The Black Dahlia Murder are the red-headed stepchild of the death metal community. Constantly ridiculed for being "not-so-underground-metalcore-hot topic" band. But that general attitude lightened up a bit when axeman Ryan Knight (ex-Arsis) joined and wrote the bulk of 2009's "Deflorate". Does 2011's ode to moral perversion and depravity hold up?
Most Definately! As a BDM fan, I can be brutally honest and admit that they were becoming quite stale by their 3rd full length, 2007's "Nocturnal". And while line-up changes gave the band new energy on their next offering, it missed the mark with longevity. A slew of awesome riffs and lyrics don't mean alot if there's no meat to really grasp onto. This is where "Ritual"'s strength lies. The songs are well written, heavy and catchy in that way that only melodic death metal can do. That's right naysayers, Black Dahlia Murder now with 40% less core! Let the ritual begin....
"A Shrine to Madness" sets the mood with a 4 piece string quartet before launching into some midpaced melodic madness. Next, "Moonlight Equilibrium" delves into world of lycanthrope. The chorus is completely singable and makes the track worthy of being the first single. "On Stirring Seas of Salted Blood" throws you a curveball early with it's plodding atmospheric verses about souls eternally damned to sail the sevens seas.It's definately a stand out track on the album and in the entire BDM back catalog, a strak contrast to their usual penchant for speed. The mediocre "Conspiring with the Damned" is the first chink in the armor of the album, feeling uninspired and lacking the new solidified sound of the band. Next, the triple punch of "The Window", "Carbonized in Cruciform" and "Den of the Picquerist" offers up speed, catchiness and the sickest, most brutal lyrics of the album. "Carbonized..." takes the atmosphere a step further boasting a creepy classical guitar intro and interlude! "Malenchantments of theNecroshpere" again tests new waters by having a staggered, off time guitar riff which eventually teetering between epic melodicism and a bludgeoning interlude. "A Graverobber's Work" and "The Raven" are throwback jams. All speed and metalcore fury with bits of melodic death spread throughout. The typical BDM formula, which isn't a bad thing but it's nothing new. "Great Burning Nullifier", I am pretty sure, is a stolen page from BEHEMOTH's playbook but not done as well as they would have done it. Kudos for trying soemthing new though. Finally, the album closes in true epic fashion with "Blood in the Ink". Not only does this song have the only really memorable solo on the album, not only do we see the return of the string quartet throughout this rager...but the lyrics sheet even includes a line for you to sign your solo over to lord satan. FUCKING AWESOME!
Production wise, metal blade spared no expense, everything can be heard. The guitars are razor sharp, the drums and bass will rupture your internal organs and the vocals are perfected balanced. Big up to drummer Shannon Lucus who somehow stepped up his game even more since the last album with some sick timing and fills. How Trevor Strnad isn't bleeding from the throat, I'm not sure. The lyrics are true to BDM. Slightly less gore than most DM bands, the album is filled with tales of occult rituals, strange sciences and folklores and (of course) "three virgin cunts arrested by chains, gut them like pigs, let their filthy blood drain". The cover art is an odd emerald-tinted heiroglyphic, which is cool but doesnt do the atmosphere of this macabre discjustice. The inner art of druids is much better but i guess the band felt they wanted something different and not so...done to death.
With only a few skippable tracks, THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER's Ritual is a scorcherof an album, great for your next black mass or pagan sacrafice. Long time fans will be pleased at the more focused direction. Hell, this one may even shut up the naysayers, but probably not.
Favorite track: Crucified in Cruciform
*sorry for the shit quality. this was sadly the best vid found
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