25 February 2010 (gig)
27 February 2010
Usually the last date of a European tour can feel and sound like a gas less engine. Priestess from Montreal Canada were set to light up a darkened Underworld, being they’re first european tour, the place was packed with expectation, even though Priestess were the support for tonight, it felt like the awaiting hopes were for Priestess.
They opened with 'The Gem’ an epic eight minute progtastic beast from the latest album 'Prior To The Fire’. All eight minutes are needed, with chugging verses and a chorus that should be in every 'Dummy’s guide to Head banging’ book, the medieval sounding breakdown right up until the last note, keeps the listener satisfied.
Tonight's set is heavily filled with songs from the latest album, which has a more mature and diverse range than the previous 'Hello Master’, a Mastodon feel within it, but still stands out due to Mikey Heppner’s (lead vocals, lead guitar) distinct vocals, pushing the songs on a musical uproar.
'Two Kids’ was the first in the set from 'Hello Master’ with Dan Watchorn (vocals, guitar) taking lead vocal duties, with the powerful first line 'Two kids found dead in the water’ its stoner rock vibe drilling into your ears like a distorted audio book.
'Lunar’ another from the latest, where we are treated to Vince Nudo’s (drums, vocals) storming vocals, a vintage metal sound which is a pleasure to watch, not substituting one for another with both vocals and drumming sounding fantastic.
With many people knowing Priestess by the song 'Lay down’ which was featured in the Guitar Hero game, An absolute defining song as it may be, there is still much much more to Priestess. With the promoting of the song doing wonders for the bands status.
Tonight when played it instantly brings out the appreciation of what a game can do for a song. One of the most heavy and distinct guitar riffs of the last ten years in my opinion.
The band end with 'Trapped In Space & Time’ fast paced, Mikey Heppner’s vocals raw and pushing, the song invites you into its realms of intricate guitar work and time signatures, breaking with another palm muted workhorse then flooding in with a fitting solo.
The recent release of 'Prior To The Fire’ should get the band known as one of the upcoming gems of this generation.
www.myspace.com/priestess
