EP Review: Rituals – I Found Myself in the Dark (Marshall Records)

Following their triumphant live set at this year’s Download Festival, metal merchants Rituals will release their brand-new EP, I Found Myself in the Dark, on August 3rd, 2023, via Marshall Records.

A fusion of intense metalcore, post-hardcore, and alternative metal, Rituals aim to leave an impression with this new EP. Something they do almost immediately with the barn-burner of a track that is Living Blind. Where a little bit of electronica leads to an eruption of coarse heaviness and speeding savagery, and then a surprisingly anthemic chorus hits. It’s a crowd-pleasing track that walks the line between accessibility and brutality, nicely.

It’s the title track next and Rituals pour even more passion into being chaotic and cleverly infectious. The vocals are particularly strong here, and once again, the chorus just hits. Before this short slice of impressive intensity wraps up with the chunkiest head-banger of all in the form of Cataclysm.

It’s genuinely startling how Rituals can go from such heaviness to such a singalong across all three tracks. Every single one has individual merit, but as an EP package it delivers something extremely special. There are big things in this band’s future, that much is for sure.

Rituals – I Found Myself in the Dark Track Listing:

1. Living Blind
2. I Found Myself in the Dark
3. Cataclysm

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