Norway, the dark womb that birthed the second wave of Black Metal, still bleeds with the old guard’s venom and fresh abominations alike. Yet, the world’s gaze isn’t fixated as it once was in the ’90s. But don’t be fooled—Norway’s Metal heart still beats with a vicious pulse, and RITUAL DEATH is proof. This Black/Death manifestation, spearheaded by Wraath (aka Luctus), a battle-hardened veteran of the scene and BEHEXEN’s axe-slinger since the early 2010s, rises from the shadows. Alongside fellow hell-forged comrades, they’ve summoned forth their self-titled ritual through Shadow Records/Regain Records.
Born in 2016, this cult stays buried deep in the underground, sporadically spitting out EPs and splits like cursed incantations. Their sound? A stubbornly archaic, raw, and occult blend of black and death metal that refuses to bow to modernity, yet whispers its own twisted ideas. This album drips with the same dark essence, even if the production isn’t as primitive. For some, this cleaner sound might feel like sacrilege, especially for RITUAL DEATH’s droning, grim, and feral nature. But they haven’t lost their edge—instead, they’ve wielded this polished production like a sacrificial blade, carving deeper into the abyss of their occult atmosphere.
Keyboards now slice through the darkness with a clearer, more menacing presence. H. Tvedt has always had a hand for this, but here, the keys resonate with a foreboding weight, amplifying the album’s ritualistic dread. Guitars and bass, once murky and indistinct, now pierce and pulse with a sinister clarity. Wraath and Lord Nathas evoke the brutality of BLASPHEMY and early BEHERIT, yet layer it with traditional Black Metal’s cold, occult air. When the keyboards seep in, they cast a shadow of true terror.
The drums, commanded by Nosophoros of MARE, are no stranger to the cavernous and arcane. His primitive, yet deceptively technical style, surges through the tracks—never content with mere blast beats, he shifts tempos like a shaman weaving a death curse. This drumming is the spine, a ritualistic cadence that drives the album forward. And then there are Wraath’s vocals—harsh, growling, an invocation of every Black Metal shriek and Death Metal snarl he’s mastered over the years. His voice doesn’t just complete the sound; it merges with it, becoming another instrument of darkness.
Each member of this unholy pact delivers in spades, their unity palpable, yet their individual moments shine through the murk. The compositions and pacing are razor-sharp, with no room for filler. RITUAL DEATH adheres to the “true kvlt” ethos—primitive, raw, and direct—but with the cunning to enhance and expand upon that foundation. The result? A record that bridges the ancient and the now, an artifact that feels as timeless and inevitable as death itself.
Labels: Shadow Records / 2022 – Regain Records / 2022 – Helter Skelter Productions / 2023