Released: Jun 17, 2011 (Europe), Jun 21, 2011 (US)
Genre: Melodic Death Metal
Label: Metal Blade
Number Of Tracks: 12
Even a decade after forming, The Black Dahlia Murder are still able to pull out a few new tricks to write one heck of an album.
RitualFeatured review by: UG Team, on june 17, 2011 6 of 6 people found this review helpful
Sound: I can distinctly remember the first time I listened to The Black Dahlia Murder's "Nocturnal". I couldn't stand the vocals at the time. However, there was a sinister, feral quality in their music melded to such a beautiful sense of melody that I couldn't help but keep on listening. I always thought some of their passages would sound great arranged for an orchestra or even just a piano. A few times around the disc and I was a freshly converted TBDM fan. Then "Deflorate" came out, and I felt like it was the point in the band's career where they stumbled (albeit gracefully) for a few steps. Losing John Kempainen as their lead guitarist threw off the band's vibe for a short amount of time, and "Deflorate" seemed like The Black Dahlia Murder didn't have enough time to figure out how to properly utilize Ryan Knight's talents and inputs as their new guitarist.
That problem doesn't exist anymore. "Ritual" takes the bone-crunching riffs from "Nocturnal", the mild technicality of "Deflorate", and Ryan's creative input and marries them perfectly into what may just be The Black Dahlia Murder's most interesting album to date. Regarding having a new guitarist on board, co-founding guitarist Brian Eschbach says "It's been more collaborative than it's been in years... The last two albums I wrote most of the music and this one it's almost a 50-50 effort between me and Knight". I think 50-50 describes it perfectly. You still get Brian's signature melodic death metal riffs (which are as fantastic as ever), and just when you think you may be getting bored of a particular riff, something entirely new happens, which I can only assume comes from Mr. Knight, at least some of the time. That sliding riff in the chorus of "Moonlight Equilibrium". Those quiet ascending leads during the chorus in "The Window". The dizzying riff in the middle of "Carbonized In Cruciform" (and oh God, that solo!). Little things like that are scattered all throughout the album really make "Ritual" a much more refreshing album than Deflorate was, where they seemed to be running low on ideas.
And before you try to lump them with other big-time American metal bands and claim "they ran out of ideas a long time ago", at least get halfway through the album. "On Stirring Seas Of Salted Blood" is very unorthodox for a Black Dahlia track. The last minute of the song conjures up images of Vikings sailing in a thunderstorm. Yes, it sounds that manly. And "Ritual"'s seventh track, "Den Of The Picquerist", sounds like what would happen if a metal band tried to write a punk song (but no, it isn't crust punk). There's also a bit of an oddity during the intro of that song, but I'll leave you to discover that for yourself; I wouldn't want to spoil that surprise. The whole album has more classical overtones in the guitar playing than any of TBDM's previous works. And then there's the final track, which makes fantastic use of stringed instruments to convey a sense of urgency to make a perfect closer to the album. It leaves you feeling satisfied, like you've accomplished something by listening to the album. Absolutely phenomenal. Looking back at the past few years in metal, I can't find any better use of stringed instruments (barring Ne Obliviscaris). I mean, this album has almost everything. Almost. Just as "Blood In The Ink" was fading out, it dawned on me that did lack something, something that helped me to fall in love with The Black Dahlia Murder all those years ago. There's no grooves on this album. You know, the part of the song where the drums go into halftime and the guitar plays a riff that you can just groove to? Like the chorus in "Everything Went Black" off of "Nocturnal". Not hearing a single riff like that on the album left a decent sized hole in my opinion of the album, but that hole was quickly filled by all the new tricks that the band had up their sleeves. // 8
Lyrics and Singing: Trevor's voice does two things and two things only. It goes really high, and it goes really low. But those two things he does, he does them well. Extremely well. His lows sound simply bestial, and his highs are so unique that they've spawned copycats the world over. Personally, I've always been a fan of his low growls. Which is good for me because it seems like this album features Trevor's lows more often than his highs. Lyrically, Strnad is a wordsmith. One of the earliest impressions that his lyrics left on me were that they were so well written that it didn’t matter to me what he was saying. He can take the stereotypical lyrical topics from death metal and, well, make death sound poetic. I mean, sure, I find a lot of that type of stuff laughable, but whenever Trevor does resort to singing about death and stuff at least he takes the time and patience to choose his words carefully. // 8
Impression: For those of you who thought The Black Dahlia Murder stumbled and struggled with their last album, fear not, they have undeniably regained composure for Ne ObliviscarisRitualNe Obliviscaris. And with the added life force of Ryan Knight (who not only shreds his way into your memory, but also wrote plenty of the music on the album), The Black Dahlia Murder stand tall. What we have here is a band that are not only progressing in their nature but also maximizing their potential and capitalizing on their collective talents. The fact that "Ritual" has twelve well-written tracks as opposed to the usual ten on every other album attests to that. Even though it's already their fifth album, it feels like The Black Dahlia Murder are just getting started. And it seems like the only way they can go now is up. Tracks like "Moonlight Equilibrium", "Carbonized In Cruciform", and "Blood In The Ink" are perfect examples of how this band is willing to evolve and push themselves further in terms of their music. // 8
