It has been almost three years since we had some HEAVY TEMPLE at the Metal Temple. On April 12, 2024 all that changes when High Priestess Nighthawk releases “Garden of Heathens” on the unsuspecting masses via Magnetic Eye Records. If you just count just full-lengths, this is HEAVY TEMPLE’s second album. If you add EPs, this is their fourth. If you add splits, it’s their fifth. However you count, it adds up to some badass Psychedelic Doom from the city of brotherly love, Philadelphia, PA.

What’s new with HEAVY TEMPLE? For one, they have a new guitarist. Christian Lopez joins the coven, carving out fuzz-infused riffage on at least seven of the eight tracks. I believe Lord Paisley played on the first track, “Extreme Indifference to Life.” The rest of the trio remains the same, Baron Lycan on drums; High Priestess NightHawk on bass and vocals.  

As you scan the titles on the album, you get the sense that there may have been some demons that needed exorcising—or maybe exercising—with this release. The album kicks off with a sonically groovy, vocally carefree track, “Extreme Indifference to Life.” This bluesy tune sets the tone for the rest of album, like any good opening track should. Lyrically it’s ireful and existential; musically it’s Jam meets Stoner Doom.

Next up is “Hiraeth.” ‘Hireath’ is a Welsh word that has no exact English translation. High Priestess NightHawk gives us her personal interpretation: “‘Hiraeth’ means, ‘a homesickness for a home that you can't return to or that never was.’” She then adds, “I started writing the lyrics about deep-seated imposter syndrome, but I think it's also about feeling small, and not only trying to prevent yourself from disappearing, but trying to regain who you are. ‘How can I love anyone when I don't even like myself?’” Yeah, not your typical love song there.

So far we have two tracks intonating some serious soul searching and introspection. That trend is broken with the deliciously titled, “Divine Indiscretion.” This is one of my favorite tracks on the album. It just breaks the leash and goes off for a long-ass (7:09) wander through the desert. The best moment is right at the 3:26 mark when shit just gets mean, like drop it in first and punch it mean. A good minute later everything somehow goes into cosmic slo-mo and we’re space tripping until the last 45 seconds when we kick back into overdrive again.

Track four, “House of Warship,” is a boots of lead Doom trudge which escalates to another heavy jam session. High Priestess NightHawk shares: “The lyrics . . . deal with being lied to or being manipulated, while pouring oneself into something or someone—and the self-loathing that comes with the realization of falling for that intentional deception.”

“Snake Oil and Other Remedies,” track five, is the longest track on the album, and also the most explorative. It has a ZEPPELIN “No Quarter” vibe at the outset but then shakes it off after about two minutes when the tempo races into a gallop that doesn’t let up until tomorrow sometime. This complicated, behemoth is my second favorite track. HEAVY TEMPLE at their natural best.

The tile track, “In the Garden of Heathens” sneaks up as an acoustic instrumental. If it was a few tracks earlier, we’d call it an interlude. Very mellow this one. Then we go from mellow to totally off kilter with the swaggering “Jesus Wept.” The first half of this track is all kinds of sideways like one of those rattlesnakes that move faster left or right than straight on forward. And then about halfway through, the band does their signature shift and it’s all blisters-on-my-fingers until the end.

The final track is “Psychomanteum.” I’ll save you a minute on Google—‘psychomanteum’ is a chamber with a mirror into which one gazes in hopes of seeing spirits of the dead. You’re welcome. This is best track number three for me. Essentially, HEAVY TEMPLE goes Thrash. No vocals on this one—because I’m guessing at this speed, no one could get to the mic. This is locomotive, jack hammer brutal. Fucking love it.

And that’s it. I typically don’t do all-track reviews, but what the hell. HEAVY TEMPLE comes from that Stoner Doom school with the likes of RUBY THE HATCHET and HOWLING GIANT. Top of the class that bunch. I can’t say “Garden of Heathens” tops “Lupi Amoros,” but it’s close. HEAVY TEMPLE has definitely hit their stride with this one.