It’s hard to know what to make of Ritual and their aptly-titled EP Enigma. One of those releases that is as liable to lead to head scratching as it is to head banging, it is a genuinely unique proposition that takes in such an array of influences, you never quite know what’s coming next. With a supporting cast that includes Devin Townsend and Anneke Van Giersbergen, the band certainly know how to attract talent to their cause, and the resultant EP is a work of demented genius that will keep people talking until the band can unleash a new full-length offering.
The EP opens with a brief invocation, As Above, So Below (feat. Caz Khan) It leads the listener by the hand to the bizarre Seven Gates, a track that sounds like Real Thing-era Faith No More going head-to-head with Therion. Operatic moments, rap vocals and a guest spot from Dianne Van Giersbergen all serve to power a deeply unusual track that is possibly one of the most unique pieces listeners are likely to come across. Let down slightly by a production job that leans a little towards the trebly, it is nevertheless a quite dizzying piece of music, and it takes a few listens to fully sink in. Next up, Murderous Operandi opens with a blistering riff and smooth vocal, although the track goes through a number of contortions, before landing on a smooth jazz passage, ably supported by Jorgen Munkeby’s saxophone. It’s around this point that the band’s mad genius really starts to sink in, and by the time Pandemonium lands, you’re convinced of Ritual’s ability to do pretty much anything. Opening, once more, in Faith No More territory, everything gets dragged sideways by the addition of keyboards and the airy tones of Anneke Van Giersbergen, who lends her sublime voice to the chorus. Of course, that far from sums up the track, and the piece takes in a good deal more of the musical landscape that sits between pop, prog and classical over the course of its run time. The EP finishes with Walk Of Shame, an all-too-short conclusion that features the previous guests – Anneke, Dianne, and Jorgen – alongside Devin Townsend and Amanda Whiting. Devin, of course, introduces the track, before the band take us on a tour of hell that sounds remarkably like Barry Adamson is the devil. It’s a fantastic coda and my only complaint is that it isn’t longer.
On first listen, Enigma is a melange of sounds and styles and it’s easy to be put off, especially if you’re coming to it cold. Persevere, however, and the band’s genius is laid bare. Their ability to bridge disparate styles is impressive and the guests, all big names, add a certain weight to proceedings. The production, while perfectly fine, could arguably do with a tad more weight in places (especially the heavier, funkier passages) but overall, this is an impressive, darkly conceptual offering from a truly unique band, and how many releases can truly make that claim? Well named, Enigma is a puzzle well worth solving. 8/10
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