Ritual
Reviewed by:
unregistered, on june 17, 2011 0 of 1 people found this review helpful
Sound: The Black Dahlia Murder has about as unique of a sound one can get when it comes to the death metal scene. The combination of Trevor Strnads trademark vocals, Ryan Knight's leads, Shannon's drumming, Bart's bass, and Brian's unreal rhythm section did not disappoint with "Ritual". TBDM come forth with their darkest album yet, (special honours to the runner up "Nocturnal") the thing that sets "Ritual" above "Nocturnal" is their albility to combine melody, thrash, atmosphere, and shred into 12 damn good pieces of music. Standout songs for me, only 4 full listens in, are "Moonlight Equilibrium", "The Window", "The Raven", and "Blood In The Ink". This entire album is strong, but these are simply amazing songs. // 9
Lyrics and Singing: Trevor Strnad is about as close to a poet as a cynical, pot-smoking, metalhead can get. The lyrics are dark as always, and they fit the sound almost perfectly. Anyone who knows TBDM's lyrics knows that they can be dark, satanic, and at times incredibly gruesome ("Climactic Degradation" anyone?) and they don't disappoint again. A lyric that can't seem to get out of my head is from "Den Of The Piquerist": "Your blood, your blood, your blood is what I need!" It will probably haunt me for a while, but damn does it summarize the brutality and monstrosity that these lyrics are. The song titles also deserve honourable mention in here, some of the most creative I've ever heard, like "On Stirring Seas Of Salted Blood", "Carbonized In Cruciform", "Den Of The Piquerist" (google picquerist is something incredibly messed up) and "Malenchantments Of The Necrosphere" // 10
Impression: The most impressive songs are as I said above, "Moonlight Equilibrium", "The Window", "The Raven", and "Blood In The Ink". The others are awesome in their own respect also. Love the brutality, the melody, and the heavy? (so close to being a poet). I would get this again as soon as possible if it were stolen, and whoever stole better pray he doesn't end up in my Picquerist den. // 10
Its hit and miss with me. Riffs are surprisingly decent, vocals aren't bad, remind me of Disarmonia Mundi. Moonlight Equilibrium actually has a pretty good chorus.
I can't find any better use of stringed instruments (barring Ne Obliviscaris).
Thats a pretty bold statement, if I'm honest. There's been a huge sweep of orchestral metal this year which crushes that song, most notably The Great Mass and Deconstruction albums (leaks, ftw). And also:
There's no grooves on this album. You know, the part of the song where the drums go into halftime and the guitar plays a riff that you can just groove to?
Its hit and miss with me. Riffs are surprisingly decent, vocals aren't bad, remind me of Disarmonia Mundi. Moonlight Equilibrium actually has a pretty good chorus.
I can't find any better use of stringed instruments (barring Ne Obliviscaris).
Thats a pretty bold statement, if I'm honest. There's been a huge sweep of orchestral metal this year which crushes that song, most notably The Great Mass and Deconstruction albums (leaks, ftw). And also:
There's no grooves on this album. You know, the part of the song where the drums go into halftime and the guitar plays a riff that you can just groove to?
Maybe they decided not to be generic anymore?
the great mass was average. no hooks. definitely a step away from communion.
and second, what the hell is wrong with groove? i tell you, when someone says something is groovy, its making them move, and isn't that what music is supposed to do?
i hear the reviewer when he says this album lost that groove (only slightly, being nit-picky here) and there was a hole where that groove went up and danced away. their new tricks make up for it, but not entirely.
still a solid release by a band trying to get away from everyone who tried to copycat them. i'll be listening to this album forever. i give it a 7.3
great job black dahlia!! i'll be seeing you on the stage XD
^ He was referring to breakdowns, not overall groove. Groove is fine when it works, but BDM dont really want to be accosiated with music in the charts, as this album shows.
i was extremely dissapointed with ritual. its not a bad album, but it just doesnt have that classic BDM-esque sound to it. i like the grooviness that some of the songs have, but they just seem overall too mellow. i give them credit for not pidgeonholding themselves to the same sound album after album, but unfortunatly i liked that sound better
I think I see what you're saying about the lack of the 'grooves'. We're talking about parts like the choruses for "To a Breathless Oblivion" and "Deathmask Divine", or the outro for "I Will Return" right?
I get the same feeling for the chorus to "A Shrine to Madness" and a couple riffs on some other songs, but you're right, this album is definitely a big step for them. I love it.
Don't really miss the grooves. Don't really miss the breakdowns either. Other than Salted, I don't think I heard anything like that, and the breakdown there was surprisingly cool.
Definitely their best album for me. I've always been a watcher of theirs, but never really a fan beyond a 3-4 songs per album. This album just sounds like the whole package.
