Casket Robbery – Rituals of Death
Casket Robbery – Rituals of Death
Blood Blast Distribution
Release Date: 11/11/2022
Running Time: 32:30
Review by Victor Augusto
8/10
Time is something that really offers different results in your life. The same way it can destroy a relationship, it also can improve it. The same thing happens to work and I am not talking just about music. When I analyse how I created a connection with this amazing American band Casket Robbery, I feel that time was good for both sides. When I first reviewed them, back in 2017, I was a very immature writer, and I am sure I couldn’t feel all the band’s soul like I am trying to now.
The album in question was the amazing EP “The Ascencion” and I was a lucky guy to have had a chance to review it again, here on Ever Metal, few years later, when the band re-released it. The funny thing was that I discovered that I accidentally was part of that because I recorded an “Evil-laugh”, alongside with many other bands’ fans, that was used in a bonus track called ‘From Hell’. Of course, I became friends with the amazing guitarist Cory Scheider and the lovely vocalist Megan Orvold.
During these 5 years since we first talked with each other, I always got curious to know how they would sound with a new full album, considering they stayed very active in live concerts. It took a while but as I said, time can be good for some things and my first impression is that the experience and the waiting for this release helped them to stay very tight as musicians, and as a team. So, let’s try to understand the new album “Rituals of Death”.
First, I need to mention a certain identity that I discovered in their music since the first time I heard them. There is a kind of horror movie soundtrack diluted among the riffs which really makes us feel like a character in the movie. One great example of that is ‘The Hidden… the Hideous’. Maybe it’s not intentional but it’s an element that you often hear on the nineties Fear Factory albums despite the fact that Industrial Metal (or whatever you want to call the genre) is not the main style of the band. I believe that Horror Metal could be a good description of Casket Robbery’s sound.
The lovely Megan Orvold is a devilish singer with her powerful screams and energy to interpret the music. Corey is like the main brain, creating short lead guitars that increase the Industrial and “Horror” elements I’ve mentioned, and he has Troy Powell as his partner-in-crime to create a strong wall of rhythms. The power of Bryan Bykowski’s bass can be felt on ‘Don’t Forget the Eyes’, where he had his few seconds alone to show it. Funny that it helped to understand how all instruments are complementing each other here. Erik Schultek chooses versatility with fast beats on drums, but changing the cadence, even with few breakdowns sometimes.
All these elements from each member turned this heavy music into something easy to digest and at 30 minutes-long “Rituals of Death” doesn’t become massive. After the fast-closing song ‘Return to the Sky’, you will feel that Casket Robbery has done a good and precise job.
If you enjoy a good Death MetaI that brings different elements from Lamb of God to Cannibal Corpse, without sounding confusing or lost among all the references, for sure you will enjoy this material. I am glad they’ve done it and I hope they keep touring a lot to keep on this beautiful path they walked so far.
‘Post-Mortem’ Official Video
TRACKLISTING:
01. Worm Food
02. Don’t Forget the Eyes
03. Death’s Dance
04. Post-Mortem
05. Beautiful Death
06. Bone Mother
07. The Hidden… the Hideous
08. Old Ones
09. Reanimate
10. Return to the Sky
LINE-UP:
Megan Orvold – Vocals
Cory Scheider – Guitars
Troy Powell – Guitars
Bryan Bykowski – Bass
Erik Schultek – Drums
LINKS:
Disclaimer: This review is solely the property of Victor Augusto and Ever Metal. It is strictly forbidden to copy any part of this review, unless you have the strict permission of both parties. Failure to adhere to this will be treated as plagiarism and will be reported to the relevant authorities.