In a time when stoner bands, are ten a penny and often little more than glorified Black Sabbath or Sleep tributes, Heavy Temple offer a masterclass in how to show love for your heroes but keep the music fresh and interesting.

The female-fronted, US trio’s sophomore EP, Chassit (Ván), is four tricks of all-killer, no-filler, psychedelic doom. More rocking and direct than the band’s impressive self-titled début EP, Chassit represents a different – but no less enjoyable – side of the band.

Opener ‘Key and Bone’ starts with a lazy, Sleep-like swagger before heading off in a heavier, more direct jam. Despite only being four minutes long it’s a song of two distinct halves and a big statement to open the EP.

The eight-minute ‘Ursa Machine’ brings the pace back down; swampy psychedelia permeates the speakers at a creeping pace, while High Priestess Nighthawk shows off her impressive vocals. Again the second half builds to a riff-lead headbanging session that was worth the wait.

‘Pink Glass’ is all dirty fuzzy grooves that have a certain aura of Led Zeppelin about it, before retreating almost entirely into its shell and rebuilding the entire song from a silent standstill. It’s brave song-writing in a time when attention spans are meant to be decreasing.

The excellently titled ‘In Court of the Bastard King’ starts as a simple enough stomping rocker that subtly grows into a galloping space trip complete with cosmic guitar solos.

Chassit is half an hour of unpolished, rough-around-the-edges stoner and doom. Balancing nostalgic nods with some crafty song writing and impressive performances, Heavy Temple could be something a bit special in the future. Full-length release soon, please.

8.0/10

DAN SWINHOE