@Official review; Good review, but there was a Ne ObliviscarisRitualNe Obliviscaris error there! Also, BDM may be on the way up, or they may just be heading towards stagnation. Bands rarely follow up this kind of creative change with more creative change. Hope they do though, good album.
I thoroughly enjoyed this album and I like that Trevor used his low growl more than on their previous efforts and Ryan's solos rip, especially on "The Window". This is probably my favorite of their albums so far.
LOVED THIS ALBUM. I was so let down from other releases from earlier in the year, but this album makes up for it. "A Shrine to Madness" is easily the best album opener they've had since "Everything Went Black". Although, while I love the "Blood in the Ink", I still feel that "I Will Return" is easily the best album closer they have ever written.
Has anyone else noticed all their album titles are 1 word with three syllables? Unhallowed, Miasma, Nocturnal, Deflorate, Ritual.
Several of those are missing one or have an extra syllable.
...
Uhh...
No.
They all have three syllables and they're one word...
Count how many times your jaw drops while saying the word xD Go back to school.
Has anyone else noticed all their album titles are 1 word with three syllables? Unhallowed, Miasma, Nocturnal, Deflorate, Ritual.
Why have I yet to notice that?
And great to hear the albums getting good feedback, Im not listening to any sons(other than moonlight equilibrium) until mine comes in the mail. Deflorate kind of fell flat for me and nocturnal still stands as my favorite, with unhallowed close behind.
Has anyone else noticed all their album titles are 1 word with three syllables? Unhallowed, Miasma, Nocturnal, Deflorate, Ritual.
Several of those are missing one or have an extra syllable.
...
Uhh...
No.
They all have three syllables and they're one word...
Count how many times your jaw drops while saying the word xD Go back to school.
Well actually yes,post-vowel shift pronunciations of "ritual" can be two and three syllable,depending on the accent on the "tu",where it most often becomes "/t".Miasma is of greek origin and it's first(of two) syllables contains a rising diphthong which is commonly,though incorrectly pronounced as eye,instead of "eea",most words from greek and latin have inherited their syllabication from the origials.Unhallowed has four syllables by the addition of the past participle.
And is the oddity around the start of Den Of The Piquist the strange high "wah" guitar noise (I'm guessing it's that anyway lol) it sounds like a person screaming.
And I love the lone base playing, never really get to hear that before.
The solo's are amazing, some of them were abit average to me on Deflorate but ryan's own style fits in with this album wonderfully.
I am so stoked for this album! If it is as good as I've been hearing then I may have to find a way to catch the Summer Slaughter tour... selling my left kidney is a possibility.
Well actually yes,post-vowel shift pronunciations of "ritual" can be two and three syllable,depending on the accent on the "tu",where it most often becomes "/t".Miasma is of greek origin and it's first(of two) syllables contains a rising diphthong which is commonly,though incorrectly pronounced as eye,instead of "eea",most words from greek and latin have inherited their syllabication from the origials.Unhallowed has four syllables by the addition of the past participle.
I like how Google searching "syllables" brings up all that information. Gotta love Google.
Nothing will beat Nocturnal or Miasma for me, but I definitely like this better than Deflorate, not that Deflorate was a bad album. I love all their music. This was a step in the right direction.
This album is such a step-up from Deflorate (which I still loved). After a few listens it's tied for me as my favorite TBDM album alongside Nocturnal. "Carbonized in Cruciform" is easily my favorite song from it.
I like this album but the lack of Trevor's high vocals is a big dissapointment. Its not nearly as good as other TBDM albums. Overall a bit of a dissapointment but i won't count it against them because this is the only time they've ever dissapointed
Dont get me wrong, this is a kick ass album. I love this album. BUT its missing that ole Black Dahlia sound. I used to be able to tell them apart from other bands so easily.
I miss trevor's highs, Thats what i loved about TBDM. Also the groove of there songs are gone. They're choruses arent as hypnotizing.
I don't understand how the UG Team thought this was a step up from Deflorate. Even Trevor seems to think this is their best album. They just seemed really out of their element to me. Most of the riffs were boring (barring a few of course), Ryan's influence seemed to bleed into the album a bit too much, and there was just less energy about this album, especially in Trevor's vocals. "Trevor does only two things: He goes high, he goes low." True, but he didn't have the energy here that he did in Deflorate. Deflorate felt so much more alive than this album. The pulse dropped a bit this time around, I think. There are only a couple of songs on this album I actually like; Stirring Seas, Moonlight Equilibrium is alright, Carbonized in Cruciform...otherwise I don't really understand the praise.
"Your blood, your blood, your blood is all I need!" I was screaming that shit all day at work. Easily the best song on the album. It's been stuck in my head for days.
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Thats a pretty bold statement, if I'm honest. There's been a huge sweep of orchestral metal this year which crushes that song, most notably The Great Mass and Deconstruction albums (leaks, ftw). And also:
Maybe they decided not to be generic anymore?