Emerging out of the shadows in 2017, the band known as Priest are still a bit of a mystery. A Swedish electronic/synth trio using the personas Mercury (vocals), Salt (keyboards) and Sulfur (keyboards/programming), two are ex Nameless Ghouls of the famed Metal band Ghost. Together forging a new path outside Ghost, they deliver their own unique Industrial edge and image with Priest. Making an impact with previous releases – 2017’s New Flesh and 2020’s Cyberhead – the band is back again with their latest album Body Machine.
Their first full-length with Cleopatra Records, Body Machine arrived on Friday, July 15, 2022 and is complete with ten brand new tracks. Feeling very European in every way possible, even early on in the album’s tracks, you can hear that Priest are thinking outside the box. Overall, their approach is a refreshing take on classic structures all while they interject a distinct personality.
For example, the Industrial Pop-vibed opening cut “A Signal In The Noise” is both infectious and intriguing at the same time. Featuring the catchy and almost soothing lyrics, “Oh, I think we are getting closer, oh to the middle of the zone” in the first chorus, there is also a gorgeous key change that is unexpected, yet so tasteful. There is also the track “Ghost Writer” which takes a different turn with driven arpeggio that is accompanied by a Kraftwerk-eque synth lead. Entrancing, it is a well-bodied, charming, graceful, yet slightly haunting piece of music.
Later on in this oasis of sound you have the experimental and more edgier “Hell Awaits” which features samples of a political speech that indicates the clearly obvious decline in civilization. This is while “Phantom Pain” brings the mood back to prior songs with strong synth bass. Solidified by some very interesting production with vocals creeping behind the instrumentation, a strong chorus pops in with a somber, but somehow uplifting feeling. With plenty more in between the lines, other stand out moments include the irresistible “Perfect Body Machine” and powerful closing heard on “Keep on Burning.”
Overall, if you are new to Priest, you should absolutely check out Body Machine, but you should also revisit their previous work too. Extremely retro sounding, Body Machine leaves an undeniable impression. In fact, the opener, “A Signal In The Noise,” could be one of the strongest beginnings to an album in some time. That all in mind, the overall production of Simon Söderberg (who produced Ghost’s Opus Eponymous back in 2010) really drives it all home and makes the record sound extremely authentic. A solid effort that leaves you yearning for more, Cryptic Rock gives Body Machine 5 out of 5 stars.
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Disappointing album. The opener “A Signal in the noise” makes promises to the rest of the album which aren´t kept. The curve goes rapidly down after the opener. Disappointing, sorry.