While new metal bands like Mastodon and Revocation embrace the yell(growl)/riff-heavy/prog style (and have found success with the formula) some newer metal bands rely more on the old school stuff to make their name known. For instance, Canada's Priestess struck metal success in 2005 with their debut Hello Master not by creating something new but by immulating the harder bands of the late 70s and early 80s. This time around, Prior to the Fire offers more of the same: killer licks, nerdy lyrics (including an ode to Robocop with "Murphy's Law"), more riffs and more nerdy lyrics (can a metal album be released without referencing a journey of some kind or a mystical mountain?). The problem here though is things never hit a groove and stay in it. Tracks like "The Firebird" and "Trapped in Space and Time" are nostalgic in the manner and tenacity but some, like the 8 minute long snoozer "The Gem" just do not contain that pop/power combo that so many bands have relied on (including Priestess on their debut). While not a complete disappointment, it is kind of unsettling that this was the best they could come up with given the last five years time in which to work with.
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