Blood Ritual

Black Grimoire

Moribund Records

9 tracks; 45:07

BLOOD RITUAL was originally formed in 1991 in Seattle. Nearly a decade in the making, Black Grimoire is their second release.

I knew something evil was manifesting upon my very first spin of this disc. The crucifixes that hang on my walls abruptly spun upside-down. Then the rosary beads that I wear around my neck suddenly became red hot, blistering my buxom bosom. And the next morning, I found feces smeared all over the walls of my house. I'm not sure where it came from, but it tasted like cat poo. Regardless, that's why this release is referred to here as "Satanic Death Metal" - the sole member of the band, Tim Bishop, is a member of the Church of Satan and these songs actually detail real Satanic rituals.

I quickly gravitated toward this disc when it was released because I had heard that it was the product of a one-man band. But it's not, really. Isn't a one-man band when one guy plays all the instruments simultaneously by himself? Blood Ritual is merely a guy without a band, so studio musicians were brought in for the recording process. Nevertheless, the quality of the resulting material has gone far in helping me to get over this minor disappointment.

With its plodding, blackened passages, BLOOD RITUAL is a Hemlock in the creeping garden of Death Metal. It's down-tuned, mid-paced and riff-driven. The riffs are often massive, extruding meaty guitar assaults and grinding, demonic vocals into towering, flesh-eating thought-forms. Churning rhythms and intestine-splattered melodies are interspersed in a skull stomping that's so monstrous its boots will soak in your cerebral fluid and grey matter. This is just what the doctor ordered. Dr. Mengele, that is.

This is required listening for any fan of Death Metal. Purchase or perish!

Regan Perlett