definitely an underrated record, and a true gem in this colored edition (the etching on side d really is unbelievable). i still remember when i bought it, when i saw grails open for mono and world's end girlfriend. i even still have grails' setlist neatly folded and tucked away in the sleeve. looking back now, it was an incredibly rare experience for so many reasons. at that point in time they'd truly captured something magical, and i consider this album to be the most accomplished in their catalogue.

There aren't enough good things to say about this album. I've been a fan of GY!BE since high school, and from there, I was introduced to This Will Destroy You, then Electric Wizard, then Sunn O)), then Earth, and so on. This is very much in the vein of these groups, a sort of extended droney stoner-rock jam, and yet they create something that is unlike any of the aforementioned bands entirely, with their own ideas about music and structure, and bold vision. Over 3 short sides of vinyl, Grails crafts something ancient and mystic, evoking wisps of incense in flickering candlelight, and the soft murmur of distant chanting, reflected off cave walls. At times ambient and other times frenzied and loud, Grails manages to deftly avoid the trap of 'crescendo-core', where the bulk of the song just serves as a vehicle from one musical climax to the next. Given the boredom and disinterest GY!BE demonstrated at their '11 tour (I saw them in Chicago), and the creative lull that their sister band Silver Mt. Zion has fallen into with their last few albums, it's great to see someone bring something so fresh to the table, and when I first heard the opening of 'Burning...', I knew that this would be my new F#A# for years to come.As a side note- go for the vinyl. It's gorgeous, and a crown jewel of my collection. The etching opposite side C is simply unbelievable, and the packaging as a whole is just worth having, to go over as you let the record play and take over your imagination.