TWO years after a fire destroyed their instruments, venerable roots group Mystic Revelation of Rastafari (MRR) are back with new songs and an album.

Last Thursday, the eastern Kingston aggregation launched three songs — Am A Warrior, Warrior from the 1960s; Babylon By Bus and No Night in Zion — at the outdoor venue Kingston 10 in St Andrew.

They performed those songs as well as reggae standards Drum Song and Rockfort Rock.

The new tracks will be part of Phoenix Rising From The Ashes, the MRR’s first album in 11 years. Delroy “Time” Williams, leader of the group, said loss of the instruments had curtailed MRR’s progress.

They are back on track thanks to help from some “good bredrin”.

“People like Junior Lincoln an’ Earl Witter were very helpful in us getting back the instruments. As simple as you see it, one of those drums cost $40,000,” he told the Jamaica Observer.

Williams’ father, Oswald “Count Ossie” Williams, started MRR in eastern Kingston during the early 1950s. Some of its members played on The Ffolkes Brothers 1958 hit song, Oh Carolina.

Count Ossie led MRR on the classic Grounation and Tales Of Mozambique albums, released in 1973 and 1975, respectively.

He died in an auto accident in 1976. The MRR tours steadily, especially in France. Now a 10-piece unit, it includes longtime members Sustan James on bass drum and saxophonist Leslie Samuels.

Last Thursday’s event also saw performances from spoken word artiste Mojiba (daughter of Count Ossie) and singer K Vibes.