Heavy metal didn’t always sound the way it does now, and there used to be a time when the only people arguably growling their vocals were Lemmy and Brian Johnson. But things have progressed and times have changed (all for the better), and bands that were the difference makers years ago might not be deemed heavy enough today. I had someone tell me Iron Maiden sounded weak. He’s dead now.

I say that as I’m about to discuss doomy traditional metal force High Priest and their awesome debut record “Invocation.” These guys sound like they’ve mainlined the vein into metal’s past, darkened it a bit, and came up with a stunning result on this eight-track, 45-minute-long power. There’s glory, darkness, and infectious energy that this band—vocalist/bassist Justin Valentino, guitarists Pete Grossmann and John Regan, drummer Dan Polak—jams into this album. This is a promising debut from a band that already sounds pretty dialed into their thing, and they should only get more intense from here.

The title track opens with stinging guitars and excellent singing from Valentino, who is a force on this album. “Forgiveness, calling from the sacred, I am,” he calls as the track speeds up, dual guitars glimmer, and sounds are sucked into the cosmos. “Divinity” chugs in with great energy, pounding away and layering a doom glaze from one end to the next. The leads charge and swelter, things get faster and steamier, and Valentino calls, “Resonate, heart open, feel alive,” as the final moments burn away. “Ceremony” drips in darkness, the playing slowly unloading and boiling, wooshing past the stars and gradually gaining heat. The swagger kicks in as psychedelic colors flow, the playing begins to burn in calculated fashion, and the final blows melt into “Cosmic Key” that continues the mind-tingling push, layered singing leaving the hairs raised on your flesh. Heavy, bluesy guitar work trudges as the heat builds and blisters, strong soloing making sparks fly, everything resting on a torched earth.

“Down in the Dark” opens sludgy, feeling a little like Alice in Chains, breezy singing icing over your brain. Smoggy and melodic, the guitars buzz harder, great singing keeps pushing the heat, and the murk emerges, clouding your brain with a grungy edge. “Universe” opens with the bass pulling up, dual vocals entering the mix, and energy pulsating. “You remind me of the universe,” Valentino calls, “You’re designed to be the first,” as the track takes off, and things begin to charge up, blistering and leaving flesh absolutely scorched. “Conjure” feels Sabbathy as hell at the front, softer, but forceful singing pushing as Valentino urges, “Reveal yourself.” Guitars hit a boil as the pace jostles and then gallops, creating a smoking force that rips you apart and buries everything in rubble. Closer “Heaven” is fuzzy at first as the leads begin to liquify, the vocals floating and leading to a harmonized chorus. Things pick up and pump strength, and parts of this song would not sound out of place on rock radio a few decades ago. The mood darkens as Valentino calls, “I refuse to know heaven,” repeatedly as the bass drives harder, the guitars begin to blaze, and the energy cascades and soaks the ground with sweat.

High Priest harken back to an era when metal could be both doomy and rock radio friendly without sacrificing an inch of their power or integrity. “Invocation” is a sweeping, substantive document that arrives right at the height of summer, the period when this style of music always sounds the best. This brims with power and grit, hopefully making High Priest’s reach expand to greater heights.

For more on the band, go here: https://www.facebook.com/highpriestchicago

‘To buy the album, go here: https://us.merhq.net/us/Artists/High-Priest/

For more on the label, go here: https://www.facebook.com/MagneticEyeRecords/