Priests sound like the friction between a high-speed train and the tracks. It is music that is fundamentally uncomfortable but deeply compelling, defined by G.L. Jaguar’s surf-inflected but dissonant guitar work and Daniele Daniele’s inventive, polyrhythmic drumming. The sound is sharp, brittle, and intentionally jagged, refusing to let the listener settle into a comfortable groove for too long.
What truly sets them apart is Katie Alice Greer’s vocal performance, which can shift from a detached, academic cool to a visceral, throat-shredding howl within a single measure. They occupy a space where the intellectualism of No Wave meets the raw energy of D.C. hardcore, resulting in songs that feel like both a protest and a psychological breakdown. The production often emphasizes a dry, punchy clarity that makes every lyrical barb feel personal.
Start with 'Nothing Feels Natural.' It is their masterpiece, balancing their most accessible melodic instincts with their most adventurous sonic experiments. From there, dive into the earlier 'Bodies and Control and Money and Power' for a more abrasive, concentrated dose of their foundational energy.
Priests are a post-punk band from Washington, D.C., formed in 2012 and composed of Katie Alice Greer (vocals), Daniele Daniele (drums), and G.L. Jaguar (guitar). Priests have autonomously released three EPs through their independently run label Sister Polygon Records, as well as tapes and singles from acts such as Downtown Boys, Snail Mail, Shady Hawkins, and other local D.C. bands. In 2017, Priests released their full-length debut LP Nothing Feels Natural, which found itself on several best albums of 2017 lists including Billboard, NPR, The Atlantic, Will's Band of the Week, and Pitchfork. On the day of the first inauguration of Donald Trump, just days before the release of the album, the band played an event which they helped organize called "NO: A Night of Anti-Fascist Sound Resistance in the Capital of the USA" at the Black Cat venue. Rolling Stone described the band as "forging jagged incantations that challenge norms ranging from the driving forces of capitalism to punk's own chest-beating macho traditions." On December 12, 2019, Priests announced that they were going on an indefinite hiatus, releasing a statement reading in part, "We aren’t in a place to write another album together right now, and feel like each of us would be better served pursuing individual projects for the time being." They clarified that they did not intend to break up, saying that they were "not closing off the option of playing together in the future at some point if it feels right, but not for the foreseeable future."
Shares defiant, anxious, urgent (moods); basement show, urban night, dive bar (atmosphere)
Shares post-punk, no wave, indie rock (subgenres); defiant, anxious, urgent (moods)
Shares post-punk, indie rock, punk rock (subgenres); defiant, urgent, restless (moods)
Shares post-punk, indie rock (subgenres); defiant, anxious, urgent (moods)
Shares defiant, anxious, urgent (moods); post-punk, no wave (subgenres)
Shares post-punk, indie rock, no wave (subgenres); basement show, urban night, dive bar (atmosphere)
Shares defiant, anxious, urgent (moods); basement show, urban night, dive bar (atmosphere)
Shares defiant, anxious, urgent (moods); lo fi, noise textured, dry intimate (production style)
Shares no wave, anxious, post-punk, dry intimate (subgenre)
Shares art punk, no wave, anxious, post-punk (signature)
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