Ritual
Think Like A Mountain

Describing the music of Ritual is as simple as doing somersaults upside down. They leave no clear references, they resemble everyone and no one, and just when you think you've figured them out, they're ready to surprise you again. Of course, it has been easy for the music press to link them to progressive, perhaps due to their homeland, where the movement has flourished and found new life over the past two decades, perhaps because of the exceptional technical skill of the group, or perhaps because of the versatility of their musical proposal. Personally, however, I believe that this categorization is misleading, especially when associated with the work in question, which is undoubtedly the best effort to date for the Swedish combo.

“Think Like a Mountain” is a fresh and original album, a 360-degree rock, in which Ritual mix their various influences to rework them into a personal blend of melody and compositional acumen. The use of ethnic instruments (bouzouki, dulcimer, and darabukka), combined with the more conventional violin and cello, is particularly effective in expanding the group's expressive range and giving a pleasant folk imprint to this work. But don't be fooled by these premises or the eco-philosophical theme of the title. These crazy Scandinavians don't leave us wanting for anything, neither the scathing riffs reminiscent of the more modern Rush nor some touch of avant-garde vaguely reminiscent of crimson. Each song is a world unto itself, managing to combine captivating melodic lines with harmonic and rhythmic solutions in constant motion. Ritual manage to be complex without flaunting their technique. Catchy without ever being banal. Patrik Lundström's vocal performance often juggles on delicate balances, but it's always up to the task. The singer and guitarist, as well as the group's creative mind, may not have the vocal timbre of the greats, but he more than makes up for this lack with his good expressiveness and, above all, impressive flexibility. An essential characteristic for navigating the fascinating contrasts of their art, full of nuances and flavors.

“Think Like a Mountain” is ultimately an album to be discovered, listen after listen, one that challenges you to fully understand it. But in the end, it wins you over with its modernity spiced with ancient. Or at least, that's how it happened with yours truly.