Metal Reviews

...Ritual being the key word. I keep seeing these bands playing ritual black metal at different distros, and I'm pretty sure ritual black metal is the stuff Emit plays, but I'm not entirely sure. Could someone fill me in? Is the ritual scene worthwhile (prolly not, minus Emit), and can anyone make any recommendations? Stand out albums?

As far as I know 'ritual black metal' is black metal that is concentrating solely on creating an evil atmosphere and nothing besides that. That is focussing only on the 'evil' part of the black metal aesthetic. Like trying to create what hell, pain and evil sounds like in a satanic ritualistic setting (if that makes any sense). Musically ritual bm has more focus on the screaming than the instruments and has a more ambient approach. This might not be entirely correct though...

Emit is definitely in the 'ritual' part of the scene and so is Abruptum I believe. A prime example of ritual (and very kvlt) black metal is Von. Thier demo Satanic Blood was indeed very influential on later bm but I wouldn't go as far as to call it good (more like - interesting)... Besides from that I'm not very acquainted with ritual bm.

Inquisition!

I think Ritualistic Black Metal focuses on creating trance indusing music that makes one closer to Satan in the same way a certain rites do. Inquisition excel at this.

I don't know, but Inquisition rule all the way to hell and back, no doubt about it.

Akitsa, you can't get more ritual.

Really? Hmm... I never though about Akitsa that way.

Heard Total Servitude?

Hmm.. it isin Aube de la Misanthropie of I remember right. I thougth that was kinda crappy...

It is. And so is black funeral, which is Rutual as well.

Hmmm... Inquisition? I wouldn't have guessed them. Von sounds interesting, but maybe like Eisenfaust put it, only interesting. Does anyone REALLY like the pure ritual sound, or does it get old fast, like a gimmick scene?

Von is great, i highly recommend Satanic Blood Angel

Inquisition hasn't got a tad old and I worship them on a daily basis, but I there are bands in this style that do, as in all (sub)genres.