The Dead - 'Ritual Executions' REVIEWS!

[KC]

First review of 'Ritual Executions' by Hellride Music!

"(Ritual Executions) was so absorbing of my mind and time today that it was in fact the only thing that got listened to today. I rarely get anything that captures me with that amount of pull, so that alone should stand for something to some of you reading this...

"If you like Ramesses and Coffins, you will absolutely eat this one up in a matter of seconds. OOOOH soooooooo recommended...  Ramesses and Coffins with some psychedelic sprinkled in on a track to close out a monster of an album, which this is indeed! This is the stuff that keeps me going and coming back for more, it has balls, volume, groove, and is just plain wicked!!!!"

http://www.hellridemusic.com/forum/showthread.php?t=22878


Watch my avatar.

[KC]

Here is the complete Hellridemusic.com review for those who are unable to access their site -


The Dead - Ritual Executions (Diabolical Conquest Records 2010)
By Janet Willis
11July2010

This lucky find was yet another one that was sent my way this morning and was so absorbing of my mind and time today that it was in fact the only thing that got listened to today. I rarely get anything that captures me with that amount of pull, so that alone should stand for something to some of you reading this. I was painting horror and gore scenes too so this ugly muck of turbid filth was the ideal soundtrack for my state-of-mind, definitely feeling some ripping and shredding coming out of this one for sure and would not recommend feeding it as this beast has enough ammo to shoot out at you from the start.

The Dead is one more piece of low-end riffage and doom/sludge rumble from down-under, Brisbane to be exact, to come up for air and gratefully so as this thing has nothing “light” in it. I guess the reason that this really caught my attention was when the label said that they dug my reviews and that doom heads and those with my audio leaningsthat have heard this one really went apeshit over it, yet the band consider themselves unique death metal (?). Okay, so where to start….ummmmmm…Here goes…

“Death Metal Suicide” a sludge prog masterpiece of about 10 minutes of instrumental riff and groove bliss, very heavy on rhythm and doom, but delicately LSD laced and atmospheric. I sort of thought part Pharaoh Overlord/Circle meets Ramesses right away and still stand firm on that observation. Sort of trippy and jammy, epic, spacey, but always heavy with a sure fucking chance of doom.

“Ritual Executions” is more of a sludge/death metal track, but all Metal in everyway. The mixture of blistering rhythm tempos with the creeping tempo of the gigantic seaslug paced doom riffs definitely comes across as dense and obliterating, not to fail to mention the solo/lead work really shreds!!!!!! If the mention of Death Metal leanings scares anyone off here, than it’s fucking sad but it’s also no big deal either becuas ewe all have our own preferences, but I can safely say that if people reading these reviews are the ones sending me this stuff then many of you out there dig a lot more variety than just the doom stuff like myself. If you like Ramesses and Coffins, you will absolutely eat this one up in a matter of seconds. OOOOH soooooooo recommended.

That really about says it all honestly: Ramesses and Coffins with some psychedelic sprinkled in on a track to close out a monster of an album, which this is indeed! This is the stuff that keeps me going and coming back for more, it has balls, volume, groove, and is just plain wicked!!!! If you are in need of a good sludge/doom fix and the other familiar names raised some hair on your skin (from the minor or major excitement of the sounds contained herein) you’ll be well advised to look into this release. Check the link out below for purchase info. Maybe bands like this should be rightfully called horror gore sludge doom death metal.

[ravenus]

The site is accessible. Did you take their permission for pasting the entire content of the review here?

[KC]

Don't worry man. Here's another review at Born In Blood -

"Some might say (I know I did) that Autopsy’s 1991 Mental Funeral album was the first Stoner Death Metal album. I mention this because nearly 20 years later we have another one.

"The Dead are not a Death Metal Band, they play a cutting, exciting, and innovative blend of Stoner, Death Metal and Doom, rarely heard these days. They are that rarest of things, original.

