Ramesses
Baptism Of The Walking Dead EP

Two years have passed since "Misanthropic Alchemy," and my frustration was reaching a boiling point. Then I look around and discover that the three misfit offspring of Ramesse have done it again! And poof! I grab my talismans: here comes "Baptism Of The Walking Dead."

What can I say? Two years, and they create an EP that feels very much like early Autopsy and less like early Wizard, slowing down the pace in a somewhat strange way and letting loose what they most want the listener to take in: a furious and macabre nihilistic-dreamlike atmosphere, where whirlwinds and mists constantly alternate, hinting at a greater compositional attention. This leap stands out, especially compared to the previous loop-driven recordings, but it's not entirely convincing.

Let's get to the point.

The tracks offered are three: the self-titled "Baptism Of The Walking Dead," which clearly showcases Bagshaw's and Greening’s overwhelming love for Horror, shredded and minced like the most hellish of parsley in a concoction-soup with Transylvanian and deathetic potential; "Another Skeleton," a gentle and dreamy track in the opening moments, destined to erupt into devastatingly pagan sunsets, in the blink of an eye, highlighting the considerable potential of Adam Richardson’s voice, which here is artfully decomposed and split into two channels to better deliver the apocalyptic Egyptian verse so dear to the three, rendering the track shaded like never before in their production; then there's the last, haunting and abominable "Khali Mist," immediately captivating, easily understandable, and above all, particularly dragging and enthralling, like a journey through the intestines of a sea monster whose external traits are unknown, but whose internal, mephitic and opaque darkness is well-represented, again, fading unusually and sweetly, almost attempting an impossible approach that appears distantly Melvins-like/Alice in Chains-like.

Unbiased evaluations.

This offering is certainly interesting, but not very convincing for those who remember the previous work, which was already more linear, conceptualized, visually embedded, and undoubtedly more pachydermic and enhanced, as well as unchristianly metaphysical. On the other hand, here an excessive auditory speed indeed emerges, almost sonic (about 20 minutes), which sharply contradicts the improper slowness of the present distortions, leaving the refined palates somewhat disappointed, and forcing them to wonder about the actual reason for this EP (economic crisis aside).

All in all, listen to it yourself and come to terms with it.

However, I take this opportunity to urge those unfamiliar with them to listen to the previous attempts (Misanthropic Alchemy above all), undoubtedly more audio-appealing and opiateally depraved.

May Ramesse protect them!

(and maybe make them produce a bit more than an EP every four years... as if they were the World Cup...)