Sweden

An excellent debut CD from the Swedish band RITUAL…exquisite and accessible.

Grade: 4/5 (Very good) Bert Gren / Göteborgsposten

The sound is neither "neo" nor "retro", it is just right… The vocals are powerful, theatrical and ideally mixed, the lyrics are intelligent and well written.

Roine Stolt, Musician and Writer

England

Ritual reveal genuine maturity, resisting the temptation to overplay… This Swedish quartet are really doing something strikingly different… Lundstöms vocals have a touch of a young Robert Plant to them and adapt very well to every style the band choose to try their hands at.

Grade: 10/10 Nick Shilton / Frontiers Magazine

Like uninhibited dancing: playful, inventive and joyous. The integration of the various instruments is subtle and superb, while choruses are excellent… A marvellous piece of work.

Writer in Angry

The band have a wonderful full sound, very heavy at times; gentle and atmospheric at others, but always featuring the outstanding vocals of their fine frontman and guitarist Patrik Lundström.

Paul Allwood / Wondrous Stories

Just brilliant!

Martin Hudson / Wondrous Stories

Italy

Ritual is a four-piece band that plays like Led Zeppelin and Yes adapted to the nineties. Powerful!

Grade: 8/10 Andrea Soncini / Rock Star

The strong personality of Ritual that comes out will impress you like magic… like a ritual… the best album of 1996.

Grade: 4,5/5 Gianni Della Cioppa / Metal Shock

The revelation of the year!

Jessica Athene / Metal Shock

Excellent debut album from this Swedish four-piece!

Grade: 90/100 AV / Flash

Winds of change blow from Scandinavia and Ritual are the most important characters of this transformation. An original and interesting album … don't miss it!

Ettore Zanatta / Nobody's Land

Germany

A refreshing sensation from Sweden…. All the eleven songs are delivered in an inspired manner and are memorable.

Charly / Schmidt

The strength of this group can be summarised as follows: Extraordinary good vocals, very varied compositions and noticeable joyful playing that gives the album a certain freshness… Ritual's music is unpredictable - you never know what they are about to do in the next track. They continuously surprise the listener. The lead vocalist Patrik Lundström shines with his strong and versatile voice… The album of the year!

Jürgen Meurer / Carpe Diem och Empire Magazine

The four Swedes perform their music with such joyful playing that one asks oneself where they get their inexhaustible creativity from. Ritual kicks ass! A very good album with brilliant songs and a lot of excellent hook lines and furthermore the album is perfectly and powerfully produced. To me this is the debut album of the year…. Heartily recommended. Amen.

Chrischi / EMP-catalogue

France

This debut CD is a breeze of fresh air, talented and enthusiastic… The music from this quartet has an enormous amount of personality and intelligence and is accessible for a wide audience… The eleven exquisite tracks from this surprising group are a kick in the butt to all prejudice.

Grade: 5/5 Thierry Busson/ Rock Style

The Netherlands
… This is HOT, get this Record! … The lead vocals are a "knockout"…
Steven Karlsson / Background Magazine

… a stunning debut album.
Erik Neuteboom / Writer

USA
I think this is certainly one that a lot of folks will enjoy immensely. Check it out!
Peter Thielen / Expose

Japan
The touch of folk music gives the album clearness and warmth. Music from the heart … The band isn't obsessed with style but with quality of songs.
Grade: 90/100 Marquee Magazine

The music of this superb new powerful band is built on secure technique and various elements from traditional music and rock. From Sweden emerges a stunning new band … whose music is full of catchy melodies and very enjoyable to listen to.
Yuzi Okumura / Young Guitar Magazine

Reviews