ALBUM REVIEW: Temple – Supernaughty

With an impressive debut by the name of Vol.1 back in 2018, Italian stoner rock four piece SUPERNAUGHTY bring a triumphant return with sophomore album Temple. Having found their origins in the desire to play BLACK SABBATH riffs, the band evolved to create a charged, heavy sound in their original work.

Cracking start from The Way I Wish to Die there’ a massive stoner sound that you’d expect from SUPERNAUGHTY. The sleaze of the fuzz and the smooth translation between the dance-able and the throw-down tempos, with a pretty decent solo that makes the whole package great fun. With a little more build up and atmospherics before booming into existence, Biogrinder boasts a much thicker rhythmic section that adds a dangerous ting of aggression.  This is the desert stylings of biker gangs of old, the “fuck it up and walk away” kind of rock and roll anthem that fans of KYUSS and QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE will appreciate. It’s final moments of balls out, table flipping chugging are enough to make this a song for repeat listens.

Hellboar has a fun little intro, and keeps to the same tonal stylings as it’s predecessor. You can count on SUPERNAUGHTY to not take themselves too seriously, but their persuasion towards a heavy, almost sludge sound in moments couples so well with the full frontal blues any hard rock fan will be hard pressed not to keep from throwing on a leather jacket and stop their heads from bobbing. Warehouse Demon is by far the doomiest of the tracks so far, but really plays with some CROBOT style imagination. The pace is tempered, but by no means subdued, more like a beast awaiting it’s moment to strike, drawing you in with hypnotic vocals and psychedelic blues, crooning guitars and chunky bass notes. Once it finds its moment, a hammering of sublime rock and roll ties everything together.

Our interlude Plug is a moment of vibrating, scratching, snapping sounds that adds a little tension to the start of the next track, but probably didn’t warrant being a standalone moment. Still, it works to break up the record into two parts, as Temple kicks in. Speaking of, as the best song so far, Temple is the nastiest, acidic kind of fuzz you could wish for. Tumbling, psychedelic and menacing, this is the perfect stoner rock for a bitter moment, a hallucinogenic nightmare that plays with MASTODON sounds but with a more grounded blues feel. It’s tasty from start to end, and doesn’t pull its punches.

If you thought you would have time for a breather before the end, penultimate track Here Comes the Argonauts blasts through like a bad-tempered bull, telling a tale of brazen Greek legends in a style you’ve never put to this story before. How knew that tales of stormy seas, witches and monsters could work so well with battering, whooping guitars and smooth rock vocals? Well, everyone, not least SUPERNAUGHTY, who have made a cracker of a song and clearly had a blast every second of it, with sweet soloing and a hook that is sure to be an ear worm long after you’ve heard its final notes.

BiGB has a lot to content with as the final moment on the album, but once more SUPERNAUGHTY deliver a chugging monstrosity, managing to get foot stamping groove, with enjoyable and joyous vocals you just want to shout along to. It’s a highlight for sure, and well worth the all-out riotous journey to get to it.

For a second record, SUPERNAUGHTY have smoothed through any first album issues and delivered a booming, sleazy blues rock album that will have any desert and stoner rock fans rioting in their own living rooms. Your house might suffer heavy damage if you submit to the awesome good fun of Temple, and it’s worth every moment.

Rating: 8/10

Temple is out on May 8th via Argonauta Records.

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