The Pitch: French blackened death metal with more than a little love for the old school. FFO Incantation, Archgoat, Immolation.
What I Like: FAST. This music rages ever-forwards in chaos like a wildfire. As such, the drumming and tremolos amaze me in that they don't snap every string and set the kit ablaze from the inevitable sparks. The production has a nice balance to it. The bass drum has some meat to it, but otherwise the lower levels are kept down to maintain a rawer sound. Finally, those vocals... utterly intense and brutal.
What I Don't Like: Could use a little more variation between tracks. Feels like it could also be trimmed down a little.
The Verdict: Although treading familiar territory, Ritualization do an above-average job of thrashing, growling, and ripping their way through some of the fastest death metal around. Get it through Iron Bonehead when it drops today.
Flight's Fav's: Genesis to Your Curse, The Graveyard Coven, Beneath the Sepulchre