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Priestess - Hello Master

Rating

RIYL

Kyuss
Monster Magnet
Fu Manchu
The Sword

Label

RCA

Tracklist

1. I Am the Night, Colour Me Black
2. Lay Down
3. Run Home
4. Two Kids
5. Talk to Her
6. Time Will Cut You Down
7. Everything That You Are
8. Shakes
9. Performance
10. Living Like a Dog
11. No Real Pain
12. Blood

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I said it earlier this year in an article titled The Future of Rock, and my position hasn’t changed: This is the era of stoner rock. So far, 2006 has witnessed the release of numerous notable-to-sensational albums that could qualify in the stoner rock/doom metal categories; and we are just over half way through the year. The latest addition to 2006’s ongoing bonged out year is Priestess’ Hello Master released stateside through RCA Records.

This Canadian quartet formed in 2003, following from frontman Mikey Heppner’s punk band the Dropouts, which included members now part of the Stills, collapsing. Quite different than the Stills, Priestess explodes with AC/DC-meets-Kyuss rock n’ roll enthusiasm.

Again, following Kyuss’ blueprint for accessible stoner rock, Priestess isn’t breaking any new ground with Hello Master; however, Priestess accomplishes its goal: enjoyable, mainstream 70s inspired stoner rock. Although Kyuss may have already paved that road, other stoner rock giants like Monster Magnet, Fu Manchu, and later Queens of the Stone Age, have found success through relatively similar styles. Priestess is no exception to this pattern.

Following on the coattails of QOTSA mainstream success, Priestess is certainly looking for a piece of the mainstream, stoner rock action. Sounding quite similar to the aforementioned bands, in addition to the recent blow up of The Sword, Priestess blends melody with heavy, swaggering riffs. Unfortunately, a majority of the music is recycled, and the band doesn’t do much that hasn’t already been done – and been done better. Overall, it’s enjoyable because if you’re a fan of the genre, it’s fun in general, but Hello Master is by no means a necessity to your collection.

Priestess does, however, shine on a few tracks, which coincidentally are the band’s most 70s inspired and melodic tracks, like “Talk to Her,” the album’s best track “Time Will Cut You Down” and “Performance.” Aside from these tracks, Priestess relies too heavily on their influences, and the result is a sub-par QOTSA/Fu Manchu record.

Even though Hello Master isn’t too original, or even that interesting, it’s still a decent record to spin in the background; all things considered, it’s still a respectable debut for Priestess, a decent addition to the stoner rock community, and shouldn’t be viewed as much more than a major label hard rock act.

--Kamran Rouzpay