I now know how the BEATLES must have felt after having been to India for their spiritual guidance. Add to that the experience of mind expanding and enhancing substances, like LSD, and you will understand that NEPAL DEATH is bringing me an experience I never have undergone before. On their latest effort “Pilgrims and Psychonauts” they are taking me paces I have never visited before, making me aware that even though I adore my Metal, I also still have a lot of love left for music that doesn’t exactly fit that bill. Back to NEPAL DEATH, a band that started life in 2019 and brought us their debut album “Nepal Death” in 2021, which of course I am quite unfamiliar with. After a few singles it is now time for them to release another full-length studio album, which is due on 12 September 2025 through Kali Psyche Records.

Like I mentioned, this isn’t really an album that should feature on Metal Temple, as it has absolutely nothing to do with Metal. If you wish to categorize it, feel free, but as far as I can hear what is being thrown at me could and should classed as Psychedelic Rock, thoroughly based in the late sixties.in those days there were a lot of artists that got their inspiration from India and its surroundings, and that is exactly what NEPAL DEATH claims to be their main body of influence as well. But before you await me slagging off what is on offer on “Pilgrims and Psychonauts”, you need to know that you are in for a long wait, as I feel that musically NEPAL DEATH is hitting all the right notes and making exactly the proper noises. In short, even though I at first thought that this wouldn’t be my cup of tea, I find that I am actually enjoying listening to the whole 49 minutes plus that “Pilgrims and Psychonauts” takes from start to finish.

The songs that NEPAL DEATH writes and plays make sense, sound good and have that certain kind of quality that will get you listening, whether you are prepared for it or not. Some are mellow, some are a little more direct, but what they all are is easy on the ears and brain, and once you get passed the Psychedelic bit of the Rock you start to realise that these Swedes actually form a really good band. I’ll also be honest and tell you that I don’t know if I could hack a live concert from these guys, but as a studio album “Pilgrims and Psychonauts” has positively surprised me. I wonder, would the debut album “Nepal Death” do that as well? I feel it’s time to find out and take another trip.