Cool Band Alert - Prophetic Justice Ministry

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Name: Prophetic Justice Ministry
From: Melbourne, Australia
Members: Sam Perry
RIYL: The first Dirty Beaches record, Ela Orleans, Amen Dunes, Hilary Woods, Beach House, Russian Tsarlag
The Gist: Haunted—and haunting—folk music.

Trying to track down anything about Sam Perry, the sole persona behind Prophetic Justice Ministry, is an exercise in futility, but maybe it’s better that way. A big part of the allure of his debut, Key to World Peace, is the fact that it’s so spectral, so quietly unnerving. Perry’s voice is cloaked in echo, and on tracks like “Psyop” (a timely title if ever there was one…) it’s more tone than melodic lead, a lonesome baritone drifting through a cloud of keys and guitar—both of which are likewise soaked in reverb. The result across the record is that you get these ghostly sustained notes instead of sharp chord changes, a hovering aura of purples and blues. Young people might call this a “vibes” album, which I guess is true if you your vibe is “Ouija Board enthusiast.” Case in point: About a minute into “Life’s A Party,” a sudden squawk—like a dying raven or a terrified child—pierces the veil; the effect is chilling, as if something deeply unholy is in the studio with Perry as he’s recording. Perry’s deft trick is making this as alluring as it is eerie—the kind of spirit you can’t help but follow into the dark.

Key to World Peace is out June 12 now on Night School. Get it here.

This is certainly a tough one for Prophetic Justice Ministry—there aren’t a whole lot of other artists on Perry’s distinct wavelength, but those that are can probably be found in a few dark corners. Perry’s music has undeniable roots in folk horror, music for pagan spells and weird figures. While more overtly synth-based, artists like Pye Corner Audio, Erang, and Drew Mulholland also voyage into the dark. (Having run the excellent label Blackest Ever Black for a decade, Kiran Sande could also be added to that list.) And while Prophetic Justice Ministry is not by any means dungeon synth, if you like its bleak vibe, you may also be a fan of that steadily growing genre.

Come hang in the chat with artists celebrating their record release this week on Bandcamp.