photos by Andrew Jasper
Reptilian Records presents Strawberry, the corrosive new 10” MLP from Richmond, Virginia noisemongers PRAYER GROUP.
PRAYER GROUP is a noise rock band that can’t decide if it should be a punk band, or a noise rock band, and they generally don’t care. Formed nearby 2014 or so by way of folks who’d cut their teeth in Richmond area bands Equestrians, Kingshead, Gifts From Enola, and others, their sound in this act veers towards something a bit more squarely in line with the most classic era of United States noise rock/post-hardcore. Having released three EPs and an LP over the past decade, along the way the band has left scattered venues across the East Coast in shambles, killed several vans and even more speakers, and most definitely plenty of brain cells. Having played alongside such contemporaries as USA Nails, Ken Mode, Multicult, and Child Bite, PRAYER GROUP injects a hardcore punk brevity into their noise rock reinterpretations of the style, giving it a wild twist.
Currently embodied by vocalist Matt Voegel, guitarist Nate Dominy, drummer Anthony Stout, and Au Revoir bassist Carl Kranz making his PRAYER GROUP debut, Strawberry is a record from a tumultuous time, following lineup shifts, members and day jobs having relocated/changed, and families have come to look different than they used to. The record got a rushed start because of some uncertainties, then dragged to the finish line due to other, painful certainties. Some songs were written quickly, some had been simmering for years, and some were being written as they were being recorded. In the end, Strawberry begins straightforward in its delivery, wanders into some new realms, then comes ripping back to full force by the end, delivering some varying textures while remaining accurate to the band’s live sound. While it rides barely shorter in length than their Michael Dose album, the few minutes’ difference resulted in the pressing of a bastard 10” format release, while still dropping all the might of a proper LP.
PRAYER GROUP utilized the same team as on Michael Dose for Strawberry, with drums and some bass tracked with Ricky Olson at The Ward (Enforced, Prisoner, Bleach Everything), all other instrumentation recorded by guitarist Nate Dominy at Room 2B, the mixing handled by Chris Compton (Hold Tight!, Sea Of Storms, Basmati), mastering completed by Brad Boatwright at Audiosiege (Deadguy, Full Of Hell, Nø Man), completed with cover art by Luke LaMarca.
The band writes, “Strawberry is like a lot of kids. We rushed to start making it before we knew what we were doing, had to figure everything out along the way, and wound up with this weird little 10” with this weird little boy on the cover. It’s not its fault; it’s just like that.”
Fans of Pissed Jeans, The Jesus Lizard, Big Black, Drive Like Jehu, Breather Resist, Blacklisters, Buildings, USA Nails, Fucked Up, join the PRAYER GROUP.
The opening track to PRAYER GROUP’s Strawberry, “Plagiarism,” is now playing RIGHT HERE.
Strawberry will be released on 10” vinyl and digital platforms on August 29th. Find preorders at the Reptilian Records arsenal HERE and Bandcamp HERE.
A video from the record will be unveiled in the days ahead.
Strawberry Track Listing:
1. Plagiarism
2. Variance
3. Strawberry
4. Pig
5. Concern
6. PR Nightmare
7. Meatgrinder
PRAYER GROUP will take their abrasive preachings to folks in the Mid-Atlantic region on a quick run of release shows for Strawberry, hitting Philadelphia, Baltimore, and their hometown of Richmond August 28th through 30th. Additional excursions are to be expected over the months ahead.
PRAYER GROUP Strawberry release shows:
8/28/2025 Thunderbird Hall – Philadelphia, PA
8/29/2025 Holy Frijoles – Baltimore, MD
8/30/2025 Banditos – Richmond, VA
PRAYER GROUP:
Matt Voegel – vocals
Nate Dominy – guitar
Anthony Stout – drums
Carl Kranz – bass, vocals
https://linktr.ee/prayer_group_rva
https://prayergroupsaves.bandcamp.com
https://www.instagram.com/prayergrouprva
https://www.facebook.com/PrayerGroupSaves
http://www.reptilianrecords.com
https://reptilianrecords.bandcamp.com
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https://www.youtube.com/@reptilianrecords1248