An Album a Day Keeps the Doctor Away #19: The Black Dahlia Murder - Ritual

Hello welcome to Friday. End of the week. I had a job interview today. If I'm gonna hear back I'll hear back on Monday. Lord knows what I'll be listening to on Monday. But wish ya boi luck anyway! Today though, as the title suggests, I rng'ed number 386: The Black Dahlia Murder. Ritual. FUCK YEAH, you kids like death metal?!

The Black Dahlia Murder // Ritual

So obvs, TBDM, video games. Necropolis in Saints Row the Third. What a Horrible Night to Have a Curse in Saints Row 2. That’s how I know this band. I found Nocturnal at a Lifeline Bookfest once and listened to that. It slapped. And I got Nightbringers when it dropped a couple years ago. It also slapped. I got Ritual on itunes I think? Only ever listened to Moonlight Equilibrium, which, you guessed it, also damn slaps. So yes today I listened to all of Ritual. And spoiler alert, it slaps.

I really like The Black Dahlia Murder. Of the death metal bands who I’ve listened to they’re the one I like the best because even though I wouldn’t call it melodic death metal, they’re definitely the most catchy band in this scene. Look at the chorus of Everything Went Black from Nocturnal. Matriarch from Nightbringers is like double kick, riff heaven. And Ritual here might be the most accessible (and melo-death leaning) of the three albums.

I love the range of old mate’s voice here where he can go from Cannibal Corpse Neck Man to Cradle of Filth Squawk Man at will (I’m more partial to his squawk myself). Carbonized in Cruciform as the centrepiece of the album was definitely the right call. It’s got blast beat choruses with death metal™ guitar leads and a nice clean guitar interlude before it kicks back off. I also hope you like guitar solos because boy, this album got em. And following the centrepiece we immediately have Den of the Picquerist, a one and a half minute punk track with drum fuckin intro: the thing what I am the biggest ho for.

But. But but but. My favourite track on this album is 100% Blood In the Ink. The Ritual of Indoctrination. It’s the most Cradle track here with Mr Singerman going full squawk for nearly the whole track. The string instruments that swell in the background really add to the almost gothic horror feel of the track. And that ending with the ruthless, kick and snare-heavy drum beat; catchy as fuck and easily the best part of the track. Very cool and you should all definitely listen to it.