After gaining notoriety and a lot of positive attention from their 2014 EP “Bodies and Money and Control and Power,” Washington D.C.’s punk quartet Priests returns with the release of their debut full-length, “Nothing Feels Natural.”
As a band that formed in the nation’s capital and rose to the spotlight with a political voice, Priests took a fierce, shouty approach to punk rock, raising questions about their environment, politicians and misogyny alike.
Priests’ latest release, “Nothing Feels Natural,” gives us a more layered, experimental and personal sound, although you won’t miss out on lead singer Katie Alice Greer’s snarling vocals and thoughtfully aggressive writing.
The opening track, “Appropriate,” starts the record on familiar ground with the crisp and urgent drumming of Daniele Daniele. The group’s new single, “Pink White House,” satirically grabs at the American dream, taking a sharp and serious turn with the help of GL Jaguar’s cutting guitar.
“Puff” is another track fans can expect to love. Greer spouts aggressively about Burger King, uttering “Accept the triumph of the machine!” over frantic guitar riffs.
Songs such as “Nicki,” “Leila 20” and the title track show how Priests took a different route and made a beautiful post-punk album in the process. Greer takes it easy on her pipes throughout the album, like on “No Big Bang,” Daniele’s existential sing-speak piece.
The album sees contributions from a pianist and a saxophonist and ends with “Suck,” a dancing beat reminiscent of post-punk, post-disco legends ESG.
All in all, “Nothing Feels Natural” takes Priests in a direction that transcends political punk. This release is necessary, and so is this band. Priests’ current tour will stop in New Orleans on March 2.