GRAILS VINYL PACKAGING

Grails has a history of incredible packaging when it comes to their vinyl. From heavy gatefold jackets to laser etched vinyl records, it's clear they care about their art. To my dismay on this new album though, I was met with their flimsiest packaging yet. the cover is a black and white photo that is in the same vein of Emil Amos solo project album Zone Black. Nothing really to write home about for the vinyl. it is a fairly barebones package save the inner sleeve. The sleeve is printed full gloss with artwork. One side with some random artwork splattered together and the back with the most giant lettering of the plaulist and album credits. Honestly the inner sleeve should have been the jacket artwork in my opinion.

VINYL SIDE A

1. SILVER BELLS

This album starts off with something a little more synthetic sounding. It reminds more of something Lilacs & champagne would release. It's not really a bad song I suppose but it's nothing I would ever be chomping at the bits to hear again. Theres some static buzzing in the song and by the time i started to get into the rythm it was kind of already over and faded into a quieter outro. It's definitely not my favorite opening songs to one of their albums.

2. PRIMEVIL LITE I-III

We start off with some really solid Acoustic guitar with some soundscapes in the background. Really great start to this song which then kicks in with some flutes kin the background. The drums here are pushed to the background which is ok but the drummer in me just wants to say LET HIM PLAY LOUD! This is a fine song but I kinda feel likE the album should have started with this one.

3. EARTHLY LIFE

This song s is getting me IN THE ZONE. The smooth synth keys, the dulled bass drum rhythm, the synthy bell chimes, oh baby! This is a good shit. It has a certain amount of futuristic sounds that pleases me greatly. This really hits the mark for what will hopefully a booming song to follow.

4. HOMEMADE CRUCIFIX

This is another quiet song with some whispy soundscapes again. Its not a bad little at all and I'm surprised to see side 1 of this vinyl over already! The side ends with an endless loop which is a really lovely little tune actually. ALways nice to find some hidden little features when getting a vinyl.

SIDE 1 THOUGHTS

After the fourth song on the album I am beginning to think that maybe this is more a side project of Emil Amos that has become a Grails album rather than the band as a whole? It seems to be leaning more into the experimental side and way less into the band actually playing. I am enjoying the album ok so far but I am ready to hear the actual band play. I dont really see how this could be played live. Maybe all the members just play keyboard for side A? Haha, maybe so and that would be kinda cool!

VINYL SIDE B

5. HARMONIOUS LIVING

Great start to this side. Grails has a way with making acoustic guitars so bad ass. This has a bit of a western feel to it which I love. It is giving me Deep Politics vibes for sure. Another very laid back song but at this point I am accepting that this is the type of album they are doing this time around. This is the best song so far for sure.

6. STRANGE PARADISE

A slow build up for this one. The picking guitars, the drums snare build up, some synth keys which at this point seem to be the staple for this album. We finally get some solid drums albeit nothing to fancy. Emil on drums is always a pleasure. The song goes a little into free form a bit. there is plenty of structure to be had here but you have the drums doing some small well placed random fills and some horn bits in there to give it just enough jazzy structure, nice little piece here.

7. PERFECT ETERCUSS

This song is so far in the background its a little disappointing. Every instrument is so tame, muffled on purpose and kind of just blending in with everything I've heard so far. I can hear doing some vocals in the background, I think? This song could have been mixed a little more drum heavy and louder vocals and I would have really enjoyed it I think. But again, they seem to want to have a very quiet album. Ilyas Ahmed has some really incredible music so I was hoping to maybe hear a bit more out of this.

8. VISIBLE DARKNESS

It's a fine piece here. Just another quiet ambient song.

9. CHOIR COMMENCEMENT

The album ends with another infinite loop on the vinyl, very nice! Not much to say about the music at this point really IMO.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Does this album have room to stay on my shelf? Hell yeah. It has a certain airy vibe that I don't have a lot of in my collection. I can see myself putting this album on from time to time while maybe painting or doing something that doesn't draw too much attention to itself. With that said, as far as Grails albums go, this was a certainly a letdown. If someone randomly showed me this album I would not know it was Grails. It sounds like just one person wrote and recorded the majority of everything and less like a group of people creating some awesome jams like they have in the past. I really the next album they can lean a little more into their earlier roots as it seems they have gotten quieter and more experimental over the years. This is still a great band and I will always love to see what they will put out next, but I don't really see this going into anyones "heavy rotation" mix. I see myself maybe spinning this one one or two more times this year just to see how it fares. Still one of my top 10 favorite bands though!