The unforgiving and steamy days of summer still are several months away where I am, which is fine by me as it’s much easier to exercise my working breed dog who demands it. I am not in that headspace or anywhere near it, so music that fits that time of year doesn’t always strike when it’s 50 one day, 20 the next.

“The Weight of Life,” the second record from Portuguese doom band Lord of Confusion will feel just right in late July/early August when asphalt streets are unforgiving and exercising the dog must be done in sections. But that didn’t prevent these seven songs and 52 minutes from resonating heavily now. The band—vocalist/keyboardist Carlota Sousa, guitarist Danilo Sousa, bassist/vocalist João Fonseca, drummer Nelson Figueiredo—conjures something that sets fire in your belly, mixing traditional doom, dreamier melodies, and harshness seamlessly. The longer songs here never feel like they’re dragging weight and always hit with power, while the shorter ones get in, wreck, and leave.

“Life Is Heavy” opens and basks in noise buzz and trudging guitars, Sousa’s singing soaring as roars pound you from the other direction. Organs simmer as the spookiness increases, the mix of clean and harsh vocals powering to the end. “Dead Tree Poetry” has the bass plodding and organs swelling, the singing bellowing, giving off thick smoke as the energy soars. Filthy might takes over, guitars simmering and coating your face, howls crushing as Sousa’s singing stings the senses. Keys hypnotize as the pace drubs, blistering with fiery power and stacking bones. “Wander” burns, the singing/growling making for ideal dueling personalities, the steam getting thicker as the cloud coverage increases. Organs bubble as psychedelic colors encircle, the guitars taking off as the soloing ignites. The tempo smothers as alluring power lures you in, keys whirring and disappearing into the sky.

“Save Your Tears” pulls back a bit, Sousa’s singing softening as the guitars take a bluesier bend. Organs glide as the guitars stretch, the pacing feeling dreamy and foggy, everything dripping into oblivion. “Afflatus” is punchy, singing and growling menacing, psyche fire spitting nails, the pace clouding your mind. Vicious howls ripple as the guitars catch fire, the keys glisten and hypnotize, and the power mashes, sounds slowly disintegrating. “Violet Visions” is the longest track, running 12:53 and leaning into welling singing and a tempo that swings pretty hard. Again, the band turns into foggy blues, the pace getting tougher, roars echoing off walls, the organs conjuring an intoxicating mist. The playing then trudges harder, gushing and swarming, the sounds reverberating like sires, bashing and swirling into muscular dizziness. Closer “We Are Here” is a cosmic woosh, hurtling through the stars, keys sending light beams, the drums tapping and triggering a final echo.

“The Weight of Life” is a major step forward for Lord of Confusion, and their brutal blend of psychedelic doom works through your bloodstream and through your brain. The balance of haunting melodies and skull-driving intensity work extremely well, and if this record gets in front of enough people, their profile should increase significantly. This will leave you bruised and bloody, and you’re probably going to enjoy the beating.

For more on the band, go here: https://lordofconfusion.bandcamp.com/

To buy the album, go here: https://morbidandmiserable.bandcamp.com/album/the-weight-of-life

For more on the label, go here: https://morbidandmiserable.com/