Ritual Dictates consists of Justin Hagberg on vocals, guitars, and bass, and Ash Pearson on drums. Both of these guys previously played in 3 Inches of Blood. “No Great Loss” is the duo’s second album. Their debut album from 2020 was titled “Give in to Despair” and was a melodic death metal album. Ritual Dictates doesn’t play death metal on the new album. Classifying this into a specific genre isn’t easy. However, we can try with melancholic rock and metal. Thoughts drift towards both Anathema and Opeth. Although some of the songs feel a bit long, and there can be a bit too much melancholy, I like a lot of what I hear. It’s a fine album with many good melodies that are both well-produced and well-played. This is the type of music you can put on when you’re going to bed or taking a break on the couch. It’s a significant difference from the first album, but the band has maintained the quality.
Released October 7th, 2022 on Artoffact Records.
Hell on Earth Metal Zine 