Grails
Black Tar Prophecies Vol. 4
Important Records

Apparently not satisfied with there being only three Black Tar volumes, Grails returns with everyone’s preferred volume of choice, number four. An avant-garde instrumental band practicing a hybrid form of psychedelic indie zen, Grails (featuring, most notably, Emil Amos of Om and Holy Sons) occupy a  lyric-less expanse that exists somewhere between Steven Wilson’s Tarquin’s Seaweed Farm days and a side stage at Bonnaroo. The five songs on Vol. 4 take you on a quick but impressionable ride through the subconscious via electronic post-rock drone (“I Want a New Drug” and “New Drug II)” and dark, dreamy holistic jazz rock (“Self-Hypnosis,” “A Mansion Has Many Rooms,” and “Up All Night”), and while 22 minutes might not seem like a sufficient amount of time to get your full meditation on, it appears that Vol. 5 isn’t be far behind. So, as is always the case with Grails, there’s plenty in which to take solace.

Listen to “A Mansion Has Many Rooms” from Black Tar Prophecies Vol. 4!

#6 Priestess – Prior to the Fire

This one was a long time coming, almost four years in fact, and it blew every expectation I had right out of the water. After releasing their debut, Hello Master, Priestess was rolling quietly along until everything exploded; they signed to a major label, toured with some of the biggest bands in the biz, received increased radio airplay, and lent songs to smash hit video games. Fame, however, didn’t change them. In fact, they steered so clear of a commercial sound on Prior to the Fire that their label wouldn’t put it out. So that delayed things a bit, but Priestess finally found another way to release the album and despite the brilliance and success of Hello Master, there’s no doubt that Prior to the Fire is the album Priestess had always wanted to make. Stoner rock, progressive rock, classic rock, heavy metal…it’s all riffs and it’s all here in full bearded surround sound glory. And it’s completely perfect. This is my band, no doubt about it.

Listen to “The Firebird” from Prior to the Fire!

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