Just to be clear, NEW MEXICAN DOOM CULT is neither from New Mexico nor are they Mexican. They are in fact based in Gävle, Sweden which would also make them, uhm, Swedish. I should also say it is highly unlikely an actual cult, though they might hope for a cult-like following. The band has been churning out Psychedelic Stoner/Doom since around 2015. I know, that seems like yesterday but it's actually over ten years ago. They have released a total of four albums—two EPs and two full-length. Their latest full-length, "Ziggurat," was issued on Jan 23, 2026 via Majestic Mountain Records. It's pretty damned good. You should buy it and maybe light a few candles on a rock in the middle of the woods and dance around in a hemp robe while intoning the lyrics backwards, in Latin . . . or just get the album and enjoy it. I mean, we should all have limits.

A ziggurat is a rectangular stepped tower popular back in Mesopotamia. Had to look that up. That gives us hint about the theme of this album. And then several of the track names themselves—"The Church of Stary Wisdom," "Return to Babylon," "Criosphinx," "Sungod"—contribute to that ancient occult vibe. The album cover is adorned by a grinning skull with a kaleidoscope of colored gems pouring out of it, adding a sense of frivolity and opulence to the whole affair. So, yeah, perfect fodder for Psychedelic Stoner/Doom. And NEW MEXICAN DOOM CULT does it extremely well.

The album itself comprises seven tracks for a total runtime of almost 44 minutes. Vocals are clean and Ozzy-esque—that is monotone and frequently hanging in that upper range of low tenor. As a Stoner/Doom band, the rhythm section is groovy as hell, and the guitars are fuzzy as they are downtuned. Every track is north of five minutes, more than half above six. No interlude fillers, though several tracks do have a bit of an atmospheric intro which adds some ambiance and supports that whole desert doom thing.

My fav track is "Cloudrider" which is all kinds of groovy. The quintessential Stoner track. "Metatron" is another classic Stoner buzz with a helluva breakdown mid-track. I also really dig "Sungod," which just takes its good ol' time. I especially like the long bass intro and the trippy guitar flourishes. Eventually the track gets downright heavy which is exceptionally savory given the long build-up. The track then winds back down to the ambiance space and floats us out. And to round things out with a fourth, I'll circle back to the opening track, "The Church of Starry Wisdom" for its mean-ass riffs and zero fucks attitude.

Sweden is the poster child of well-refined, well-produced heavy music and NEW MEXICAN DOOM CULT is clearly crafted from that mold. "Ziggurat" is so good it hurts, like a well-tempered hot sauce that makes you sweat and lights up your endorphins. NEW MEXICAN DOOM CULT "Ziggurat." Buy it, ascend it, join it—whatever turns you on, but do yourself a favor and give it spin.