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…in a way that feels both modern and subversively retro-like. The album builds its own character, blending the classic tenets of doom with a genuine undercurrent of countercultural curiosity.
“Garden of Heathens”, Heavy Temple’s latest album, brings together the trio’s doom, psychedelic, and heavy rock pedigree in a fanzine-inspired, unbiased tone. The band—High Priestess Nighthawk (vocals/bass), Lord Paisley (guitar), Baron Lycan (drums)—sticks to the genre’s roots but isn’t afraid to explore new textures, balancing retro identity with modern nuances.
Across tracks like “Extreme Indifference to Life”, the opener offers a slow, sludgy doom vibe, with Nighthawk’s vocals standing out—restrained, but distinct. Songs like “Hiraeth” and “House of Warship” present gritty riffs that strongly define the group’s identity. In the album’s midsection, longer tracks such as “Divine Indiscretion” and “Snake Oil (And Other Remedies)” strike a balance between acid-psychedelic touches and structured, classic doom, with repeated listens revealing variety rather than mere sprawl.
Vocals often stick to a familiar haunting occult rock approach, while influences range as far as Jefferson Airplane and Soundgarden. On energetic cuts like “Jesus Wept”, the band temporarily steps outside doom’s usual restraint for galloping heavy metal. “In the Garden of Heathens” nods to Beatles-esque sitar psychedelia, while the closing track “Psychomanteum” edges towards thrash with its rapid, wordless drive. This diversity is arguably the album’s greatest strength—and, at times, a wandering weakness—lending a kind of musical courage that suits a occult sensibility.
Heavy Temple thematically strives to move beyond traditional doom/stoner templates; their tongue-in-cheek song titles and retro sensibility steer clear of overtly satanic or occult clichés, heading instead for a distinctly alternative spirit. Lyrics pull together religious metaphors, the lost American dream, relationships, and self-questioning, giving the album an intimate, authentic meaning.
“Garden of Heathens” stretches from retro heavy rock to modern doom, at times wayward but always authentic. For the fanzine-minded listener, it’s not a destructive or escapist project but proof that many shades and genres can coexist. The band sometimes seems to be searching for themselves, but that search is honest and relatable, a process the listener can share. With this album, Heavy Temple offers something for those who crave adventure in genre, welcome a hint of weirdness, and seek authenticity through stylistic transitions.
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