Chaos and misery surround us on a daily basis as we navigate through health scares, political turmoil, and society at large being comprised of just enough assholes to make interacting with people not that worth it. People are trying to make ends meet, marginalized people want a chance to be able to live in comfort, and we balance relationships that often can be impacted by all of the above circumstances.

The members of doom crushers Heavy Temple—vocalist/bassist High Priestess Nighthawk, guitarist Lord Paisley, drummer Baron Lycan—are not immune to these things, and that comes out in fiery passion on their killer second full-length record “Garden of Heathens.” This is the trio’s second creation together (they have a slew of EPs and smaller releases with a different lineup that preceded 2021’s “Lupi Amoris”), and the connective tissue has strengthened into flexible steel as they play off one another and create a volcanic experience that should melt faces live. And yes, woven in are lyrics that dig deeper into personal territory, matters we all face, things that haunt us all, and here they are, laid to waste in volcanic madness.

“Extreme Indifference to Life” rips open with guitars reigning, sweltering, Nighthawk’s sultry howl rippling down your spine as she jabs, “I’m wasting my precious time.” The playing is gnarly and smoking, the guitars getting burlier, the soloing scorching and leaving your flesh charred. “Hiraeth” is fuzzy and punching, Nighthawk’s singing flexing, fuzzy pounding making your head spin. “Take it or leave it,” Nighthawk calls back repeatedly, the riffs encircling you in fire, everything feeling like a heat pressure build but also manages to be incredibly catchy. Everything lathers and takes you over, ending in a psychedelic storm. “Divine Indiscretion” brings heavy swagger that bubbles with attitude, the guitars taking off and making your blood boil, taking off and sprawling into a dry heat. The grime accumulates as a cauldron of ferocity overtakes you, quivering and quaking, turning up the speed and barreling toward a tornadic conclusion. “House of Warship” starts with Nighthawk calling a capella, her voice fluttering in your ears, warmth flooding over and covering you with waves, the pace burying you underneath a psyche onslaught that makes you see visions. The pace picks up and buries you under mind-altering slashing, the guitars rushing and leaving behind a velvet finish that’s coated with your sweat.

“Snake Oil (and Other Remedies)” slowly drips, the temperature rising in calculated fashion, slinking through the steam as the keys mesmerize. Nighthawk’s singing digs deep in your belly, the energy pulsating as the steamy push takes you under, the playing unwinding and spiraling. “On my knees again, waiting for you,” Nighthawk wails, everything around here feeling like an organism spiking your body temperature, leaving you gasping and writhing. “In the Garden of Heathens” is a hazy, sweeping instrumental interlude, gliding on a dusty landscape, almost like fingers tracing the sun-scorched dashboard of a 1970s Thunderbird. “Jesus Wept” brings muscular riffs and heavy crunch, the singing leaving an intoxicating aura, blowing up and snarling like an animal. The aggression builds as the playing spatters blood, psychic heat burning through your brain, pulverizing to a finish. Closer “Psychomanteum” is a thunderous instrumental, a song that would be great as a set opener for the rest of their run, that’s how volcanic it is. Guitars deface as the band hits a sudden thrashy assault, channeling glory days Metallica, coming at your bloodthirsty and hungry. The playing stomps and blazes, overflowing with flames and passion, ending the record with a knife to the heart.

Heavy Temple already had a stellar reputation coming into “Garden of Heathens,” but they take things to such a high level here, they’re becoming untouchable. Amid all the themes that run through these heat seekers is an attitude that defies the trials and tribulations that try to trip us up along our way to our destinations. This is a blazing hot record that jams its fist into your chest and refuses to let go, it’s aggression and attitude becoming so infectious, you cannot help but submit to them.

For more on the band, go here: https://www.facebook.com/HeavyTemple/

To buy the album, go here: http://lnk.spkr.media/heavy-temple-garden

For more on the label, go here: https://us.merhq.net/