibly well. Although not every track reaches this high level, the presentation and the unity of this three quarters of an hour are absolutely right. In the constant flow of riff-heavy madness, the US band continues to grow, dares to do much more and is audibly strengthened by the stage experience of the last few years in terms of songwriting and presence. “Garden Of Heathens” is a self-confident musical feast of rocky-metallic darkness, intense, driving and enchanting in the best sense of the word. If you then consider that this trio is only just beginning to fully find itself in this expanded sound, you can feel fear and anxiety.

Rating: 8/10

Available from: April 12, 2024
Available via: Magnetic Eye Records (Soulfood Music)

Facebook: www.facebook.com/HeavyTemple