ALBUM REVIEW: Invocation – High Priest
The third most populous city in the United States and sitting beautifully along the shore of Lake Michigan, Chicago is rich in culture and teeming with life. With sports, arts and music (most notably blues and jazz) being the city’s main exports, HIGH PRIEST add to this rich tapestry of culture with their heavy, grimy riffs that come forth with reckless abandon, whilst their lyrics contain a hopeful optimism that is angelically sung through luscious melodies and harmonies.
After being transfixed by the mighty, heavy, distorted tones of ELECTRIC WIZARD in 2015, the quartet of Pete Grossmann (guitar), Justin Valentino (vocals/bass), Dan Polak (drums) and John Regan (guitar) were fervently inspired to write doom and old school metal. After announcing themselves on the global stoner doom scene with two successful EPs – 2016’s Consecration and 2019’s Sanctum – the band’s highly anticipated debut album Invocation will finally see the light of day in an eruption of kaleidoscopic colour.
The band have a sound that combines songwriting elements made famous by the likes of BLACK SABBATH, ELECTRIC WIZARD, THIN LIZZY and ALICE IN CHAINS, all of which are wrapped in a richly textured and fuzzy distortion. With a focus on exquisite vocal melodies and harmonies, alongside grungy old school doom riffs and electrifying guitar leads, HIGH PRIEST’s enchantingly eclectic sound will have you salivating for more once Invocation concludes.
Invocation is the culmination of HIGH PRIEST’s songwriting journey. Ever since the first riffs and rhythms were laid down on Consecration, all roads led here. The gradual development of the band’s songwriting is a rewarding one; with each release the Chicago quartet have gone from strength to strength whilst truly establishing their own unique voice. As a result, Invocation is an incredibly strong, cohesive and robust debut album.
Alongside the fuzzy, bluesy goodness are lyrics that uplift and enliven you; HIGH PRIEST’s message is one of optimism in its various guises. These are made all the more impactful by Valentino’s wonderfully gritty yet soulful vocals. HIGH PRIEST have always had an innate ability to craft memorable, emotive vocal melodies, and they have doubled down on that throughout Invocation. As thunderous riffs give way to anthemic choruses, Valentino’s tone is a powerfully vibrant mixture of Ozzy Osbourne and Layne Staley with his own unique delivery.
HIGH PRIEST’s fiery passion prevails in every note of Invocation. It is wonderfully infectious. The band go hell for leather throughout the album whilst integrating a diverse range of ebbing and flowing dynamics reminiscent of early 1970s records from BLACK SABBATH and LED ZEPPELIN. This is made possible by a tight, finely tuned performance, one that epitomises the copious chemistry that HIGH PRIEST’s members have between them.
Invocation is an album that champions blue sky thinking, openness and honesty, passionately encouraging you to kick back and gaze at the wonders of the universe as the stoner riffs wash over you. You can imagine roaming through magnificently coloured landscapes which feel like heaven on earth as everything slowly reveals its magic to you. As you plunge deeper, everything becomes more spectacular.
Title track Invocation kicks off the album with a fuzzed out, space heavy psych intro before launching you into a hulking riff with full force. With firm roots in the hazy sounds of ELECTRIC WIZARD, the ethereal vocals guide you through the sludge. Divinity takes it up a gear, as HIGH PRIEST introduce more traditional heavy metal influences into the fold. Groove-laden riffs fly at you from all corners and you can’t help but headbang. Ceremony is an all out doom beast; hypnotic and ritualistic, the track appeals to the primal rhythm inside of all of us. Cosmic Key is a titanic track at the centre of the album that combines a punchy BLACK SABBATH style blues with gritty, grungy vocals that sound eerie and mysterious.
Down In The Dark confines this expansion into grunge territory with a catchy guitar melody that is accompanied by bright, dreamy vocals that are belted out with Staley-esque grit. This fades brilliantly into Universe which is led by a driving bass riff which everything chaotically unfolds over. The song effortlessly mixes heavy psych with powerful doom and twin guitar melodies that harmonise with ease. Conjure carries on in a similar vein but with a significantly busier flavour. The album closes with the near eight-minute epic Heaven. A strong album needs a strong closing track, and Heaven more than delivers on this with its luscious psych layers and grungy doom. It is a magnificent final flourish to a captivating album.
HIGH PRIEST have certainly put absolutely everything into this album, and it more than shows. Invocation is a brilliantly strong and exciting debut full-length and it was well worth the wait. No doubt it will catch the attention of a whole host of new fans – this is not an album you want to sleep on.
Rating: 9/10
Invocation is set for release on June 23rd via Magnetic Eye Records.
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