Volt Ritual – Return To Jupiter EP
Volt Ritual – Return To Jupiter EP
Self-Released
Release Date: 02/02/24
Running Time: 22:37
Review by Laura Barnes
9/10
Polish Stoner Metallers Volt Ritual describe themselves as being ‘on the quest for the ultimate riff’, a quest even loftier and deadlier than defeating Smaug, gathering the Dragon Balls, or stealing the Declaration of Independance. Some have come close to achieving this great feat – Heart’s ‘Barrucuda’ comes to mind, along with Bolt Thrower’s ‘Those Once Loyal’ – but the apocalyptic riff prophesied to shake the ground and crack the Earth’s core is yet to be played. Will Volt Ritual be the group of heroes that the legends foretold? Let’s find out!
‘Heavy Metal Is Good For You’ is Volt Ritual’s opening gambit, and it’s a mighty good one. An instrumental track captained by guitarist Mateusz Węgrzynkiewicz, it lets you know exactly what Volt Ritual are about. Naturally the guitars have that deep, doomish tone that Stoner Metal is famed for, with smaller guitar solos interspersed throughout, and it is these solos that really take this opening track to the next level, making the hairs on your arms to stand on end. The vocals make their first appearance on ‘Ghostpolis’, a more traditional Stoner chugger with a lyrical focus on, yep, you guessed it, ghosts! It’s a little bit creepy, a little bit mellow, and it has a tasty ass riff that scratches a brain itch you didn’t even realise you had. According to the lyrics sheet, next track ‘Gwiazdolot’ is dedicated to the worlds of Polish Science-Fiction literature and the authors that bring those worlds to life, naturally sung in Volt Ritual’s native Polish. As a sci-fi buff myself, this is an extremely cool subject matter for a song. Lively, punkish, and maintaining that BEAUTIFUL guitar tone, this one easily wins ‘Song I’d Most Like To See Performed Live’, largely for the mayhem that would no doubt erupt in the pit. This track is also the best place to point out how special the production is on this album. It is relatively lo-fi and has a distinct Garage Rock feel that makes you feel like you’re right there with the band – like they’re playing just for you. The EP concludes with ‘Return to Jupiter’, and has similar vibes to ‘Heavy Metal Is Good For You’, this time, with lyrics that tell a tale of vengeful alien refuges. It’s angry and melancholic in equal measure. At over seven minutes long, it’s the longest track on the album, and with its sci-fi themes, chugging riffs and guitar solos, ‘Return to Jupiter’ can be considered something of a statement of intent. If it was any longer, it would perhaps struggle to maintain attention spans, but Volt Ritual end it in exactly the right place, and its brilliant.
Despite only forming in 2020, Volt Ritual have developed a strong sense of identity, and it really shines through on this EP. This is 22 minutes of head-nodding Stoner Metal goodness. While I can’t quite award Volt Ritual with the prestige of The Ultimate Riff, their dedication to the Art of the Riff warms my heart and excites my ears. One day, that elusive riff might just be theirs.
TRACKLISTING:
01. Heavy Metal Is Good For You
02. Ghostpolis
03. Gwiazdolot
04. Return To Jupiter
LINE-UP:
Mateusz Węgrzynkiewicz – Guitar, Vocals
Michał Zgajewski – Bass
Tomek Łabaj – Drums, Vocals
LINKS:
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