Here is a band that really caught me by surprise less than a month ago. Mixing influences such as Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, and Black Sabbath, Quest For Fire seek to create a familiar sounding stoner/psychedelic rock album, but something that is also new and original. I believe they have succeeded on their sophomore album, building atmospheres that take the listener on a new journey, but are also easy to listen to and memorable enough to make you want to keep coming back. While they may not have the power and energy of a hard rock band like Priestess, these guys know how to write some interesting songs and keep the energy balanced to make the album flow very well. It's not a perfect album, but you can tell these guys spent a lot of time and energy creating the material here.

The first track, The Greatest Hits By God, is meant to be a sort of psychedelic influenced epic, with symphonic elements as well as some heavy guitar riffs being used. Frontman Chad Ross's vocals have a haunting sort of feeling for most of the song, which can even be a little unsettling at times. For me it can get a little monotonous after the first few listens, but nevertheless it's a memorable song and conveys some strong emotions and atmosphere. Set Out Alone has an almost Pink Floyd feel but with a more modern production and edge on it. The chords are a little more upbeat and you can hear a bit of southern rock influence as well. The vocals here are more like the ones we are all accustomed to in modern stoner rock; smooth and clean with a tone similar to Ozzy Osbourne's work with Black Sabbath. The music is catchy and easy to listen to without sounding too much like its influences. Strange Vacation is another upbeat track that sounds like it has a touch of surf rock in it. Confusion's Home has to be one of my favorites; it has a memorable chorus with the smooth, otherworldly vocals of Chad Ross and the guitars are excellently layered here, giving you plenty to listen to, but rarely making the song overcrowded. It's a calm, atmospheric track that you can relax to, and reminds me a bit of The Fire Theft in terms of the tone set by the music. The album is not without its weaker tracks however. In Place Of A Storm gets too lengthy, mostly because it's very repetitious. Hinterland Who's Who is the same way, not letting me get much out of the song because of the disorganized guitar noise that simply causes me to lose interest. Psychic Seasons is a much calmer track, definitely reminding me of Led Zeppelin at times. The vocals are also similar to Jeremy Enigk of The Fire Theft. It actually sets a really tranquil atmosphere that I’d expect to hear on an acoustic rock album. The smooth electric guitar soloing is also nice, and the reverb adds to the serene, distant atmosphere. Sessions Of Light is a great track that closes the album out beautifully. It's an epic-length song really done right. The guitars start out slow and relaxing, lulling you into a calm, along with the warm synths as the backup. The heavier riffs and more dissonant solos provide a contrast to this in the chorus and some extended instrumental sections.

This is certainly an album that wants to take you on a journey, but one that you can only experience in your mind. The atmospheres and images aren't just thrown at you; rather the listener must actually think about the music and use their own imagination to really get something out of it. Quest For Fire provoke you to do just that with their music by balancing its catchiness and originality without getting too complex. I have heard few young bands today that can pull of this type of atmosphere while still remaining unique. While their influences can be obvious at times, these guys are not satisfied with sounding like a past act and put their own spin on older sounds. I look forward to hearing what they can come up with next, and I'm sure I'll be enjoying this album for months to come. Ultimately this release is one of the best new rock albums I've heard this year.