Holy Grail – Times of Pride and Peril
Release Date: February 12, 2016
Label: Prosthetic Records
It’s been three years since we last heard new music from Pasadena NWOTHM warriors, Holy Grail. It seemed like such a long, long time but when I looked back, it was also three years between their debut, Crisis In Utopia and the follow up, Ride the Void. Maybe this three stretch seemed so much longer because Holy Grail wasn’t out on the road and playing countless shows like they did between their first couple of albums. As a matter of fact, due to the long break of inactivity and drummer Tyler Mehl and guitarist Eli Santana joining Huntress, I thought for sure I was losing one of my favorite bands. Well, low and behold, in 2016 Holy Grail returned to deliver upon us their latest album. Times of Pride and Peril.
Right off the bat, I have to say that the first thing that hit me like a ton of bricks was just how fucking great the production on this album is. Finally, I feel like Holy Grail has been captured the way that they were always meant to captured. The vocals are clear, and gone is that over processed, over compressed production. Times of Pride and Peril as a whole sounds the way that I wish the previous two Holy Grail albums would sound. The only thing that Times of Pride and Peril seems to be lacking is that over the top yet captivating energy that first drew me in to love this band in the first place.
Now before you all want to fight to kill me, let me make my say that while I stand by the above statement this doesn’t mean that I don’t like this album. The opening song, “Crystal King” is a fucking face melter with “Waste Them All Away” coming up from behind to just continue the melting. “No More Heroes” sounds like classic Holy Grail but as the album progresses with songs like “Descent into the Maelstrom” and “Psychomachia”, I hear a band trying something different, testing new waters, and trying to stretch outside of their safe, comfortable zone. This is something that not a lot of bands so. Playing it safe and sticking with a formula is the easy way but Holy Grail really seems to be spreading their wings.
In all honesty, at first listen it kind of left me scratching my head but after a few listens (and seeing the new material live) I totally got it. Times of Pride and Peril sounds like a band that has grown up. They sound like they are trying their hands at doing something against the grain than what we’re usually used to hearing from them and I love this. On Times of Pride and Peril, Holy Grail has achieved their own identity and at this point in the game has developed their own distinct sound. No longer does Holy Grail sound like a bunch of kids playing NWOBHM music. Holy Grail sounds like Holy Grail and this is a great thing. Just take my advice on this one. If the album doesn’t hit you at first, don’t give up on it. Step away from it and go back into it as listening to a band that is growing and trying new things. Holy Grail is definitely a band that is in it for the long haul and it excites me knowing that these guys aren’t close to being done showing us all the things that they may have tucked up their sleeves for us in the future.
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