(written by Islander)
“Demiricous died (again) after the release of Chaotic Lethal – and out of those ashes arose RITUAAL. A festering, scumfuckin, riff driven, nightmare of a death metal band from the dregs of Indianapolis IN.”
Their words, not ours, but they do get your attention, don’t they? This band, whose lineup also includes current or former members of Acid Coffin, Redivider, Flesher, Tombstalker, and Skeletonwitch, also got a lot of people’s attention with their 2024 debut EP, Elimination, Extermination, Eradication. (For example, it made our Todd Manning’s year-end list of his favorite EPs from 2024.)
And now we’re happy to help announce that Rituaal will be releasing a debut album named Nightmares Of A Damaged Mind, and today we’re premiering one of its new songs as a teaser of what the album holds for all of us. Its name is “Soulless Machine“.
The experience and talent demonstrated by the names in Rituaal’s lineup is on full display in this new song. Anchored by steadily booming drums and maliciously throbbing bass-lines, the music immediately discharges feverishly vibrating hornet-swarm riffage and screeching strings that channel rabid viciousness.
And then, just as monstrous vocals begin bellowing and maniacally howling, the band make the first of many malignant shifts, brutally stomping and administering slashing throbs before their tremolo’d guitars erupt in eviscerating convulsions again. The drumming continues to do its best to methodically crack skulls open but also cuts loose like overdriven pistons, while the bass feels like magma flows.
But things get morbid too, as Rituaal bring in slowly groaning and moaning melodies, which eventually display their own form of miserable feverishness. Rituaal follow that with a reprise of their viciously throbbing, fleet-fingered riffage and eerily spiraling and manically swirling guitar solos that conjure visions of undead spirits wildly exulting.
All in all, the song proves to be a big neck-bender and a big pulse-driver, a gruesome and gutting experience but one that delivers the kind of energy you’d get by stepping on a live power line — and those guitar solos really do add a spectral dimension to an otherwise physically punishing barrage.
And as teasers go, the song should build a lot of interest in the album to come. Check it out for yourselves:
RITUAAL is:
Erick Rodriguez – Vocals (Acid Coffin)
Ben Parrish – Guitar (Ex-Demiricous)
Scott Wilson – Guitar (Ex-Demiricous)
Xander Farrington – Bass (Redivider)
Dustin Boltjes – Drums (Flesher, Tombstalker, Ex-Demiricous, Ex-Skeletonwitch)
Rituaal haven’t yet announced a release date for Nightmares Of A Damaged Mind, but to stay informed about the band’s activities and other developments leading up to that release, follow them via the links below.
https://rituaal666.bandcamp.com
https://www.instagram.com/rituaal_official