TV Priest - Uppers - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

Without a brutal evaluation of their own becoming, TV Priest might have never made their second album. Heralded as the next big thing in post-punk, they were established as a bolshy, sharp-witted outfit, the kind that starts movements with their political ire. There was of course truth in that, but it was a suit that quickly felt heavy on it's wearer's shoulders, leaving little room for true vulnerability. InchA lot of it did feel like I was being really careful and a bit at arm's length,Inch says vocalist Charlie Drinkwater. InchI think maybe I was not fully aware of the role I was taking. I had to take a step back and realize that what we were presenting was quite far away from the opinion of myself that I had. Now, I just want to be honest. Inch Having made music together since their teenage years, the London four-piece piqued press attention in late 2019 with their first gig as a newly solidified group, a raucous outing in the warehouse district of Hackney Wick. Debut single InchHouse of YorkInch followed with a blistering critique of monarchist patriotism, and they were signed to Sub Pop for their debut album. When Uppers arrived in the height of a global pandemic, it reaped praise from critics and fans alike for it's Inchdystopian doublespeak,Inch but the band - Drinkwater, guitarist Alex Sprogis, producer, bass and keys player Nic Bueth and drummer Ed Kelland - were at home like the rest of us, drinking cups of tea and marking time via government-sanctioned daily exercise. As such, the personal and professional landmark of it's felt Inchboth colossal and minusculeInch dampened by the inability to share it live. InchIt was a real gratification and really cathartic, but on the other hand, it was really strange, and not great for my mental healthInch admits Drinkwater. InchI wasn't prepared, and I hadn't necessarily expected it to reach as many people as it did.

Japanese reissue. Storyville. 2026.

In a mix of perfectly executed modern progressive/power metal combined with the unique diversity of male and female vocals that stylistically spread from lyrical and fragile to soothing and powerful, the debut album 'The Jaguar Priest' encloses a most impressive league of artistic creation.