Ritual
[title unknown]
Reviewed by Andrew Crump
Everybody needs a Grindcore/Death Metal album in their music collection. It does wonders for head cold congestion. Fans of Mortification will want to place this demo right next to Post Momentary Affliction. Plop, plop, fizz, fizz -- oh what a relief it is.
Ritual comes grinding out of California with enough aggression and heavy time changes to break a Timex watch. The band showcases its technical side throughout the five song demo with drums pounding like rapid-fire machine guns and the guitars holding a tight, powerful and spasmodic rhythms. Occasionally, Ritual kicks into some heavy mosh grooves which seem to tease, but don't last long enough to please.
The only drawbacks to this gut wrenching demo are the garbage disposal like (Steve Rowe) vocals and the slightly thin, but bearable mix.