BLACK TAR PROPHECIES VOL'S 1, 2, & 3

I am amazed that this one has slipped under the radar for so long. It's a distinctive concoction of psychedelic, prog,experimental, krautrock, and American folk with hints of jazz and subdued stoner rock. The level of talent displayed here is on par with legends like Pink Floyd. Remember the days when bands followed their own unique muse where ever it led instead of trying to sound like someone else? The variety of sounds ranges from the fuzzy lumbering buzz of Belgian Wake Up Drill, the sweet strings of Smokey Room to the folky plucking on Erosion Blues. I have heard that Popol Vuh was an influence on these guys. Well this is what Popol Vuh would sound like if they rocked out. There is alot of excellent guitar work and kick*ss drumming. Grails' sound is not derivative but I'll drop a few names for comparison's sake. If you like Pink Floyd, Popol Vuh, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Steve Hackett, Six Organs of Admittance, Porcupine Tree, Traffic etc. you may have a high tolerance for Black Tar Prophecies.

After two faceless post-rock albums, Grails redefined themselves by spicing up their sound with a dark and disturbing take on Popol Vuh's devotional music. This Black Tar Prophecies is a compilation of their first experiments with their new sound and since it only features tracks that are unavailable elsewhere, it can be regarded as a full-fledged album.

The modern take on Popol Vuh's music is bleak and pessimistic. The hope and light of Popol Vuh is drowned under low pulsating bass guitar sounds, percussion reverb and electric and acoustic guitars that evoke a feeling of being lost in a creepy dark alley. In other words, Dzyan, or Popol Vuh meets Wovenhand meets IEM.

The album is entirely instrumental but very diverse. Not only are the tracks clearly distinguishable from one other, the album provides plenty of contrasting sounds and moods, by changing instrumentation, pace, or by putting the heavy darkness of tracks like Belgian Wake-up Drill against a brighter pieces such as Smokey Room. Needless to say this makes the impact of the experience only stronger.

Next to the listed references, the band's career and sound is also interwoven with that of Red Sparowes, with whom they share a split EP. Fans of that band and other dark and haunting post-rock should sure try to discover this band, as should fans of IEM, Wovenhand, Angels of Light, Popol Vuh, Gila, Dzyan and other explorers of our inner self. Highly commended!