Pekka
Here it is: my first Metal Music Archives discovery. To be honest, when I registered to this site I wasn't really expecting to find anything new in metal, I had a big metal past and a decent metal present in the form of a few old favourites and some others gathered along the years. Least of all I was expecting to be turned on to any old bands or some "retro" kind of stuff. But earlier I documented my first experiences with a certain old band called Rainbow, and here I am giving five stars to what I see is a retro band.
All of the elements on this album have been around since the 70s, but the mix Priestess creates is something that gets my sceptical metal heart pumping. The album opens with a devastating trio of raging asskickery, but whereas most metal bands of today play with a "we will f**k you up with our brutal assault" attitude, Priestess is here just to have some rock n' roll fun with the listener and adding a twist or two along the way (not that there's anything wrong with the previous approach): great metal riffing, a driving perfect rock voice, lively and energetic playing and a raw unpolished sound.
Murphy's Law is a solid but a bit more bland number before the album's epic centerpiece, aptly titled The Gem. Featuring twin-guitar melodies, killer verses and choruses and a long sololess instrumental section at the end, this is perhaps the album's highest peak, if the title doesn't go to one of the first three numbers or the frantically speeding Sideways Attack. All in all the album is entirely made of great quality material, with a few highlights managing to break through.
If the idea of good old-school heavy metal played with furious passion and a loose rock n' roll energy appeals to you, do not miss this brilliant release.