9/10

http://www.borninblood.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=135&t=7840

[ravenus]

Review at Blistering.com:
http://www.blistering.com/fastpage/fpengine.php/link/1/templateid/17591/tempidx/4/menuid/2

And hahaha, DC review:
http://diabolicalconquest.com/reviews/the_dead-ritual_executions.htm

[KC]

Review at Blistering.com:
http://www.blistering.com/fastpage/fpengine.php/link/1/templateid/17591/tempidx/4/menuid/2

And hahaha, DC review:
http://diabolicalconquest.com/reviews/the_dead-ritual_executions.htm

Haha thanks but these are actually reviews of the 2009 self-released version of the album. The 2010 DC Records' version has a re-mixed and re-mastered sound with a modified artwork.

[KC]

Review at Doom-Metal.com -

"In its Death-ish parts, the Dead are a boiling cauldron, rabid and tight, like an uppercut in your face. In their slower moments, they show some climaxing riffing, some vicious crawling leads that amplify and grow till the bubble explodes in an mouldy explosion and the zombie starts to run again. The whole thing pulsates like the soundtrack of the Apocalypse, crowning the awaking of the deads."

http://www.doom-metal.com/reviews.php?r=1709

[KC]

"If you like Hooded Menace, Ramesses and Toadliquor, you should find this to be a worthy purchase."

"the newer version has been re-mixed and re-mastered and is on the Diabolical Conquest Records label which is pretty new but has huge potential to be a major force in the underground"  

8.5/10

http://www.doommantia.com/2010/07/dead-ritual-executions.html

[KC]

Review at Metalreview.com -

"I'm pleased to see this band forge ahead with each subsequent release to elbow themselves amongst the expanding ranks of furrow-browed Cro-Magnons currently dragging knuckles through the death metal 'scape. Score one for the inaugural release from Diabolical Conquest Records: I say, long live The Dead."

8.1/10

http://metalreview.com/Reviews/5825/The-Dead-Ritual-Executions.aspx

[KC]

Review at Blabbermouth -

"Ritual Executions" is like a virulent mutation of doom/sludge and old school death metal; think very generally along the lines of early ELECTRIC WIZARD meets AUTOPSY with gaps bridged by early Stockholm Swede-death, INCANTATION (well, sort of), and GODFLESH minimalism, which still doesn't quite describe it. More to the point, it is 47 minutes across seven often lengthy/stoner-jammy tracks of encrusted, stripped down death metal and sludgy/doomy plod that pops, sizzles, buzzes, and fuzzes through what might as well be vintage tube amps on the verge of blowing. It is the sound of acid melting flesh, hammers bashings skulls, and air being forced through bong water, led by resin-coated subterranean death vocals and accented with coked up, sadistic screams."
 

http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/showreview.aspx?reviewID=2025

[KC]

Review at MetalStorm -

"Ritual Executions is Death metal enriched with groove, a slightly drugged-out atmosphere, lavish and trippy solos and a heavy load of Doom for good measure."

8/10

http://www.metalstorm.net/pub/review.php?review_id=8118

[KC]

Review at Metal Psalter -

"The Dead’s second full-length album, Ritual Executions, is just about the grooviest death/doom album I’ve heard in, well, ever. It’s not often that you hear such heaviness blended together with so many riffs on one album, but that is exactly what you’ll find on this album.

"Aside from a few minor things, Ritual Executions is easily the most fun and grimy album of 2010. I should also mention that this is fledgling-label Diabolical Conquest Records’ first ever signing, which is a huge win for them.  Most labels have to struggle through at least a dozen bands before they can attempt to attract a band of this quality to join their roster and to do it right out of the gate is surely impressive.  The brass over at DC Records surely have an ear for metal and apparently took their time in deciding who to approach first.  This is something a lot of other small labels can learn from.  Great job, both of you."

4/5 stars

http://www.metalpsalter.com/review_the_dead_ritual_executions.html

[Crypto]

 

[KC]

^Sweet! Thanks a lot man. I wasn't sure it'd be your cup of tea, you know. Glad you liked it! 


Here's another one -

"The Dead have managed to effortlessly spew out some of THE best, most original Death Metal that I've heard in quite some time on 'Ritual Executions', so kudos to THEM and kudos to Diabolical Conquest for being smart enough to rescue this release from the cult oblivion it could SO easily have ended up in."


http://www.thesleepingshaman.com/reviews/album/thedead_ritualexecutions.php