Ritual
The Ancient Tome

October 2010
Released: 2010, Heaven and Hell Records
Rating: 3.0/5
Reviewer: Robert Williams

Ritual are a heavy metal band from Livingston, New Jersey who formed in 1987 releasing their seven song "Let The Metal Play" album the same year. Heaven and Hell Records have picked up the pieces in Ritual's back catalog and grouped them together as THE ANCIENT TOME. A comprehensive career spanning set released as part of Heaven and Hell Records "Lost Relics" series.



The first seven tracks on THE ANCIENT TOME are essentially the "Let The Metal Play" album in it's entire duration. Also included is the four song "Evil in Your Heart" EP as well as five bonus tracks.



Musically speaking, Ritual play a pretty standard and campy brand of Halloween inspired shock rock. Their album cover almost leads you to believe your in for something pretty wicked, but the music recalls the beefier side of Fastway or a stripped down RATT. This stuff really recalls B-movie soundtrack fodder like you'd expect to find on the "Black Rose" or "Trick Or Treat" soundtrack... and for that I kinda dig their tuneage.



This release should obviously appeal to HM collectors with a penchant for out of print album/demo's from metal's heyday, but beyond that market is anyone's guess. A fun trip down memory lane, probably wouldn't warrant too many repeated listens though.