THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER

Produced by Mark Lewis (who was also responsible for 2009’s ‘Deflorate’), ‘Ritual’ ties together magic, mysticism – hence the title – and the many facets of the darker side of metal to create a sound that presents The Black Dahlia Murder as a band that know what their limits are and how to acknowledge and, better, transcend them. With the music being a collaborative effort between mainstay Eschbach and Ryan Knight, who joined the band for ‘Deflorate’, a new side to the band has been discovered and harnessed. Where Knight stood out a little on the previous work, particularly in his solos, the band is now a more cohesive unit. The choruses are catchier, the riffs are still technical but somehow more so, and with bassist Williams having a more prominent place in the mix, the band sound darker, heavier even. The songs are diverse and hold a few surprises – piano, acoustic guitar, and strings – which work well to uphold the album. Many an effort has been made by as many bands to integrate such instruments which more often than not fail, but TBDM have succeeded in expanding and intensifying their sound. From the lupine-flavoured lyrics of ‘Moonlight Equilibrium’ through the dark humour of ‘The Grave Robber’s Work’ and the golem-animating ‘Malenchanments of the Necrosphere’ to the sadistic sexual-gratification of ‘Den of the Picquerist’, each song is as unique and distinct as the next. The guitar work has shifted up a level with the lead breaks having a sound that is at times borderline jazz and at others just all-out shred, the key of course being that the band know when to solo, how to solo, and, more importantly, when not to solo. This is what makes them substantive embellishments rather than superfluities. This is a difficult album with which to find flaw. They are there but too minor to mention. The performances, from vocals to drums to the stringed bastards, are all exceptional, as is the production. The addition of Ryan Knight was a smart move. Including him in the writing was a wise move that has improved an already remarkable band. ‘Ritual’ offers the familiar elements of the TBDM and pushes those boundaries far enough to distinguish it from its predecessors. If you weren’t a fan already, give it a blast. It’s more than worth it.

LABEL:

FORMAT:

Metal Blade Records

Album

RITUAL

Review by Jason Guest

RUNNING TIME:

45:33

RELEASE DATE:

20th June 2011

TRACK LISTING

1) A Shrine to Madness
2) Moonlight Equilibrium
3) On Stirring Seas of Salted Blood
4) Conspiring with the Damned
5) The Window
6) Carbonized in Cruciform
7) Den of the Picquerist
8) Malenchanments of the Necrosphere
9) The Grave Robber's Work; 10) The Raven
11) Great Burning Nullifier; 12) Blood in the Ink

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:

USA

"The choruses are catchier, the riffs are still technical but somehow more so, and with bassist Williams having a more prominent place in the mix, the band sound darker, heavier even."