Grails

The Profile

Grails are an American instrumental rock band from Portland, Oregon, formed in 1999. They fuse post-rock dynamics, psychedelia, and global folk motifs into cinematic compositions. Key members include Emil Amos, Alex Hall, and Zak Riles, with noted releases such as The Burden of Hope, Redlight, Burning Off Impurities, Deep Politics, Chalice Hymnal, and the Black Tar Prophecies series.

Instrumental band from Portland, Oregon; albums discussed include Redlight, Burning Off Impurities, Deep Politics, and Black Tar Prophecies II. Deep Politics features strings/piano and a cover of Bruno Nicolai’s “All The Colors Of The Dark.” Emil Amos is praised for drumming. Black Tar Prophecies II was issued by Aurora Borealis on fluorescent yellow vinyl, limited to 500 copies.

Reviews portray Grails as an instrumental outfit blending post-rock, psychedelia, and global folk colors into cinematic arcs. Deep Politics is praised for dark, chamber-like mood and restraint; Burning Off Impurities for ritual trance and cohesion; Redlight for rustic originality; Black Tar Prophecies II for a heavier, dynamic turn. Overall sentiment is strongly positive.