Rituals– Awake (EP)
Release Date: 3rd September 2021
Label: Independant
Pre-Order
Genre: Metalcore.
FFO: Heart Of A Coward, Bury Tomorrow, August Burns Red.
Review By: Calvin Ryan
Releasing their four track EP when live music events are coming back to life in the UK, Rituals have both made a smart release decision and have also made one of the year’s best outputs so far. Considering it’s a small 4 track offering, it brings a meaty slab of modern Metalcore for your listening pleasure.
Across the four tracks you’re given your welcome to the band and their minds as they barge into your head rent free. Starting off with the title track Awake, it’s clear that the band have been bottling up some anger and have been given the opportunity to let it release. The furious riff work by Ewan Lee combined with the subtle bass tones of Dom James are enough to get you worked up. But with the addition of vocalist Lewis MacRae it congeals into a good introduction to the band. MacRae’s cleans on Awake however do sound out of place on the song, but make no mistake, it’s the only time that happens.
Turn Away From The Sun is the band as a cohesive unit with the drums of Jorge Raey piercing through the band as they’re a well oiled machine. Blinding To Me is a lighter piece, but make no mistake, it belongs on this record as much as Awake. With the somber tones MacRae still growls his way through the journey. But then we reach the end. Carved Out. It’s Thrash Metal meets it’s younger Metalcore brother that creates a heavy as fuck atmosphere that could crush the competition in a clean sweep.
From start to finish it’s a sublime outing from the Newcastle based quadruple metal crew. And with some live shows scheduled for later this year, it’s worth catching them in action to see and hear their ferocity in person for yourselves.
(3.5 / 5)
