Robert Mitchum said in “Night of the Hunter” that his religion was the one “The Lord n’ me worked out twixt us.” Killah Priest clearly sees his vision as both totally his own and informed by the mystical. “3 Day theory,” the latest in his self-described “street parables,” contemplates both the mundane violence of the world and the higher wars constantly raging. With his blend of boast and poetic insight, the former Wu Tang and occasional Gravediggaz associate deepens the mark he has made with only a few releases.

Produced by Man Bites Dog Records’ Kount Fif, and featuring a slew of guest, most notably Redd Mudd, Copywrite, Last Emperor and Empuls, “3 Day Theory” is dominated by slow, hypnotic jams and old soul samples, with Priest’s deep, chant-like vocals addressing the general (“Look At Life,” “Shadow,” “Democracy”) and the personal (“Betrayal,” “Priest History”) in a way that suggests vulnerability in addition to hubris.

It is on the more outré tracks that this release makes its true mark. “Outer Body Experience,” “Pslam of Satan” and “Words of a Viking” allow Priest and company to imagine being in the presence of immortals, indeed, to see the historical process through the eyes of the most feared deities. His attempts to connect these visions to a larger statement about street life isn’t always successful, but these tracks are brave and raw, and open new ground within which I hope he continues to explore.

Killah Priest is an artist with big ideas and a willingness to explore them even when they may not yet be fully formed. “3 Day Theory,” is brilliant and meditative in a way only a direct wrestling match with one’s demons and angels can deliver. 7/10 -- Mike Wood (28 July, 2010)