You’d be forgiven for thinking PREYRS is just a new name for a group that have been working together for quite awhile. But it is anything but that, it’s a massive power-up. This killer four-piece of Amy Montgomery, Michael Mormecha, Nolan Donelly, and Ciarán McGreevy have now leveled up into a full-on collaborative band. Their debut, The Wounded Healer (Pelagic Records), is built on a concept of finding your strength and empathy by actually facing your own messy past. This is an album full of intense energy and emotional conflict and all in all is one hell of an arrival statement.
The sound on this record is something I can only describe as genre-bending, smashing raw alternative rock and heavy metal into something electrifying. The core of their sound is this brilliant friction: alt-folk slide guitars battling it out with Michael Mormecha’s frantic, industrial drumming. And then there’s Amy Montgomery who’s voice is straight-up jaw-dropping. She swings effortlessly from being super vulnerable and soulful to absolutely shredding. Seriously, she does some job of navigating this vast soundscape.
The album hits the ground running with the atmospheric intro “Humble Eyes” before exploding into the lead single, “Wave of Wisdom.” This one is pure fire and what’s cool is how the energy keeps shifting; it feels like an album of singles, yet it all flows perfectly. You get the brutal intensity of tracks like “Zeros, Ones & Lies,” which features heavy drums and guitars tackling big issues, and then the track “Bring Ur Bruises” swoops in as this massive, empowering anthem that just oozes confidence and healing.
The momentum honestly never seems to drop off, even heading into the back half, with heavy hitters like “Nova” and the fuzzy, fuzzy-rock intensity of the title track. The whole thing wraps up beautifully with “Life Is Kind” which is a glorious, emotional, and genuinely positive sign-off. This isn’t just a band figuring things out; this is PREYRS fully formed and ready to take over. They’ve drawn a definitive line in the sand, delivering a bold, unique record that refuses to play it safe. If you’re looking for an aggressive, captivating new sound in 2025, you absolutely need this album in your life.
Tracklist and Tour Information
Humble Eyes
Wave Of Wisdom
Into The Blue
Zeros, Ones & Lies
Bring Ur Bruises
Crucify
Change Change
The Wounded Healer
Nova
W.D.I.F.L?
Life Is Kind
Tour Dates
PREYRS will be supporting New Model Army across Europe this winter.
November
13 Halle 02, Heidelberg DE (Supporting New Model Army)
14 Sudhaus, Tübingen DE (Supporting New Model Army)
15 Meet Factory, Prague CZ (Supporting New Model Army)
17 Werk2, Leipzig DE (Supporting New Model Army)
18 Capitol, Hannover DE (Supporting New Model Army)
19 Aladdin Music Hall, Bremen DE (Supporting New Model Army)
20 Jovel, Munster DE (Supporting New Model Army)
21 Venlo, Grenswerk NL (Supporting New Model Army)
28 Kyttaro, Athens GR (Supporting New Model Army)
29 Mylos Club, Thessaloniki GR(Supporting New Model Army)
December
20 Palladium, Cologne DE (Supporting New Model Army)
21 Melkweg, Amsterdam NL (Supporting New Model Army)
”The Wounded Healer” gets a well deserved 8.5 out of 10
Reviewer – Alan Robinson @alan_robinson_photography