I cannot be the only proghead who was surprised when Ritual made their presence known in 2020 with the release of an EP, ‘Glimpses From The Story of Mr. Bogd’ featuring songs from the next two albums. They had been so inspired by working to a narrative with ‘A Dangerous Journey’ that they decided to take it to the next level, writing music and lyrics based on a story written by band's bassist and main lyricist Fredrik Lindqvist, which totalled 90 minutes and will be released over two albums, of which this is the first. Even though they may have been out of the public view for many years, the band are still the same quartet of Patrik Lundström (vocals, guitar), Jon Gamble (keyboards, harmonium, harmonica, vocals), Fredrik Lindqvist (bass, bouzouki, mandolin, flutes) and Johan Nordgren (drums, percussion).
I am very glad indeed that I listened to this after playing their 2007 album, ‘A Dangerous Journey’ (which was the previous release) as here they have taken everything they did on that and lifted it to a new level. This never sounds like a band who have come back to the scene after being away for a long time, but rather it sounds as if it could have been released the following year. It is rather like Tolkien, who was asked by his publisher to write a sequel to ‘The Hobbit’ and came back with something which was obviously very related but also somewhat different, for which he apologised (his letters are well worth reading), ‘Lord of the Rings’. The band have not changed what they were doing in terms of their approach, but everything has been amplified – with no deadlines to work to, or if there were originally they were soon passed by, it has allowed the band to produce something which is sheer class as they have managed to do so without muddying the sound by doing too much. There are times when it is just an acoustic guitar, with other instruments joining, while the use of folkier elements certainly provides a lot of depth and Gentle Giant is never too far away.
This album has been out a few months now and I find it difficult to comprehend that it has only one other review on PA, and none from any other collaborators, yet I am happy to put this in my Top 10 of the year as it is a progressive rock album which is very special indeed. It shines, it soars, and it never seems as if Ritual have been away as we get taken on a wonderful journey which encompasses lots of styles and themes. Even if you have never heard their earlier albums then be confident in getting this as this is prog which has been elevated.
