A few years ago I went to see Corrosion of Conformity. Early in the night I spent all my money on a sweet COC shirt. However, after seeing opening act Priestess perform a killer set, I immediately borrowed some money from my friend so that I could buy a copy of their album Hello, Master. Of course, I paid my friend back, just as this album has been paying me back in the form of easy access to excellent rock.

Formed in 2003, Montreal's Priestess have been doing their part to spread the hard rock gospel by touring the world with the likes of Mastodon, Black Label Society, and even Megadeth. Their music has appeared in several video games including Guitar Hero III. With this drive to be heard, plus the awesomeness of the music itself, it's only a matter of time before Priestess become one of the bigger names in modern hard rock.

Their sound is not, however, all that modern. Their guitar work harks back to the seventies, and the unpolished nature of the album adds to that effect. Fans of Black Sabbath and Deep Purple should enjoy this band just as much as fans of modern metallers like Early Man and the Sword. Though Priestess would certainly fit into the "stoner metal" subgenre, Hello, Master is something that any fan of pure hard rock can enjoy.

"I Am the Night, Colour Me Black" opens the album with a speedy riff and a head-pummeling beat. Just when you think the pace might slow, in comes a wailing solo to keep this song intense and fun all the way through. "Lay Down" is a bit more accessible but still packs a riff-heavy punch. A Sabbathian riff drives "Two Kids," as raspy vocals deliver defiant lyrics: "Hell no, I ain't on your side / But I'm sticking around until I die." "Everything That You Are," the album's most aggressively fast-paced track, will immediately grab you and have you singing along (if you can keep up that is). The crunchy "Performance" sure sounds like an anthem that could be used to inspire athletes, though the lyrics suggest antipathy for those who expect perfection: "If you expect me to go out there and shine every night / You know there's something about that that just ain't right." Either way, this is the track that most effectively flexes the band's musical muscle.

Amidst all the hard hitting are a collection of catchy rock choruses. "Talk to Her," is one of the album's most classic sounding rockers with it's infectious advice-filled chorus: "Stop wasting time / Make up your mind / Love her or let her go." "Time Will Cut You Down" slows the pace into a sludgy, bluesy jam with a refrain custom made for drunken sing-alongs. The closing track "Blood" is the album's most surprising. After eleven tracks of unpolished rifftastic rock, this one has a more refined sound. It starts off slow and creepy like Queens of the Stone Age and then erupts into a big chorus resembling a more badass version of Three Doors Down. Not that it's a total departure from the rest of Hello, Master; just a little less garage.

If you're tired of the Pro Tools generation whose influences date back no further than six months ago, Priestess should be a welcome change for you. They've clearly studied the masters of the past forty years while finding ways to put their own spin on that classic hard rock sound. So if you happen to be at a concert where Priestess is on the bill, bring some extra cash. You're going to want that CD.


Recommended: Yes